From sports clubs and women’s groups to senior citizen’s clubs and youth based projects, 18 organisations in the Belleek area are benefiting from a £16,000 wind farm from the Callagheen Wind Farm Fund.

The fund, administered by the Fermanagh Trust and supported by Scottish Power Renewables, awards grants to community projects located within 7km of Callagheen wind farm, between Belleek and Garrison.

Organisations who received grant awards include Mulleek Community Association who will use their funding for kitchen equipment.

This will help them prepare hot meals, promote healthy eating and reduce rural isolation, allowing the community to come together through social events at Christmas and other special times of the year. Belleek pre-school were awarded a grant to purchase a selection of outdoor resources to promote exploration of the environment and develop learning through play based activities.

Devenish St Mary’s GAA Club were awarded funding towards the cost of developing new facilities which will include a state of the art sports complex. Garrison Baby and Toddler Group will use their grant award to purchase new equipment. Finally Cashel Community Association were awarded funding for equipment, chairs etc for their new centre. The association provides social and educational activities for the local area.

Lauri McCusker, Director of the Fermanagh Trust said “It’s great to see such a range of community and educational based activity taking place in North West Fermanagh and it’s a pleasure to award financial support to these fantastic initiatives. The Callagheen Wind Farm Fund is helping to make a positive contribution to the work of all these organisations and the wider community.

"Once again it is a proven record of the community benefit wind farms can bring.”

Each year the fund accepts proposals from all aspects of community life, with an emphasis on projects that have an environmental theme. The fund will open again for applications next year. For more information visit www.fermanaghtrust.org