A total of 16 organisations across Wales will share over £3 million of Welsh Assembly Government funding to help regenerate their local community, Social Justice Minister Carl Sargeant has announced.
The funding is part of the Community Facilities and Activities Programme which offers grants on a local level for projects that help make Welsh communities a better place to live.
Thanks to the scheme a number of groups across Wales will receive funds to improve their premises for use by the local community. Holyhead Sea Cadets are one of the recipients of this latest funding round and will use their grant to extend their premises and install energy friendly fittings.
In Risca the Lylac Ridge Animal Education Centre is set to purchase their own land to care for their animals whilst the Public Hall in Llanrhaeadr will be demolished and replaced with a brand new building.
Narberth Museum will revamp a disused building into an education centre whilst a new floodlit pitch is on the cards for Lampeter RFC, as well as three pitches for junior members and a renovated club house for community use.
Carl Sargeant is delighted that so many communities are set to benefit from the latest funding round. The Minister said:
“Local clubs and centres can be the hub of the community, providing a number of leisure and recreation activities to bring people together and get them active.
“Very often the local recreation centre is housed in an old building and without help to get it up to scratch it can fall into disrepair, often resulting in closure and a loss of vital activities for the community.
“That’s why I’m pleased to see so many local groups and volunteers taking matters into their own hands and applying for grants to make their centre a better place for the whole community to enjoy. Such spirit is crucial to keeping our communities alive and I am delighted to show my support through this scheme.”
The Community Facilities and Activities Programme was launched in 2002 and to date has funded 805 projects totalling over £87 million. This latest bidding round will fund 16 projects totalling £3,042,548 over three financial years.
