A WIND farm developer has handed out grants to charities in Harwich.

Galloper Offshore Wind Farm has given its first grants from its Community Fund, including £2,500 to the Ark Family Resource Centre and £2,000 to We Are Music.

Sally Johns Green, centre manager of the Ark Centre, said: “The grant will enable us to continue our family and children support projects, our counselling service and help children with additional needs in our pre-school nursery.

“We support over 100 vulnerable families and individuals each year and receive very little funding, so this grant is particularly welcome.”

We are Music runs the rock school in Harwich and projects for helping young musicians get into the music business.

Chris Scott, of We are Music, said: “The fees we charge our young musicians do not cover our operating costs, but it is not practical or desirable to put them up.

“It’s always difficult to gain money to support our ongoing project, so the grant from the Galloper Fund is great news as it will meet the shortfall for four months.”

Managed by Essex Community Foundation on behalf of Galloper Offshore Wind Farm, the £50,000 fund was launched in March this year to support charitable, educational and environmental activities in and around Harwich.

Galloper operations and maintenance manager, Sean Chenery, said: “Our operations and maintenance facility will be run out of Harwich for the lifetime of the project and we aim to become a valued member of the neighbouring community.

“The fund is one way we can get involved through the support of such worthwhile groups as those chosen for this first application round.”

Galloper Offshore Wind Farm is waiting for a decision on its planning application for its Harwich centre from Tendring Council and the Marine Management Organisation.