Welsh Government News: “Volunteers are the glue which hold our communities together”

The Community Facilities Programme funds projects up to a maximum of £250,000, or up to £25,000 for smaller grants. It helps well-used community facilities to improve their long-term sustainability, providing opportunities for local people to improve their day-to-day lives.

The latest project receiving up to £250,000 of funding are:

• Welsh Islamic Cultural Association, Swansea, for the renovation of a building to create new classrooms
• Mumbles Community Association, Swansea, for a new community hub and café. They will also refurbish and repurpose the existing Pavilion with accessible public toilets
• Aberporth Village Hall and Recreation Ground, Ceredigion, to rebuild one property and modernise another
• Cwmni y Fran, Gwynedd, to renovate a building to become a creative hub
• Centre for African Entrepreneurship, Swansea, to purchase a building to convert into a community enterprise hub

Those receiving up to £25,000 are:

• Aberbeeg Community Centre, Blaenau Gwent, to replace their heating system with a renewable, economical and sustainable energy heating system
• Brynna Community Centre, RCT, for resurfacing and extending their existing car park to make it accessible for disabled users
• Brynmawr Rugby Club, Blaenau Gwent, to refurbish the rugby pavilion
• Bwlchgroes Community Hall, Pembrokeshire, to expand their outdoor facilities for use by the community to help with mental and physical wellbeing
• All Saints Church Newtown, Powys, for a new extension to the church to provide accessible toilets, kitchen and improved access to main building to create a community hub
• Valle Crucis Mission Area, Denbighshire, for accessible toilets, a new kitchen, thermal entrance doors and upgrade of heating system to enable the centre to be more energy efficient
• Ffrindiau Gardd Natur Criccieth, Gwynedd, for a pavilion-style shed on their allotment to provide a space to work on projects and an area for teaching and passing on skills.

Chair of Mumbles Community Association, Simon Tse, said:

“We are thrilled that our grant application to the Welsh Government Community Facilities Programme has been successful. 

“Our team put in the initial expression of interest to the grant programme in June 2020 and were then encouraged to submit a detailed application, which we did last November. At each stage, we have worked with sports and community groups, local schools and the wider public to ensure what we are seeking to deliver meets their needs and wants.

“The awarding panel clearly recognised the benefits that the development will bring and how our plans will both protect and enhance the valuable role Underhill Park plays for local people and visitors, making it an excellent resource for the whole community.”

The Minister for Social Justice, Jane Hutt, said:

“Volunteers and the projects they support have always been an integral part of our local communities across Wales. As the last year has shown, volunteers are the glue which hold our communities together.

“This amazing volunteering attitude has never been more evident than it has over the past 12 months, where we have seen people of all ages and backgrounds rise up to the enormous challenges Covid-19 has presented.

“This year’s Volunteers’ Week and our latest commitment to funding 12 fantastic community projects across Wales are especially poignant and it has never felt more fitting to take the opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to each and every person and organisation who has given their time to help.”