Hornsea 3 Community Fund supports young people into work

In the latest round of Orsted’s Hornsea 3 Community Fund, 13 projects across Norfolk are set to benefit from £248,654 in funding.  ‘On Track’, delivered by The Matthew Project is one of the projects being supported through this round. The project will provide vital support for young people not in education, training, employment, and volunteering to move closer to employment.

The funding will help expand the organisation’s work within local communities, offering tailored support that improves self-esteem, builds resilience and supports young people to make positive changes in their lives.

Anita Gagen, On Track Team Manager, said:

“Receiving this grant will enable us to provide vital support to some of the most marginalised young people in West Norfolk, helping them to explore positive pathways for their futures. Without this funding, many of these young people would otherwise fall through the gaps in existing services and miss out on the guidance and opportunities they need to thrive.’’

Imran Nawaz, Ørsted Senior Advisor and Community Benefit Fund Manager, said:
“At Ørsted, we know that positive change is best built in partnership with communities. The Hornsea 3 Community Fund represents more than funding – it’s a way for us to give back and support the Norfolk area. By backing local initiatives like The Matthew Project’s ‘On Track’ programme, we’re helping communities across Norfolk create lasting impact, strengthen local services and empower young people to shape their own futures.”

The fund is delivered by Ørsted and administered by Grantscape and supports initiatives that deliver lasting social and environmental benefits within communities located near the Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm. The fund is supporting projects that improve wellbeing, strengthen local services and create opportunities for people of all ages.

Projects supported in this funding round include:

• Baby Basics Lowestoft – £16,200 to support the expansion and relocation of services supporting families in need.
• Corpusty & Saxthorpe Village Hall – £10,000 to install solar panels and improve the sustainability of the village hall.
• Swardeston Cricket Club – £10,343 to replace an ageing synthetic cricket pitch (wicket) at the club, improving safe access to training and matches for youth, women’s and community cricket.
• Volunteer It Yourself CIC – £57,800 to deliver community building retrofit projects in Lowestoft and Heacham, whilst providing young people with construction skills.
• The Matthew Project – £25,853 to deliver the ‘On Track’ programme supporting young people not in education, training, employment, and volunteering to move closer to the labour market.
• Lighthouse Charity Trust – £16,840 to develop the Priory Patch Community Garden in Beeston Regis.
• 1st Rural Roughton Mill Scout Group – £24,544 to install new solar panels and heating at the scout headquarters.
• Cringleford Parish Council – £50,000 to create a new outdoor pump track for bikes, scooters and skateboards at The Willow Centre in Cringleford.
• DIAL Great Yarmouth – £15,178 to help create a community workshop space where men and their families can access practical support, develop skills and reduce isolation.
• Key Changes: Positive Mental Health Through Music – £7,896 to deliver the ‘Studio Discovery’ project in Great Yarmouth.
• Crea Norfolk – £5,000 to deliver a clothes upcycling and basic sewing skills project in King’s Lynn.
• Project Apis CIC – £4,500 to deliver the ‘Neighbourhood Hives’ project in Great Yarmouth.
• 1st Belton Scouts Group – £4,500 for flooring in the new scout building extension.

In total, 13 projects have been supported in this funding round, helping to strengthen communities and improve quality of life across the region.

The next application deadline for the Hornsea 3 Community Benefit Fund is
3 June 2026, midnight.

For full details about the fund, please visit the Hornsea 3 Community Fund web page.