GOOD causes around east Durham can find out about grant funding from a wind farm at a drop-in event next week.

The County Durham Community Foundation is hosting the event for community groups, charities or voluntary organisations in the local area to help with the grant application process for the High Haswell Wind Farm Community Fund.

Operator REG Windpower donates £16,000 per year to support good causes in the local community. Grant funding is available to groups within a three mile radius of the wind farm.

The County Durham Community Foundation administers the fund, and a panel of local people decide quarterly which applications are most deserving of support.

Heather Jones of REG Windpower said: “We hope groups across the area take this opportunity to find out how their local wind farm can help their fundraising efforts.

"We are pleased that the High Haswell Community Fund has supported such a wide variety of organisations and we want to ensure all good causes in the area are aware of the funds available and how to apply.”

The High Haswell Community Fund has been giving out grants to the local community since 2013.

The first recipients were the Wheatley Hill History Club in 2013, and since then funding has been provided to the Shotton Colliery & District Angling Club, Haswell Friendship Club, and the East Durham Employability Trust, amongst others.

The fund provides grants of between £250 and £5,000 to community and voluntary groups and schools, and will consider applications for capital items, contributions towards running costs, biodiversity and habitat conservation projects and energy conservation projects.

The drop-in event takes place on Tuesday, April 14 at Greenhills Centre, Wheatley Hill, between 10am and 12pm.

For more information visit www.regwindpower.co.uk