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Community

£21 million allocated to secure the future of Wales’ voluntary sector

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£7M A YEAR has been allocated to support Wales’ voluntary sector over the current Welsh Government’s term, a commitment of over £21m across the next three years.

The announcement follows the publication of the draft Budget by Finance Minister Rebecca Evans last week (Dec 20).

This is in addition to around £7m provided every year by the Welsh Government’s Community Facilities Programme, a grant scheme of up to £250,000 for the improvement of local community projects and facilities.

The £7m of annual funding, beginning in 2022, will be provided to the Third Sector Support Wales. This partnership comprises of 20 organisations – 19 County Voluntary Councils supporting each county area and the national membership body for voluntary organisations, Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA).

These organisations provide an infrastructure to all of Wales’ voluntary sector organisations under four pillars of activity identified in partnership with Welsh Government: volunteering; good governance; sustainable funding; and engagement and influencing.

Additionally, the long-standing Community Facilties Programme will continue to provide small and large grants to well-used community projects to improve their sustainability and provide opportunities for local people to improve their day-to-day lives.

Announced every 3 months and split into pots of under £25,000 and up to £250,000, the latest Community Facilities Programme recipients are:

Up to £250,000:

£250,000 for Krishna Cymru, Cardiff to refurbish and turn their Grade II-listed building into a cultural heritage site and well-being community centre for Butetown, promoting physical and mental well-being through accessible training in yoga and meditation
£250,000 for Llanrumney Hall Community Trust, Cardiff to create a health and well-being centre
£250,000 for Newport Mind to complete the next phase of their project creating a fit-for-purpose centre with consultation, training and group rooms plus a sanctuary space on the first floor

Up to £25,000:

£25,000 for Mentoring for All, Cardiff to renovate and repair their roof, kitchen and toilet facilities and replace windows and doors
£25,000 for Ysgoldy Community Group, Ceredigion to provide a safe and sustainable off-road parking area, including planting native trees and hedgerows, creating an environment for local fauna and flora, enabling biodiversity and lessening their carbon footprint of the project
£25,000 for Clwb Rygbi Rhuthun, Denbighshire to renovate their clubhouse by providing a larger seating area, new kitchen and upgrades to their toilet / changing room facilities for more suitable access for all
£20,000 for Abergavenny Community Trust, Monmouthshire to install solar panels for their community centre as part of their net zero by 2030 plans
£25,000 for Llanelli Goods Shed, Carmarthenshire to create a community café and heritage interpretation area
£25,000 for Tabernacl Cardiff, Cardiff to repair their Grade II listed building including to the flat roof, stones repairs and roof lights
£8,000 for Bedwas Rugby 2011, Caerphilly to provide a new, low-carbon, floodlighting system.
£25,000 for the Parish of Abercynon, RCT to install a professional kitchen to develop a social enterprise café

Minister for Social Justice and with responsibility for Wales’ third sector, Jane Hutt, told this newspaper: “It has been yet another difficult year for many of us, but our community, charitable and third sector organisations have remained steadfast in their support for all.

“Continuing to commit considerable funding through both our Third Sector Support Wales network and Community Facilities Programme will allow our wonderful hyper-local projects as well as wider-ranging organisations to evolve and grow in their areas, ensure they remain fit-for-purpose and available for anyone who requires them.”

CEO of WCVA, Ruth Marks, told The Herald: “Third Sector Support Wales is a unique partnership supporting local, regional and national charitable and voluntary action. Our members are active in every community and make a significant contribution in every walk of life.

“This financial support will enable us to maintain and develop our services to meet current and emerging needs in the sector.”

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

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

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THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

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Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

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ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.

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Community

Restoration of a pond hopes to support biodiversity in Pembrokeshire 

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AN OLD millpond at the heart of the Wallis and Ambleston community, and a site of Special Scientific Interest, has now been improved to benefit water quality and increase biodiversity in an area of South Wales, thanks to funding from Nestlé Waters UK. 

Wallis Pond was created in 1836 as part of the tributary of the Wester Cleddau River to supply water to a local mill. Back in 1978, it was restored and later re-opened by HRH King Charles III, the then Prince of Wales.  

Over the years, the pond had become completely silted up, restricting the waters passage and the pond’s ability to retain water, resulting in a reduced diversity of habitat in and around the millpond.  

Pembrokeshire County Council, Heavyside Landscapes and Nestlé Waters UK have come together to restore the millpond with regulatory guidance from Natural Resources Wales and support from the Ambleston Community Council. 

The project saw the pond re-dug and de-silted, and the old sluice gate replaced to re-establish the millpond. With the pond now able to hold more water, it is hoped to help build resilience to the increased frequency and intensity of storm events, alleviating the risk of flooding in the local area.   

Retention of flows in the pond for a longer time should help reduce silt build-up and prevent nutrients such as phosphates and nitrates from travelling downstream in the Cleddau catchment, helping to protect water quality, improve aquatic habitats, and encourage eels, otters, damselflies, and other wildlife species.  

Restoration of Wallis Pond is one of the projects that Nestlé Waters is working on as part of its efforts to help regenerate local water cycles and create a positive water impact everywhere the company operates. 

Matthew Faulkner, Factory Manager at the Nestlé Waters site in Princes Gate, said: “We are proud to be a part of the Wallis Pond restoration work, aimed at delivering long-lasting benefits in Pembrokeshire, where we bottle at source Princes Gate and Nestlé Pure Life waters. This beautiful landscape is not only our home, but also home to some incredible flora and fauna which are vital for keeping the area rich and thriving in biodiversity.  

“We’re working hard to protect this land and the water beneath our feet. Water is a shared resource and a shared responsibility, and caring for it takes the whole community. That’s why we’re grateful to be working with partners on this project that will hopefully have a positive impact on the local ecosystem and community.” 

Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services at the Pembrokeshire County Council, said: “We welcome this funding to enhance the biodiversity in Wallis Pond which can be enjoyed by the residents of Ambleston, the wider communities in Pembrokeshire and the visitors to our fantastic county. 

“This is an excellent example of partnership working that has significant benefits for the environment and the wellbeing of generations to come.”  

Eirian Forrest, Clerk at the Ambleston Community Council, said: “We are grateful to Nestlé Waters UK for the funding and wish to thank everyone who has been involved in this project, especially the Pembrokeshire County Council team, for pushing the project forwards. 

“The Community Council are delighted that the work has finally been done and look forward to the positive impact it will have on biodiversity. We have already received many positive comments from members of the community. The improved pond encourages locals to take a walk around the area, as well as sit down to watch and enjoy the wildlife.”   

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