Foundation Named as EEEGR Charity of the Year
Powering Communities Through Green Energy Partnerships
We’re proud to share that Norfolk Community Foundation has been chosen as EEEGR’s Charity of the Year, a recognition that highlights the Foundation’s unique role at the intersection of community development and the green energy sector. We hope to share how our partnership, not just with EEEGR but the energy sector as a whole, promotes a model that places communities at the heart of sustainable investment.
As Norfolk continues to be a hub for green energy innovation, the Foundation is helping create meaningful connections between this growing sector and local people set to benefit from the jobs, opportunities and community funding this infrastructure brings.
Turning Green Energy into Local Action
Norfolk is full of contrasts: stunning natural coastlines and cutting-edge innovation sit next to pockets of deprivation and need. The Foundation exists to bridge that gap, ensuring that every corner of our communities gets the tools and resources they need to build a better tomorrow for all.
Through long-standing partnerships with wind farms such as Sheringham Shoal and Dudgeon, as well as new collaborations through RWE’s Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone, we’re directing vital funding from the energy sector into initiatives that deliver real, local impact.
One example is North Norfolk Community Transport, a charity that’s been supporting residents for over 25 years. With the help of a grant from our fund with Sheringham Shoal, they’ve expanded their fleet of electric vehicles, reducing emissions while connecting vulnerable residents to essential services and social opportunities.
For people like Dawn and Eric, who live in remote areas with limited mobility, the transport service isn’t just a convenience: it’s a lifeline. Eric said, “Being disabled, without this bus, I couldn’t get out. I’d spend weeks and weeks indoors. I was introduced to this bus, and it’s heaven.”
Why Green Energy Partners Choose Us
The energy sector is increasingly looking to invest in community projects that are responsible, effective, and locally led. Working alongside a network of over 2,000 local charities and community groups, the Foundation offers unmatched insight into where support is needed most and what really makes a difference for people on the ground.
By building trust and forging lasting partnerships, we’ve shown how partnerships between industry and community can be more than transactional. They can be transformational. For example, we embedded local knowledge from the get-go by developing a locally-led Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone Community Panel, trusting the local people to make choices about how local investment shapes their communities.
As Sophie Skipp, stakeholder manager at Sheringham Shoal and Dudgeon wind farms, puts it, “It’s a collaboration we’ve been very, very proud of for 15 years now. To be known for the good work we’ve done in the community means people are much more understanding that we’re not taking from them; it’s a partnership.”
Powering the Future Together
The green energy sector holds enormous potential to power not just homes and businesses, but real local change. By working with Norfolk Community Foundation, companies can ensure their community investments are meaningful, measured, and rooted in the lived experiences of Norfolk people.
Together, we can make sure no one in Norfolk is left behind. Whether it’s tackling rural isolation, protecting the local environment, or supporting young people into careers in the energy sector, we invite others in the energy sector to join us in turning power into progress.
We are proud to partner with:
- Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm and Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm (Operated by Equinor)
- Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone (Operated by RWE)
- Jack’s Lane Wind Farm (Operated by RES)
- As well as: North Pickeringham, Weston and Villages Wind Farms
[Published 27.05.25]
