- 01/08/2016
- Posted by: Joyce Watson MS
- Category: Feature
Mid and West Wales AMs Joyce Watson and Eluned Morgan have congratulated two community projects, in Aberaeron and Machynlleth, that have been awarded grants worth more than £800,000.
Siop Cynfelyn, located in a former service station in the small north Ceredigion village of Tre’r Ddol, has secured £791,959 for an ambitious re-build. The community hub offers a range of volunteering opportunities and works with Job Centre Plus and the local college to provide work placements for young people who are starting out in the catering industry.
The project hosts a Welsh language lending library, community meeting space, shop and café. The revamped facility, the plan is, will have extra room for a mother and toddler group, a Wales and West Credit Union office, and provide free access to Wi-Fi and communal IT equipment. The project is backed by £172,083 from the Welsh Government’s Communities Facilities and Activities Programme (CFAP). Match funding has been agreed with Big Lottery (£497,000), Trust-house Charitable Foundation (£25,000) and Ceredigion Community Fund (£25,000).
RAY Ceredigion, situated in the coastal village of Aberaeron, provides a range of services for children and young people, including those with disabilities, as well as arts and craft activities for adults. The charity has been granted £30,601 for building improvements to the 19th Century stone-built former agricultural store on Tabernacle Street. The service will spend the money from Ceredigion Council (£15,300), CFAP (£12,240.48) and their own pot (£3,060) on new windows, doors and insulation.
Welcoming the announcements, Joyce Watson AM said:
“I know both of these projects well – they do fantastic work – so I am delighted RAY Ceredigion and Siop Cynfelyn have been awarded this money.
“We can all appreciate how important these sort of ‘hubs’ are to our towns and villages. By supporting the people and the places that bring us together, the Welsh Government’s CFAP programme is a sound investment in the future of our communities.”
Eluned Morgan AM added:
“The Welsh Labour Government’s Communities and Facilities Programme has supported innovative projects right across Wales against the backdrop of austerity. I look forward to seeing the benefits both of these projects bring to their respective communities.”
The Community Facilities Programme provides capital grant funding of up to £500,000 to help tackle poverty through creating and improving local facilities.
http://gov.wales/topics/people-and-communities/communities/grants/community-facilities-programme/?lang=en
