Community projects along the North Wales coast are benefiting from over £100,000 of funding as a result of the latest grants from the North Wales Coast Community Fund, Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage Huw Lewis announced.
The Community Fund is available for projects in the regeneration area which covers the coast from Mochdre to Prestatyn. The fund amounts to over £1m over the next three years and is the result of a unique partnership between RWE npower renewables (RWE NRL) and the Welsh Government, which offers local groups easy ‘one stop’ access to the fund.
The RWE NRL element of the fund is specifically available to communities between Mochdre to Kinmel Bay as a direct result of the operation of Rhyl Flats Windfarm and is managed by the Welsh Government.
Projects benefiting from this round of funding are:
AFASIC Cymru (All Families Affected by Speech Impaired Children). The group has applied for support for a youth project which helps 11 – 19 year olds with a speech, language and communication need so they can take part in social activities. £2,942 and £7,980 from Rhyl Flats Fund.
Colwyn Bay FC Football in the Community – This not for profit company provides healthy lifestyle courses, afterschool clubs and support employment programmes through the motivational power of football. Since September 2009 they have involved 75 adults and 912 children in their activities. Funding will go towards the purchase of their own portacabins and two computers. £17,024
Colwyn Bay Town Council – The funding will go towards a Participatory Budget scheme which will allow residents to make decisions about funding for their community. £20,000 and £10,000 from Rhyl Flats Fund.
Abergele Youth Action – The group, which has worked with young people since 2001, would like to improve its facilities by providing additional training rooms, an office, community music studio and fully equipped IT training suite. £20,000.
The Benefits Advice Shop – This registered charity has provided a specialist welfare benefit advice and advocacy services for 20 years. It now plans to provide an outreach service to Kinmel Bay, Abergele and Mochdre. £26,100 from the Rhyl Flats Fund.
Huw Lewis said:
“All of the projects which are benefiting from this funding today are providing an important service for their communities and have a positive impact on the area. What makes the Community Fund special is that it is local people who decide where the funding should go. Local people are at the heart of decision-making.
“The Regeneration Area is about working with the communities who are in the area, and know what that area needs. I look forward to seeing the impact this fund has on the coastal area, and I look forward to seeing how these projects develop.”
Kathryn Hall, Community Investment Officer for RWE npower renewables, which built and now operates Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm, said:
“We’re delighted that through the operation of our Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm, and our partnership with the Welsh Government, we’re able to help local communities bring such vital and important projects to life.
“These latest awards demonstrate our continuing commitment to supporting the local communities in which we work and operate, and in a way that really works for them. We’re also very pleased to see the level of local engagement in taking up the opportunities available through this fund, and the success of the single application process.”
