Celebrating first year of success for SSE Thermal community investment programme

Jade Fernandez, Head of Stakeholder Engagement for SSE Thermal said: “Our flagship Investment Programme, launched in 2024 puts people and communities at the heart of what we do.  

“From supporting theatre groups and sports clubs to renovating coast-watch stations and scout huts, these funds are helping grassroots projects thrive.  

“But it’s more than funding— our investment programme is centred around a set of key principles which are important to our neighbours. From working to protect local biodiversity, inspire the next generation and working hand in hand with our communities through funding and volunteering to support local organisations.  

“Our sites are an enduring part of these communities and the UK and Ireland power systems, and as we move toward a new energy future, we’re proud to keep investing in relationships and projects that make a lasting difference, support security of supply and drive the transition to a renewables led system.” 

Supporting around 70 projects from Guides groups and hedgehog rescue organisations to Air Ambulance and solar panel installations, the fund has engaged more than 200 local organisations as it delivered funds from Aberdeenshire to Kent. 

SSE’s Keadby site has been at the heart of the UK’s energy system for nearly 75 years.

Formerly the site of a coal-fired power station, it now hosts Keadby 2 - Europe’s most efficient gas-fired power station - England’s largest onshore wind farm and has planning consent for a new power station with Carbon Capture and Storage, also in partnership with Equinor.

Plans for what could be one of the world’s first hydrogen fired power stations at Keadby in North Lincolnshire are currently have moved forward after the proposals were accepted for consideration by UK Government’s Planning Inspectorate.

Project could support the decarbonisation of carbon-intensive sectors, safeguard existing jobs and drive investment in the region

Groups to have received money included Scunthorpe Sea Cadets who received £2000 to fund improvement of the Royal Marine Cadet Detachment Wooded Training Area and surrounding grounds; Keadby Ladies Netball Team, more than £1500 to purchase new netball dresses and hoodies and Crowle and District Women’s Institute, £150, to decorate the War Memorials of Crowle and Ealand villages and St Oswald’s Church with knitted poppies.

SSE, headquartered in Perth, has grown into one of the UK and Ireland’s largest corporate community grant givers since the launch of its first fund in 1998.  

The inaugural community investment fund, linked to Thermal sites, was launched in 2024 and the report sets out the positive impacts these funds have had.  

The fund is focused across six operational sites Medway Power Station on the Isle of Grain, Keadby Power Station in North Lincolnshire, Aldbrough and Atwick Gas Storage sites in East Yorkshire, Peterhead Power Station in Aberdeenshire and Great Island Power Station in Co Wexford in Ireland. 

Upholding the model of placing local people in control of funding decisions, ensuring that the projects reflect the needs, ambitions and priorities of each area, the fund is delivered in consultation with support of communities around the six operational sites. 

The report also details SSE Thermal’s wider work in the community and how these commitments measure against the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. * 

This includes details of fund-raising by SSE Thermal employees with more than £40,000 of match funding being donated to a variety of different charities and organisations including Marie Curie, Movember and Cancer Research; and details on the 1,000+ young people engaged through STEM and educational programmes ran by the Thermal business. 

Total funds awarded for each site are:  

Medway: £20,371.32 

Keadby: £16,677.76 

Aldbrough: £19,900.80 

Atwick: £20,478 

Peterhead: £25,000 

Great Island: €24,998 

SSE Thermal’s Community Investment Fund offers £25,000 (€25,000 in Ireland) annually to support grassroots projects that make a real difference in local communities. It is open to legally constituted community groups, non-profit organisations, and registered charities operating near the six sites. 

Applicants can request up to £2,000 (€2,000 in Ireland) per project, helping to deliver improvements that benefit local people. 

Priority is given to those projects that deliver on themes, identified during consultation. Examples include: 

Service provision, such as local clubs, events, activities or groups, including transport services and accessibility 

Biodiversity, habitat and natural environment enhancement 

Energy Efficiency and reduction in energy use 

To find out more visit:  Communities | SSE Thermal  https://www.ssethermal.com/communities