A VOLUNTEER group which takes elderly people for trips along the seafront is among 19 projects to share more than £230,000 in grants from Rampion wind farm’s fund.

The fund, set up by E.on’s wind farm last autumn and managed by Sussex Community Fund, dished out the cash from the £3.1 million it has in its pot.

Lancing Parish Council received the largest sum. Its a grant of £50,000 that will go towards the redevelopment of the Monks Recreation Ground, including a nature area, tree planting, recreation equipment and dog waste powered lighting.

Brighton and Hove branch of Cycling Without Age, which takes elderly care home residents on trips along the seafront on trishaws, received £5,800.

The group’s captain, Elly Hargreaves, said: “For a small local charity like us, there are limited funds these days, especially working with older people as there are so many good causes out there.

“We are seafront-based, the seafront being one of the great assets of Brighton, and for the people we take out it evokes a lot of memories for them.

“This money will go towards our the costs of our trips, admin costs and dementia training.”

Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project was awarded £10,000 for its cookery internships for adults with learning disabilities.

The group’s project manager Ryan Carter said: “This money will help us give people hands-on experience and the skills they need to get into paid employment.”

Chris Tomlinson, development and stakeholder manager for the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm, said: “We were particularly encouraged by applicants, such as Ashurst Village Hall, taking refreshing and progressive approaches to energy generation for their community building, which will save costs in the longer term.”

The other groups that were given grants were Community Transport Sussex in Chailey (£45,500), KP-Projects CIC (£15,000), Ashurst Village Hall (£10,000), Brighton and Hove Citizens Advice Bureau (£10,000), Transition Town Worthing (£10,000), Feedback (£10,000), Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust (£10,000), Carers Centre for Brighton and Hove (£9,942), Heene Community Association (£9,920), The Rawson Hall (£9,500), Tide of Light in Worthing (£8,792), Refugee Radio (£6,950), Victoria Park Volunteer Group (£3,736), 1440 Squadron, Air Training Corps in Shoreham (£2,549), 2nd Southwick Scout Group (£1,500) and Benfield Wildlife and Conservation Group (£900).