Kao Data is funding 20 local community projects throughout Stockport borough.

The company, which is behind the new £350m data centre in Reddish, will be distributing a total of £30,000 amongst charities, not-for-profit organisations and other beneficial projects.

Some of the successful projects include plastic donation stations for the innovative Plastic Shed organisation; funding for Reddish Men in Sheds to repair donated bikes for the community; courses run by the Siyanda Trust for the African community to help improve their lives.

Further still, Marbury Road Edible Garden in Heaton Chapel will offer therapeutic sessions for young people and Re:Dish in Reddish can now buy a printing machine to create their own tote bags for their social supermarket.   

Kao Data worked alongside Sector 3 to deliver this funding (Images supplied)

Dubbed the 'SEED' fund, it's also been supported by Sector 3, the local organisation which supports charities and non-profit groups.

It is Sector 3 that managed applications for the SEED fund, on behalf of Kao.

Kao Data's Director of Marketing Lizzy McDowell developed the Kao SEED Fund from concept through to delivery - she said she was 'thrilled' to see it come to fruition.

"The SEED Fund project has enabled Kao Data to support as many community organisations and charities across this wonderful town as possible. We will be eagerly watching the development of all these amazing projects throughout the rest of this year." 

Kao Data's Spencer Lamb and Doug Loewe With Andy Burnham and Cllr Mark Hunter, on the site of the new centre in Reddish (Image - Kao Data)

The full list of organisations which will be receiving funding is as follows:

• Marbury Road Edible Garden
• Siyanda Development Trust
• Plastic Shed
• Re:Dish
• Reddish Men in Sheds
• Coming Home
• Waves of Change
• Drywave
• Forward
• PIE: Pursuing Individual Excellence
• Arc
• BOOST Wellbeing
• Pure College
• Place for Youth CIC
• RCT Group
• The Garden House
• Feelgood Communities CIC
• St Thomas's CE Primary School PTA
• Pure College and Blogs
• Brinnington Local Organised Group Society

Kao's new data centre will occupy 25,900 sqm, and will be based on a site off Kenwood Road. Once built, it'll be the biggest data centre in the North West.

It will provide a physical storage base for all the functions of modern technology – helping us to do everything from using a mobile phone or laptop, to developing the future of artificial intelligence (AI).

Bosses behind the plans say it could open the door to other data centres wanting to come to the region, drawing the businesses of the future to Greater Manchester.

~

Free from clickbait, Stockport Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our town.

To get our top stories in your inbox each week, subscribe to our free weekly newsletter HERE.

Please consider following Stockport Nub News on Facebook or Twitter