Three projects in Wrexham benefit from Welsh Government’s Community Facilities Programme funding

Twenty-four community projects across Wales have been awarded a share of over £1.78m in funding by the Welsh Government, with three in Wrexham.

The Community Facilities Programme funds “well-used amenities to improve sustainability, providing opportunities for local people as part of their day-to-day lives”.

The Maes y Pant / Hollowfield Action Group have been awarded £10,000 towards creating a new children’s play area in the community woodland.

Gresford Community Library is receiving £24,740 towards installing new heating equipment and insulation to make the premises more energy efficient.

Wrexham Community Broadcasting – who recently took over the assets and rebooted Calon FM – was awarded £25,000 to create two studio spaces for live broadcasting and pre-recording radio shows.

Gresford Community Library Director and Trustee, Jan Jones, said: “Gresford Community Library is a small charity entirely managed by volunteers.

“We provide all the typical library services and, if people want something we don’t have, we can request books etc from across the region.

“Locals tell us we’ve helped to keep them going during the COVID restrictions with our books and jigsaws, making life a little more bearable.

“We’re delighted and very grateful to Welsh Government Community Facilities Programme for their support. We can now get rid of our ancient, gas-guzzling boiler and switch to something altogether greener and more efficient. For the first time we will be able to look forward to a warmer winter, without the fear of crippling gas bills and wasted carbon!”

The Minister for Social Justice, Jane Hutt, said, “As always it is fantastic to see such a range of projects and organisations from across Wales benefitting their local communities thanks to this funding.

“After the last 20 months and now more so then ever, our communities and the wonderful facilities within them are centres for bringing people together and building back a stronger, fairer Wales for all.”

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

The other latest smaller fund awardees (up to £25,000) are:

• Beaufort Theatre, Blaenau Gwent – £7,000 for a modern and energy efficient lighting system.
• Blaina Community Sports Club, Blaenau Gwent – £20,000 towards completing the first phase of their refurbishment.
• Friends of Six Bells Park, Blaenau Gwent – £10,000 towards resurfacing their tennis courts.
• Treowen Star Sports and Social Club, Caerphilly – £25,000 towards renovating the club house for use as a community centre.
• Friends of Eco Park, Caerphilly – £10,000 towards purchasing a converted container for use as an office / school room / canteen.
• Llanarthne New Village Hall, Carmarthenshire – £25,000 towards completing disabled toilets, baby changing facilities and shower facilities.
• St David’s Church Council Capel Dewi, Ceredigion – £6,500 towards improving the heating system and refurbishment to the outside toilet.
• Prestatyn Men’s Shed, Denbighshire – £10,000 towards the purchase of The John Moore Centre which they are currently leasing.
• Basecamp Co-op Chepstow, Monmouthshire – £9,600 to provide a safe space for young people in the community to gather and engage in activities.
• Gelligaled Park Community Action Group, RCT – £25,000 towards constructing a multi-use games area.
• Garnswllt Welfare Association, Swansea – £22,500 to renovate their hall, including washrooms and baby changing facilities.
• St Fagans Church Aberdare, RCT – £20,000 towards repairing the fabric of their building due to water damage.
• Merthyr Tydfil Sailing Club, Merthyr Tydfil – £25,000 to upgrade their facilities to include a training room, kitchenette and changing spaces.
• Canolfan Felin Fach Centre, Gwynedd – £12,000 to refurbish and replace their kitchen.

The latest awardees up to £250,000 are:

• Canolfan Glanhwfa Cyf, Angelsey – £250,000 towards completely refurbishing the Chapel and creating a community hub.
• Parochial Church Council Parish of Llandyfodwg and Cwmogwr, Bridgend – £153,000 towards providing a community hub with modern facilities.
• Enbarr Foundation, Flintshire – £237,000 towards resurrecting the John Summers Building in Sealand (Old Steelworks) to enable the local community to access employment opportunities.
• Cymer Afan Community Library, Neath Port Talbot – £163,000 towards refurbishing the community library, including a children’s area.
• Bethel Community Church Trust, Newport – £249,000 towards expanding building capacity to accommodate more community projects. The building was burnt down previously.
• Pontypridd YMCA, RCT – £250,000 towards redeveloping the YMCA. This money will specifically be used for the nursey and community areas.
• RSPCA Llys Nini, Swansea – £195,000 towards building ‘Yr Ysgubor’, a café with children’s play area, meeting/classroom, charity shop and donations point.