News
£13.5 million available to make great things happen in rural Wales
COMMUNITY groups can apply to a £13.5 million National Lottery funding programme to make great things happen in rural Wales.
The Big Lottery Fund is inviting groups to help tackle poverty in Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Powys, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Monmouthshire.
Grants of between £10,000 and £350,000 are available and their work must benefit a community with a population of 10,000 or less.
Although types of activities that could be funded are not being prescribed, applications would need to show how groups are doing any of the following to address poverty: improving well-being, raising aspirations, enhancing skills available in the community or helping people deal with tough circumstances.
This could include themes like employment and income, transport and access to services, poor broadband and digital exclusion, housing and fuel poverty and demand for welfare and advice services.
Big Lottery Fund Wales’ director John Rose said: “The beauty of rural areas in Wales often masks the hidden needs so we are investing £13.5 million to help address these.
“We would like communities in the nine areas to take this opportunity to create solutions addressing rural poverty. In doing this, we want to empower people and communities to make great things happen.
“And it’s thanks to National Lottery players that this funding is available to make a real difference to people in Wales.”
This is round one of the community-led funding with around £2 million available and an application deadline of Monday, April 3 in 2017. Subsequent rounds of funding will be announced next year.
The community-led grant part of the programme comes after £2 million was set aside for community development support. This is because our research and consultation identified how rural communities sometimes lack the capacity to identify assets that will make improvements.
Third-sector-led partnerships have applied to this part of the programme with up to four successful applicants being announced in spring 2017. Their work will support communities in developing ideas and funding applications to overcome challenges they face which are linked to poverty.
To find out more about the latest funding and apply visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/ruralprogramme
Crime
Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident
A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.
Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.
The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:
- Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
- Common assault
- Assault by beating
No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.
Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.
Crime
Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges
Defendant remanded in custody
A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.
David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:
- Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
- A second count of assault
- Criminal damage
- An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
- A public order offence
Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.
Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”
A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.
The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.
Crime
Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults
Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing
A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.
Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.
During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.
Charges Include:
- Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
- Intentional non-fatal strangulation
- Common assault on a woman
- Criminal damage in a domestic context
- Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
- Breach of bail conditions
Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.
Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.
No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.
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