We will engage and provide detailed information to the local community and listen to their views and suggestions, including the provision of specific community benefit schemes, or use of the site as an educational opportunity.
We will support the local economy through local business rates, diversification of farm income and encouraging as many employment and training opportunities locally as possible.
We will act considerately during construction and
ensure all health and safety issues are addressed throughout the lifetime of
the project.
We will accommodate needs for rights of way and sites
of archaeological importance.
We will minimise visual impact where possible, making enhancements, and including appropriate screening, such as tree planting and restoring hedgerows, throughout the lifetime of the project. These will be managed through landscape and visual impact assessments.
We will deliver multi-functional land use by proposing
co-location with agriculture and/or nature recovery projects for solar and
energy storage developments.
We will enhance the biodiversity and natural capital value of all sites, being sensitive and complementing nationally and
locally protected landscapes and nature conservation areas.
We will develop on non-agricultural land or land which
is of lower agricultural quality where this is available.
At the end of a project’s life, we will ensure full decommissioning of the equipment and return the land in a similar or improved
state as before.
We will work towards the highest supply chain standards possible, working with the UK and European solar industry to do so.
We will provide a generous community benefit fund at each site..
We are here to listen – our flat structure means that you can always talk to a director and will not be passed around junior staff.
Ulceby Pre-School and Out of School Club
Ulceby Pre-School has been running as a charity for over 20 years, and continues to provide an invaluable service for local young families. Despite fundraising for, and repairing their leaky roof twice in recent years, the repairs were unsuccessful, so they were resigned to a new roof. This was unaffordable to the charity, but they were unwilling to let their children go without care. With local support, they managed to secure half the cost, and Lightrock Power were delighted to be able to provide match-funding, up to the total value of the roof and labour. The work was completed and paid for in January 2026.
Ulceby Village Pond
The land at the rear of Ulceby Village hall boasts a beautiful wildlife area. The space, awarded a commendation from Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, includes a large pond, which locals have stocked with fish. Local fishing enthusiasts meet at the pond, which is also host to local volunteer run junior angling club, and a SEND children’s school holiday club, so it really does support the community. Being made of wood, the original fishing pegs began to wear away and become unsafe, so the Village Hall Association set about fundraising for replacements. Lightrock Power were delighted to fund two new fishing pegs, made from recycled plastic, and guaranteed for 25 years. The fishing pegs were installed in August 2026.
Ulceby Village Hall
Ulceby Village Hall has been enjoying the benefits of its solar panels since 2012, but they have still had to rely on electricity from the grid for activities held after the sun goes down. In 2025 they began investigating the possibility of installing batteries, and successfully applied for 90% funding from North Lincolnshire Council. Lightrock Power were delighted to fund the other ten percent. We’re looking forward to hearing about the install, as well as the other renewable energy projects that they are lining up.
Written by Abi Smith, GEM Finance
In October 2020 I sat around a dining table with Gavin and Deb Iceton. They had a dream to set up and amazing rural facility at Brafferton, Darlington to support young adults – known as Champions – with special educational needs and disabilities.
This would be sited on land, locally referred to as Five Acre Field, that they had been gifted personally by a local shepherdess, Freda. Freda said “I know you will do something good with this land”.
We embarked on a long, arduous journey, funded privately by Gavin and Deb. With support from Darlington Borough Council, we gained planning permission in July 2022. It was certainly a day for celebration with a unanimous 17 yes votes from the planning committee. Massive thanks goes to Andy Arthur and Craig Kipling at Create Architecture Ltd for all the architectural and planning support at a massively reduced rate. They kept us sane throughout this process! Thereafter we had a lot of money to raise for the start-up costs, including security gated access, a perimeter fence, internal fencing, cabins, groundworks, and highways costs. The whole community got behind us, from parents and carers attending and helping with fundraisers, to business sponsors and grants to match them. Wednesday 25th September 2024 marked a momentous occasion. Funds had been raised for our security gates and fence, thanks mainly to Lightrock Power. The fence was manufactured and installed by local company Middleton Forge, post crete from J Bentley’s, and some amazing volunteers, who provided their services for the installation. To say we were all on cloud nine is an understatement, I for one had to hold back tears throughout the entire day and find myself very emotional thinking about it, even now. What I have experienced being a part of this family has been the most inspiring journey of my life. Really changing lives.
