Burnham and Weston energy company's £25,000 Sunshine Fund

Burnham and Weston Energy CIC launched its Sunshine Fund earlier in October, with £25,000 available to support local groups with green ideas. Community organisations with projects that benefit both the local community, and the environment, are encouraged to apply.

Burnham and Weston Energy CIC is a not-for-profit local energy enterprise that operates a 9.3MW community solar farm at Wick Farm, between Burnham-on-Sea and Weston super-Mare. The 36,000 panel solar array has been up and running since 2016, generating electricity for the equivalent of over 2,000 homes.

In 2024, the Sunshine Fund supported projects including educational initiatives, energy efficiency upgrades, LED lighting for community halls and solar panels for a new community shop. You can learn more about the Fund here: https://bit.ly/408vkCk

The Sunshine Fund is seeking projects that benefit both the environment and the local community. Potential areas for funding include nature conservation and environmental education; engaging schools, children, and adults; renewable energy initiatives; and energy efficiency measures in schools and community buildings.

The company is also looking to arrange for energy surveys to help local schools and community buildings assess their options for renewable energy and energy efficiency, and to help find funding. Local groups, especially those who haven’t applied before, are encouraged to submit their applications.

The Fund is available for rural parishes located within a 10km radius of Wick Farm, at Lympsham, plus the urban areas of Burnham-on-Sea, Highbridge, and Weston-super-Mare.

Once an application has been made, a team member will follow up to discuss the application and learn more about the proposed project.

Since its launch in 2019, the Burnham & Weston Energy Sunshine Fund has awarded over £80,000 to projects covering a wide area from Burnham-on-Sea to Weston-super-Mare, and inland to Mark and Winscombe.