Newport East

Uskmouth Power Gives More Money to Community Projects 30 January 2008

USKMOUTH POWER INCREASES COMMUNITY CHEST MONEY AVAILABLE TO GOOD CAUSES

Uskmouth Power, the 360MW power station in Nash, just outside Newport, is increasing the funds available to good causes in the Newport area by 25% to £5,000 a year. This means that each quarter there will be one grant of £500 and three grants of £250 each for individuals, teams and organisations living and working in and around Newport who are contributing to Welsh Excellence, or Community and Environment.

The highly successful scheme, launched in 2007, has already attracted more than 100 entries, and helped a variety of good causes in Newport, including:

  • Newport's world class street dance troupe, the Blitz Boys;
  • the family-focused Reikan Ryu Karate club;
  • Christopher Gowell, a successful young Welsh 400 and 800 metre runner;
  • South Gwent Children's Foundation's Sparkle Appeal;
  • Raven House Trust, who provide food, furniture, clothing and household items to people in need in Newport;
  • York Place Action Group who are enhancing the street environment in York Place;
  • and the Cwmcarn New Stage Project, whose objective is to provide opportunities for the pupils of the school & residents of Cwmcarn to participate in music and theatre.

The Community Chest will be awarded quarterly, in March, July, September, and December. There will be £1,250 a quarter available for distribution, and the maximum amount awarded will be £500.

The deadline for application for the first quarter's awards is Friday 15 February 2008 and the first awards will be announced at the beginning of March.

David Watkins, managing director of Uskmouth Power said: "We are delighted that this scheme has been so successful in its first year, and we are aiming to help even more good causes in 2008. As part of the Welsh Power Group we are very proud of being in Wales, and enjoy contributing to some of the excellent the local community initiatives here in Newport."

Because there has been a shortage of applicants for environmental projects, one of the awards in the first quarter of 2008 will be allocated specifically to the environment category.

Anyone who wants to apply can do so online at www.uskmouthpower.com, following the link from the front page to the application form.