Conwy Valley community groups get cash boost

Mar 4 2010 by Samantha Castle, North Wales Weekly News

Dolwyddelan community group

THREE community groups in the Conwy Valley are set to receive a share of a £200,000 cash boost.

The local organisations are among 46 community projects in Wales that will benefit from a share of £7 million in funding under the Welsh Assembly Government’s Community Facilities and Activities Programme (CFAP).

Menter Siabod in Dolwyddelan has been the biggest winner, receiving £113,000 in funding towards an IT Centre for the Community.

With the cash boost they plan to build and fit an ICT centre attached to Ysgol Dolwyddelan which will provide courses on how to use software applications.

Local Cllr Liz Roberts said: “I am delighted that Menter Siabod has been successful in their application for Assembly funding which will provide valuable extra resources to Dolwyddelan and the wider rural area I represent.

"It's exciting times for the area as the new IT suite will benefit the whole community. When we did an appraisal as to what the local community would like in the village many said they wanted computer lessons.

"The IT suite will be built very soon and will be completed before next April."

Also awarded is a grant of £82,000 to Golygfa Gwydyr for the Caerdroia Environmental Learning Project where the aim is to purchase a building in Llanrwst to expand their educational activities and work helping the unemployed.

There’s also £4,835 match-funding for the Cwm Culture and Heritage project run by Cwm Community Action Group to turn part of the community centre in Cwm Penmachno into a heritage room, to display the history of the area to local people and visitors.

The CFAP is a grant scheme available to help community and voluntary organisations provide facilities or carry out activities which will promote the regeneration of communities. Since its launch in 2002 CFAP has previously funded 708 projects to the tune of over £70 million

Announcing the funding, Social Justice and Local Government Minister, Carl Sargeant said: “The Community Facilities and Activities Programme is making a real, tangible difference to community and voluntary groups at a grass roots level. It is wonderful that so many of the projects from earlier grants have now come to fruition, and I am certain that the funding I’ve announced today will further contribute to the regeneration of many communities throughout Wales.”

Responding to news local AM for Aberconwy, Gareth Jones, said:

“The Community Facilities and Activities Programme is one of a number of ways that the Welsh Government can offer grants directly to local community organisations so I’m delighted that three organisations in the Conwy valley are set to benefit, especially as we’ve seen only a few successful bids from this area under this programme recently. I wish each of them every success as they proceed with their projects.”

Mr Jones added: “It’s very encouraging that these small organisations in rural areas of Aberconwy have obtained these grants and the projects, if successful, will undoubtedly help regenerate and sustain those communities.”

samantha.castle