Community fund saves village hall more than £12,000 in energy bills

A community fund has saved a village hall more than £12,000 in energy bills. The Rampion Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund has helped Henfield Hall in Henfield, near Horsham, save money over the last two years. The hall was able to install solar panels and batteries with the money from the fund.

John Sharp, treasurer and trustee of Henfield Hall, said: "With Rampion Fund support, we’ve saved over £12,000 on our energy bills in the last two years, installing solar panels and batteries. "This has helped Henfield Hall thrive as a great resource for the local community." The fund, which is run by the Sussex Community Foundation, has given £2.



1 million in grants over the last eight years to more than 200 community projects across Sussex. Rampion Wind Farm (Image: DCoolImages) The fund is now open for 2025 applications, with £160,000 available for grants of up to £10,000 for community projects supporting nature conservation, marine ecology and environmental improvements. Kevin Richmond, chief executive of the Sussex Community Foundation, said: "Through the Rampion Fund, we aim to help charities and community groups to manage projects which benefit local communities and support the environment, including investment in renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions.

"These are some of the fantastic examples of what we have managed to achieve through this fund, which has had such wide-reaching benefit for local people and the environment." FareShare Sussex and Surrey is another recent recipient of the fund. Mark Richardson Brighton (left) and Rick Miller FareShare Sussex and Surrey with Rampion Fund e-vehicles (Image: DCoolImages) The charity was able to redistribute 41.

9 tonnes of food over the Christmas fortnight, which was enough to feed 14,720 people living in food poverty each week, thanks to electric vehicles provided by the fund. Mark Richardson, fundraising manager at FareShare Sussex and Surrey, said: "The e-vehicles, including an electric van and an electric cargo bike, have made an incredible difference to our operational ability, and soon we will be installing solar panels, also with a Rampion Fund grant, to help power them." For more information about the fund and how to apply, visit the Sussex Community Foundation website.

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