Powering community life across Monmouthshire and Caerphilly

Two organisations in Monmouthshire and Caerphilly are set to benefit from more than £600,000 through the latest round of Ynni Cymru funding, helping them reduce energy costs, lower carbon emissions and direct more resources towards supporting local people.

The projects are among 24 organisations across Wales set to receive a share of £8.27 million through the programme's third round of funding.

In Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Wye Gymnastics and Galaxy Cheerleading is helping ensure more of every pound lands where it matters most. The charity supports more than 1,400 participants across its activities, with more than 600 children attending its Caldicot headquarters each week. Its work extends beyond sport, operating a community fridge, warm space and Fit & Fed programme, while also supporting young people into volunteering and employment through its Young Leaders programme.

Funding will be used for solar panels, battery storage, heat pumps, electric vehicle charging points and smart energy controls. As a charity, every pound saved on energy can be redirected towards supporting local people. The project will help protect community programmes, keep participation affordable for families and ensure more resources can be invested back into the communities it serves.

In Caerphilly, Caerphilly Miners Centre for the Community welcomes around 500 people each week to its community hub, which provides activities and support for people of all ages. Based in a former hospital building more than 100 years old, the centre hosts therapies, exercise classes, arts, play activities, volunteering opportunities and support for local micro-businesses.

Funding will be used to install solar panels, battery storage, heat pump technology, electric vehicle charging points and smart energy controls. The project aims to reduce energy costs, improve comfort throughout the building and help future-proof the centre, ensuring it remains a welcoming community space for future generations.

Ynni Cymru is a Welsh Government programme that helps communities, businesses and public services create and use their own clean energy. It supports projects that generate renewable energy, reduce energy bills and bring benefits to local areas.

Since launching in 2023, the programme has supported more than 80 projects across Wales. This third round of funding will provide £8.27 million to 24 organisations, including two projects across Monmouthshire and Caerphilly, bringing total investment through Ynni Cymru to more than £31 million.

Amy Whittaker, whose son Ollie attends Wye Gymnastics and Galaxy Cheerleading, said:

“My son Ollie is autistic and has quite a high level of support needs, so accessing mainstream activities can be incredibly difficult.

“For the last five years, we've been going to WGGC, where everyone knows and accepts Ollie for exactly who he is.

“The coaches understand his needs, celebrate his achievements and make him feel included.

“The gym is a safe place for us, where Ollie is not only accepted but cherished. We really feel a sense of belonging there.”

Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, Adam Price, said:

“I'm delighted that both Wye Gymnastics and Galaxy Cheerleading and Caerphilly Miners Centre for the Community are benefiting from this latest round of Ynni Cymru funding.

“These projects show how clean energy can strengthen the services and facilities that sit at the heart of our communities, whether that's helping a charity support children and families or ensuring a valued community hub can continue welcoming people of all ages for years to come.

“Ynni Cymru is delivering the Welsh Government's vision for greener, cheaper energy, owned and used by people and communities across Wales.”