Community Benefits
Since 2014, and in collaboration with North Kesteven District Council, we have funded a number of community schemes, providing economic and cultural benefits for the surrounding area. A new Community Power Fund was established in January 2020.
1. Engineering Apprenticeships
In a partnership with Grantham College, we sponsored a number of engineering apprenticeships at the college.
2. Improving the area with:
Footpaths and Cycleways
£200,000 worth of funding was provided for footpath and cycleway improvements along Boston Road.
Biodiversity
3,000 native trees have been planted along with shrubs and grassland across 5 hectares of land surrounding the plant, increasing the biodiversity of the area. The trees, when they reach full maturity, will also shield the plant.
Sustainable heat
The plant provides free heat to public buildings in Sleaford town centre including the swimming pool, a primary school and the council offices. This saves the Council money and it also results in CO2 reductions as heating for these buildings would otherwise be from natural-gas-fired boilers.
3. Local Funding
Community Benefit Funds
Between 2013 and 2019, a £120,000 fund supported a range of community-based projects in Sleaford and the parish of Kirkby la Thorpe; this fund was administered by the Sleaford REP Community Liaison Panel.
A new £125,000 Community Power Fund was launched in January 2020 to support projects and organisations within a larger area – a 5 mile radius of the Sleaford REP. Please visit the Community Power Fund page on this website for more information.
Sustainability Fund
An education programme was established to raise the awareness and understanding of energy efficiency, sustainable energy and biomass.
Public Art Fund
£50,000 was provided to develop a new piece of public art which is located at the entrance to the Plant. After being selected by the Sleaford REP Community Liaison Panel through a procurement process, sculptor Michael Condron was chosen to produce the piece in consultation with local school children.
Kirkby-la-Thorpe School Fund
£10,000 was provided to Kirkby-la-Thorpe School for new interactive white boards for their classrooms.
Urban Walks Fund
Sleaford REP supported the development of a walk that links pieces of public art installations around the town of Sleaford.
If you would like to know more about our Community Power Fund, please contact us.