The money has been used to buy a range of new equipment and materials, including a die cutting machine, embossing folders and high-quality card, which help to ensure that everything any new members need to get started is immediately available.
Despite being unable to meet during the pandemic, the Group’s members have stayed in close touch and have continued to make their own cards, with dozens of them being sold to raise money for local community charity The Bag Fairies.
Stephanie Reeves, treasurer of the Micklefield Craft Group, says: “The group has been going for many years, and while much of our recent work has focused on card making, we’re open to trying any type of crafting activity.
“The social side of our meetings is often just as important as the crafting activities and we’ve really missed seeing friends regularly in a setting that we all enjoy, so it’s great to know we’ll be back together again soon.
“We’re open to people of all ages and we’d love to see some new members coming along to give crafting a go when we start back in September.
“The materials and equipment that the Hook Moor fund grant has enabled us to buy means we can provide everything that new starters will need to get going, as well as to keep our existing members busy for the foreseeable future, and we’re really grateful to Banks for their generous support.”
Eligibility for support from the Hook Moor wind farm benefits fund is normally restricted to schemes within the parishes of Aberford and Micklefield, but projects outside these areas may be eligible if it can be shown that they benefit people living within them.
In Banks Renewables’ last financial year, Hook Moor generated over 25,300 MWh of green electricity, which is enough to meet the annual energy requirements of around 8,200 homes, and by doing so, displaced over 6,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the electricity supply network.
Lewis Stokes, community relations manager at Banks Renewables, adds: “The Hook Moor Wind Farm Community Fund is specifically designed to help local community organisations improve what they can offer to people in the area.
“Helping the Craft Group obtain the equipment and resources it needs to enable more people to join in fits this objective perfectly, and we hope they get lots of interest from residents who want to make new friends while showing their creativity.”
Projects, community groups, or voluntary organisations looking for grant funding from the Banks Community Fund should contact The Fund Manager on 0191 378 6342 or visit www.banksgroup.co.uk/corporate-responsibility/banks-community-fund/
