Local Community
The wind park will create most significant benefits for the local economy, in the form of contracts for local businesses and job creation. At the same time, Navitus Bay is committed to working closely with the local community to raise awareness and improve understanding of our project plans.
In the summer of 2013 we ran exhibitions at community events, including Riverfest on the Isle of Wight, Slades Farm Festival, Bournemouth Family Festival and the Green Community Fair, also in Bournemouth. At these events, representatives from the Navitus Bay team spoke with members of the community about the proposals, providing leaflets and other helpful information.
We run a programme in schools with education charity CREATE, which delivers free education workshops to pupils in and around Dorset about the role of renewable energy in combating climate change. Since 2011, CREATE workshops have reached almost 500 pupils in Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. To find out more about our workshops and resources of children visit our Education tab.
We indirectly support Isle of Wight charity the Ellen McArthur Trust through our sponsorship of endurance swimmer Anna Wardley’s 5ive Island Challenge. Anna embarked on a series of gruelling swims as part of her challenge, and Navitus Bay is proud to have sponsored the final, and longest, leg of the challenge: swimming the circumference of the Isle of Wight. Anna attempted this swim in September, and the whole of the Navitus Bay team were proud to witness her success. Keep up-to-date on Anna’s latest achievements by following her on Twitter.
Navitus Bay involved the local community in choosing a name for the wind park and designing its identity.
In April 2011, the name Navitus Bay was chosen by the public following five weeks of voting. The name was suggested by Jacky Ellwood from Christchurch in Dorset. Jacky devised Navitus Bay from the Latin name for energy, ‘Navitus’ and the fact that, if the project goes ahead, it would face onto various bays along the south coast.
In January 2012, Navitus Bay ran a second competition inviting young artists and designers from Dorset, the New Forest and the Isle of Wight to shape the look of the project by designing a logo for the proposed wind park. The entry by 18 year-old student, Danni Cain from New Milton was chosen for its creative and colourful design. To celebrate the establishment of the joint venture between Eneco and EDF Energy, work started on a new and distinctive brand identity for Navitus Bay with Danni’s logo given a fresh personality. Navitus Bay invited Danni to their design agency to give her seal of approval.
I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to come and meet the graphic designers to see how my design has been refined to be the cornerstone of Navitus Bay’s new brand identity. It has been really useful to see how a design agency works and I can’t wait to open a newspaper and see my logo featured! Michon, the design agency, have also offered me a work placement next year which is wonderful news.
Danni Cain
Find out more about Navitus Bay’s work in the community
Navitus Bay is committed to ensuring that local communities benefit from the wind park. It is currently investigating community benefit and will be able to comment further in 2014.
