- 15 October 2025
On 1 October 2025, staff from RWE joined forces across three locations, each chosen for its connection to the Sofia Offshore Wind Farm project. The volunteering day provided an opportunity for the team to demonstrate a commitment to the local communities.
In Kirkleatham Gardens, near the cable landing site and onshore converter station, volunteers rolled up their sleeves to tidy and improve the area, helping to enhance a valued local green space. Volunteers worked to clear communal spaces and helped to maintain the local environment.
In Grimsby, where RWE’s new operations and maintenance base will be located, the team worked alongside staff and pupils at a Healing Academy to restore a memorial area and create a new wellbeing space for students.
Meanwhile, colleagues from the Swindon head office joined forces with the Wiltshire Canal Trust to clear sections of the towpath, removing debris and overgrown vegetation to improve safety and access for walkers, cyclists and other canal-users.
These activities form part of RWE’s wider commitment to the regions that host its projects and demonstrate how the company strives to support the communities at the heart of its operations. They also form part of RWE’s culture of care, aligning with it's We Care campaign which champions responsibility for wellbeing, sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Kirkleatham Ward Councillor Marian Fairley said: “What’s been done today is amazing. Thanks to the 16 volunteers here, we're transforming this area into something the community can benefit from. This work not only makes the woodlands more accessible but opens the door for us to further develop the space into something that benefits both the community and potential tourists.”
Brian Cowie, quality engineer on the HVDC package for Sofia Offshore Wind Farm spoke of his experience of the day, saying: “It’s a different kind of day from my usual in the office. It’s great to be out here, seeing familiar faces and meeting those I’ve only known through emails. I was last involved with volunteering at this same site in March and it’s very rewarding to see the progress we've made. It’s a powerful reminder of how good it feels to give back to the communities in which we work.”
The Sofia Offshore Wind Farm, currently under construction 195 kilometres off the coast of north east coast of England on Dogger Bank, is one of the largest single offshore wind farms in the world and the largest construction project in RWE’s global portfolio. By 2026, it is expected to begin supplying clean, renewable electricity to the UK grid, supporting national targets to deliver 50GW of offshore wind by 2030 and a decarbonised power system by 2035.
Alongside the volunteering effort, the Sofia Construction Community Fund has been awarding grants to groups and organisations in the project area. RWE invests over £5 million every year into community funds across its UK wind farms and over their lifetimes, these funds will contribute more than £100 million to initiatives that strengthen and support communities.
Matthew Swanwick, project director for Sofia Offshore Wind Farm said of the volunteering day: “It is right for us to give our time to support local causes that are important to the people living in the areas where we are working. For our team, it’s a chance to connect with communities, make a practical difference and understand more about the places where we work. Days like this show that even small efforts can have a big impact, both for local groups and for the teams who get involved.”
The volunteering day is a demonstration of RWE’s ongoing regional commitments, complementing the company’s community funding programmes and highlighting the broader benefits that accompany major renewable energy projects like Sofia Offshore Wind Farm.
