Cash boost for community projects

THREE Cynon Valley projects are celebrating after receiving a cash boost from the Welsh Government’s Community Facilities Programme.

Altogether, 36 community projects will be sharing nearly £4m under the scheme, which provides grants for organisations to buy and improve wellused community-run buildings and projects.

Among the local projects celebrating are Friends of Aberdare Park and RCT Women’s Aid, who receive small grants of up to £25,000, to help create a splash pad and create an office base in Aberdare respectively.

Cylch Meithrin Seren Fach in Mountain Ash will receive a larger grant of up to £250,000, which will be used to refurbish their current building to enable them to increase the number of childcare places on offer.

Welcoming the news, Cynon Valley AM Vikki Howells said: “This is great news for Cynon Valley, and I would like to congratulate the three projects who have been successful under this round of funding.

“Since this Welsh Government initiative was introduced in 2015, 157 projects have received much needed funding with a total of £28.2m being shared in total.

“I would encourage all Cynon Valley groups to put forward their ideas.”

Karen Taylor, Trustee of Cylch Meithrin Seren Fach, said: “We are so pleased to have received the grant from the Communities Facilities Programme.

“This will have such a positive impact for so many families.”

Applications for grants of £5,000-£25,000 and £25,001 to £250,000 may be made anytime during the year.

Further details, including information on how to apply, can be found at https://gov.wales/ community-facilities-programme.