Meeting celebrates a year of success for association

BRIDGEND Association of Voluntary Organisations (BAVO) celebrated achievements of the past year at its annual meeting at the Heronston Hotel, Bridgend.

Attended by the Deputy Mayor of Bridgend County Borough, Coun John McCarthy, guest speaker former Welsh Rugby International Garin Jenkins and voluntary and community organisations who are members of BAVO, everyone enjoyed the banjo and ukele band The Shed Heads, comprising members from Maesteg’s Men’s Shed who received support from BAVO to set up their group.

BAVO reported that it had experienced another busy year.

It said it responded to 1,700 inquiries, enabled 1,616 people to gain new skills through their training programme and achieved over £1m known new inward investment for local activity, facilities and causes.

Heidi Bennett, BAVO’s chief executive officer, said: “In a period of austerity and unprecedented change with ever decreasing funding, we are proud to say BAVO has managed to maintain a full range of services, albeit with some areas having to be reduced.

“We continue to work with hundreds of local groups, local and national charities and with member organisations to provide local services addressing local needs with the ultimate outcome of improving the quality of life for people in our communities.

“We are extremely grateful to our partners and funders who invest in us so that we can deliver a broad spectrum of activity. We are also extremely grateful for the focused and skilful board of trustees who set the vision and for our immensely talented team who work to achieve it.”