Wrapping up 2024 in the final quarterly newsletter
End of year update on Gawcott Fields Community Solar’s community impact and performance.
...read moreRecognising that many local families are struggling with the cost of living, in part due to high energy prices, Gawcott Solar got in touch with local schools to offer support for children experiencing hardship.
“As expected, the feedback we got from local schools was there are families who don’t necessarily qualify for free school meals but are still struggling to make ends meet,” said volunteer director Tony Ulph.
Gawcott Solar CIC has made funds available to primary and secondary schools within a 5km radius of the solar farm. Over £45,000 has been allocated in total to support breakfast clubs, top-up free school meal funds and subside school trips. Schools benefitting include: Buckingham Primary, Royal Latin, Padbury Primary, Roundwood Primary, Lace Hill Primary, St James and St John Primary, Buckingham School, Grenville Primary and Furzedown School.
David Hudson, head teacher at the Royal Latin, was delighted to receive funding and explained how it could expand the support that the school can offer to families in need. “The funding will be used for a range of student needs such as school meals, educational visits, transport to school, equipment etc. It will enable us to expand our current offering, where we have already seen a significant increase in applications, but also to specifically target those families who we know to be suffering significant hardship.”
“I am so pleased that we are able to provide this additional support to families across our local area”, explained Gabby Mallett, local volunteer director of Gawcott Solar CIC.
“Since we built the community solar farm in 2016 we’ve funded a range of community activities from local sports clubs to supporting local schools and the Food Bank through the Covid lockdowns. We’ve also funded fuel poverty and energy advice initiatives. Our long-term priority is to support local communities with their transition to net zero. However, we know that times are tough, and just like when covid struck, we decided to change our short term focus so that we could make an immediate difference to people’s lives.”
“We’ve funded free school meals for those kids who just miss out on the criteria, we’ve funded school trips, including some residentials, and we’ve funded breakfast clubs for kids who otherwise may go to school hungry. The take up has been amazing and the number of families that will be helped by this initiative is really staggering. I’m so pleased we’ve been able to do this. It really emphasises the benefits of having a community owned solar farm in our area.”
Gawcott Solar CIC will shortly be launching a community bond offer to give people the opportunity to invest in the solar farm. Details will be on the website from March 2023.
For more information please contact Gabby Mallett.
End of year update on Gawcott Fields Community Solar’s community impact and performance.
...read moreBuckingham Town Cricket Club and Buckingham Rugby Club are celebrating a year of renewable energy success after installing solar panel systems on their clubhouses.
...read more