Background
Throughout the planning journey, we had been offered rooms to hire at ROF 59 in Darlinton, owned by our sponsor, Finley Structures Ltd. So, in early 2021 we got the ball rolling and started to offer the specialist development and respite service, covering all manners of education and development. Taking input from our champions every step of the way, we offered everything from media studies, photography, videography, music, dance, yoga, trike riding, cookery, gardening, field to fork, ceramics. You name it, we offered it. A thorough educational plan, and classes that worked, meant that the champions engaged. The most popular lesson was, and still is, our cookery school which is thriving. We gained a grant from GAMP to provide four independent cooking stations to allow more independent learning and this has had fantastic results. Our champions now cook from scratch, take food home and cook for their families! In addition, the Happiness Hubs Fund supported us with £5k for a Horticultural Hub in the outdoor area at ROF 59 to support planting, gardening and our field to fork initiative. We now supply our kitchen with gorgeous fresh herbs and veg. Following this, another sizeable grant came from GAMP for some specialist trikes to encourage outdoor exercise. Very quickly we started to get a lot of demand, and as it stands today, we have around 34 champions attending Monday to Friday for respite and development. Our dream is full circle; to provide developmental opportunities for young people aged 16 plus, to support, develop, and help gain employment out in the world, where we offer never-ending mentoring and support.
Employment
The employment initiative has worked internally so far. Joseph Carrick came to Five Acres as a champion. He didn’t want to go back to the provision he had in place as he didn’t feel that they were meeting his needs, which was causing damage to his mental health. We worked with our director and Joseph’s mum to come to the decision that we would like to support him to achieve a apprenticeship. We noticed his passion for gardening, so cut to today, and he is now our Horticultural Apprentice! He supports the Horticultural Manager with all things green at our site. To see your child, sibling, or family member go from a bad situation to thriving – there is just no value that you can put on that happiness for him and his family.
Support
There are so many businesses and volunteers that have helped our cause – to name a few, Husqvarna, J N Bentleys Durham, MKM. But one in particular stepped in and offered a tremendous £25k to support the perimeter fence and security gated access. This has been an instrumental donation, due to the total cost and ensuring we follow the conditions of the planning approval. On Wednesday 25th September Fiona Wojciechowski from Lightrock Power travelled from Sheffield to spend the afternoon with us all to see the fence being installed. In turn we had our van all signed up with their logo.
In addition, we have received an array of grants to support all equipment along the way from CDCF (now Point North), Happiness Hubs, GAMP, The National Lottery Awards For All, Banks, COOP, Screwfix, Yorkshire Agricultural Society, The Conservation Volunteers and the Rotary Clubs of Newton Aycliffe and Great Aycliffe.
Looking Forward
We estimate that we could be up and running at the Five Acre Field site by Spring 2025 – weather permitting! We will be able to offer a extra capacity for up to 30 more champions, and many more development activities to include animal husbandry, a sensory garden, outdoor sports, holistic therapies, furniture making and horticulture – and that’s just to start!
Thank you to the Five Acres Family Team
Gavin and Deb Iceton
The founders, who work tirelessly every day to provide the best possible environment for the champs. Two people that give the hearts and souls and ask for absolutely nothing in return. Angels in our community.
Donna Martin – Fundraising and Marketing Manager
Donna is absolutely fantastic with a wealth of SEND experience, along with her endless people skills to support all aspects of the organisation. She ensures we have funds for all activities, programmes, and equipment, and even our new site. This has been a mammoth role and Donna is doing an absolutely fantastic job along with being a firm favourite with the champions! She wears her heart on her sleeve and would do anything for any of the Five Acres Family.
Charlotte Iceton – Centre Manager
Charlotte is a one of a kind. Cut from the same cloth as her parents (Gavin and Deb) she gives her heart and soul to the champions, ensuring they have the best possible environment and development programmes. The makes sure that their needs are not just met but exceeded on a daily basis. Five Acres would not be Five Acres without Charlotte; she embodies the love and passion to fight for the very best for our champs and their families, no matter the situation.
Andy Hickson – Horticultural Manager
Andy joined us after leaving Network Rail last year and has fast become our Horticultural guru. Changing careers and going through the new training, Andy now has the Five Acres bug. It’s a simple as this – plodding along in life just isn’t how it works. When you become so passionate about what we are offering it is just inspirational and exciting that you cannot help but put your everything into it. This is exactly what Andy shows every day. He is working tirelessly to get the new site up to scratch and has big plans for flowerbeds, railway sleepers, and polytunnels. He has ambitious planting plans for Joseph and the champions. he is such a fantastic addition to the family – we cannot wait to see the site in another six months to see the transition!
There are many other staff and volunteers that all live on the job. They get to spend every single day supporting our champions, and helping them thrive. Thank you to all of them.
If you know anyone in the SEND community, or a potential sponsor or volunteer, tell them to look us up! Our ideas for further capacity and to build more structures are already under way with plans to build respite lodges along with further development space onsite. Watch this space, come and join us.
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