21 May 2008 10:16
Grain Youth Club opens after donation from E.ON’s community investment fund

E.ON, the company behind the Kingsnorth and Grain power stations, has awarded £1,150 of funding to help establish a new youth club in Grain.

The Grain Youth Club recently held its grand opening, and is now open every Thursday night for 12- to 18-year-olds to attend.

Karen Yusef, from Medway Youth Service, said: "The Youth Service and the young people of Grain would like to thank E.ON for the support they have shown which has enabled the club to get up and running after being closed for the past four years.

"The money's meant that we've been able to buy equipment such as footballs and games, as well as being able to rent a venue to use.

"I just want to thank the young people for being so patient over the last four years while we've had the football pavilion made safe for use as a club. We look forward to working with the young people over the coming years."

The E.ON Community Investment Fund is part of the company's commitment to investing in communities near its sites and is designed to support effective projects that will help genuine community needs.

Billie Holland, Community Relations Executive at E.ON, said: "Our ambition is for the money to be used to support projects that will leave a lasting legacy, such as the Grain Youth Club, and further the relationship between E.ON and our neighbours.

"The deadline for the next round of applications is May 30, and, however big or small the project, it will be considered, so please send those applications in."

The special E.ON community fund was launched in May last year to celebrate the start of work at the new gas-fired combined heat and power (CHP) station on the Isle of Grain.

The new power station at Grain will be the largest and most efficient station of its kind in the UK and will generate enough electricity for around one million homes.

The new plant will displace the emission of up to 350,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year through the provision of heat to the nearby LNG terminal- equivalent to taking around 100,000 cars off the UK's roads.

Further information on the Community Investment Fund, including a funding pack and application form can be found on the E.ON UK website, www.eon-uk.com/newgas/grain or by calling Action with Communities in Rural Kent on 01303 850 816.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

• The total fund of £100,000 will be available to projects over the four-year construction period at Grain;
• The fund is in the form of a grant administered by Action with Communities in Rural Kent, who aim to improve the quality of life of local communities, particularly for disadvantaged people, and to facilitate the development of thriving, diverse and sustainable communities;
• Awards will be made by a Local Liaison Committee (LLC) including representatives from the local parish councils and members of E.ON's project teams at Kingsnorth and Grain power stations.
• Combined, Kingsnorth and Grain power stations are capable of producing enough electricity for over two million homes;
• E.ON's plans to develop two new cleaner coal units at Kingsnorth are currently under review by the Government.

For more information contact:

Deanna Mooney on 02476 183 678