New funding for facilities will boost community wellbeing
Cyllid newydd ar gyfer cyfleusterau a fydd yn hybu lles cymunedol - Ne-ddwyrain Cymru
Today, the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt, announced Welsh Government funding of £900k for improvements to community-based facilities through the Community Facilities Programme.
This Programme, which funds projects up to a maximum of £250,000, or up to £25,000 for smaller grants, helps well-used community facilities to improve their financial and/ or environmental sustainability, providing opportunities for local people to improve their day to day lives.
Projects receiving funding in South East Wales include:
- Maindee Unlimited, Newport - £204,177 towards the total cost of £230,000 to create public toilets, a community space with kitchen facilities and to landscape the outside green space area.
- Cwmbran Youth Centre, Torfaen - £148,556 towards the £193,556 cost of creating a training base with kitchen, toilets and community garden as well as a new entrance with lift and resurface courtyard area for disability access.
- Beaufort Theatre, Blaenau Gwent - £10,000 towards the £12,000 cost of upgrading their boiler system.
- Smart Money Cymru, Caerphilly - £7,000 towards the total cost of £10,700 to upgrade their existing portakabin.
- Llanyrafon Junior AFC, Torfaen - £25,000 towards the cost of £41,056 to upgrade their changing rooms and senior pitch.
Jane Hutt said:
“The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted some specific challenges within communities, like mental health and social well-being. Shared commitment reinforces vibrant, caring communities, where citizens are bound together by close ties of co-operation and team work, inequalities are reduced, and the most vulnerable among us feel supported.
“The Welsh Government’s Community Facilities Programme supports some fantastic local projects to evolve and grow to meet the specific needs of their area.
“Offering grants likes these to community-led projects helps to improve much needed facilities, which play such an important part in the lives of people throughout Wales. I want to reflect on and celebrate the huge contribution made by the third sector organisations and volunteers who work so hard within their communities to deliver vital help and support where it is most needed.”
The Minister for Finance and Trefnydd, Rebecca Evans, said:
“I am pleased to be able to provide funding for the community sector across Wales.
“Despite the unprecedented challenges we have faced during the pandemic, community spirit and the resilience of Welsh people has shone through. The funding we are announcing today will continue to help bring communities together through support for local projects.”
Applications for the Community Facilities Programme are open year-round and organisations can find out more by searching for Community Facilities Programme on gov.wales.
Notes to editors
Case Study
Cwmbran Youth Centre, Torfaen grant was for the cost of creating a training base with kitchen, toilets and community garden as well as a new entrance with lift and resurface courtyard area for disability access.
CCYP is a drop in centre for young people and a safe haven to relax, meet other people, access support services and 1 to 1 support staff. They can also access traineeships, volunteer and use the internet for job searching. The centre caters for over 500 young people a week.
The grant will be used to renovate the current building. The present office and kitchen will be combined to create a training and working kitchen. A large disabled multi use toilet area will also be created.
A training and community facility will be created and all entry areas will be widened to improve accessibility.
Furthermore there will be a healthy living suite and a social enterprise production area plus a workshop area to deliver practical training.
The centre also hosts a foodbank and distributes parcels to over 30 families a week.