Celebrating first year of success for SSE Thermal community investment programme
18 Dec 2025
- Investment targeted to local priorities following extensive community consultation
- Fund is tied to existing operational assets – supporting security of supply whilst driving renewable development
SSE is marking a significant milestone in the delivery of its industry-leading initiative supporting communities across the UK and Ireland, as it celebrates investing more than £100,000 through its Thermal Community Benefit Fund.
Jade Fernandez, Head of Stakeholder Engagement for SSE Thermal, said:
“Our flagship Investment Programme, launched in 2024, puts people and communities at the heart of what we do.
“From supporting theatre groups and sports clubs to renovating coast-watch stations and scout huts, these funds are helping grassroots projects thrive.
“But it’s more than funding— our investment programme is centred around a set of key principles which are important to our neighbours. From working to protect local biodiversity, inspiring the next generation and working hand in hand with our communities through funding and volunteering to support local organisations.
“Our sites are an enduring part of these communities and the UK and Ireland's power system, and as we move toward a new energy future, we’re proud to keep investing in relationships and projects that make a lasting difference, support security of supply and drive the transition to a renewables-led system.”
Supporting around 70 projects from Guides groups and hedgehog rescue organisations to Air Ambulance and solar panel installations, the fund has engaged more than 200 local organisations as it delivered funds from Aberdeenshire to Kent.
Atwick Village Hall, in East Yorkshire, received a £2,000, which allowed them to replace old, inefficient wall-mounted heaters with seven new, modern and efficient heaters.
Howell Gronow, a member of the Atwick Village Hall Committee said:
“We’re a small, rural community and the Village Hall is one of the only meeting spaces in the village. We’re extremely grateful to SSE Thermal for the award which has enabled us to make it a much more inviting and pleasant place to be for the whole community.”
Others include: Aberdeen Foyer (pictured below), a charity which supports people towards independent living in North East Scotland, was awarded £2,000 to assist with upgrade works to their kitchen and café space at their Peterhead site.
Bailwood Scout Camp (pictured below), located near Aldbrough, received £2,000 to replace the roof on one of its Scout huts. The camp is a vital resource for young people, welcoming over 1,000 scouts from Hull and East Yorkshire each year.
Slough Fort, in Allhallows, Kent used funding to put towards a much larger project, which has included the installation of toilets and a café at the venue.
SSE, headquartered in Perth, has grown into one of the UK and Ireland’s largest corporate community grant givers since the launch of its first fund in 1998.
The inaugural community investment fund, linked to Thermal sites, was launched in 2024, and the report sets out the positive impacts these funds have had.
The fund is focused across six operational sites: Medway Power Station on the Isle of Grain, Keadby Power Station in North Lincolnshire, Aldbrough and Atwick Gas Storage sites in East Yorkshire, Peterhead Power Station in Aberdeenshire and Great Island Power Station in Co Wexford in Ireland.
Upholding the model of placing local people in control of funding decisions, ensuring that the projects reflect the needs, ambitions and priorities of each area, the fund is delivered in consultation with support of communities around the six operational sites.
The report also details SSE Thermal’s wider work in the community and how these commitments measure against the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. *
This includes details of fundraising by SSE Thermal employees with more than £40,000 of match funding being donated to a variety of different charities and organisations, including Marie Curie, Movember and Cancer Research; and details on the 1,000+ young people engaged through STEM and educational programmes ran by the Thermal business.
Total funds awarded for each site are:
- Medway: £20,371.32
- Keadby: £16,677.76
- Aldbrough: £19,900.80
- Atwick: £20,478
- Peterhead: £25,000
- Great Island: €24,998
SSE Thermal’s Community Investment Fund offers £25,000 (€25,000 in Ireland) annually to support grassroots projects that make a real difference in local communities. It is open to legally constituted community groups, non-profit organisations, and registered charities operating near the six sites.
Applicants can request up to £2,000 (€2,000 in Ireland) per project, helping to deliver improvements that benefit local people.
Priority is given to those projects that deliver on themes identified during consultation. Examples include:
- Service provision, such as local clubs, events, activities or groups, including transport services and accessibility
- Biodiversity, habitat and natural environment enhancement
- Energy Efficiency and reduction in energy use
To find out more, visit: Communities | SSE Thermal