Magnox, working together with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), has announced that it will provide £300,000 in funding to help support communities during the coronavirus pandemic.

The 12 grants of £25,000 have each been offered to local authorities or charities where a Magnox site is located across the UK, and will be used to help support vulnerable groups.

To date applications have been received by Magnox from several communities, with funding now starting to be released.

Maldon Council, where Magnox’s Bradwell Site is located, has already secured one of the grants and plans to work with Maldon and District Community Voluntary Service; The Salvation Army; The Essex Alliance; The Maldon Food Pantry and local businesses to distribute the grant to the places where it is most needed.

Activities include distributing critical provisions to vulnerable and isolated residents, assisting residents in accessing safe delivery of services and food to their homes, supporting individuals’ mental health during social isolation and improving resilience in local charities and businesses.

Gwen Parry-Jones, Magnox Chief Executive, said: “Many community groups are carrying out positive work, supporting the most vulnerable in their areas. This work is vital, and a key part of Magnox’s response to COVID-19 is to help other organisations deal with the pandemic wherever we can.

“In this time of national crisis, Magnox has agreed with the NDA that we should make available up to £25,000 at each site from the Magnox Socio-economic Scheme for use by local community groups on COVID-19 related activities. Magnox is committed to assisting the communities surrounding our sites, as our communities have supported us for over 50 years, and we hope this funding will go some way to supporting the essential work being delivered.”