Shellfish project gets share of £1m funding pot

APROJECT to increase local markets for North Wales shellfish and a pilot using a humanoid robot to tackle loneliness are among those set to receive a share of £1 million from the Welsh Government.

Economy and North Wales Minister Ken Skates will make the announcement on a visit to Mon Shellfish in Bethesda to hear about a partnership project with Coleg Llandrillo Menai and Partneriaeth Ogwen, which is receiving £100,000 to look at increasing local markets for shellfish.

The project will also involve an education programme to teach communities in the area how to prepare and cook local seafood.

It is one of 11 projects supported from the Welsh Government’s

Foundational Economy Challenge Fund which aims to drive prosperity throughout Wales and reach out to those communities across Wales who are feeling disengaged and left behind.

The Foundational Economy is made up of the everyday goods and services we all use and need such as food and social care.

As a result of the demand and quality of applications, the fund’s budget for the whole of Wales has been trebled to £4.5 million.

Businesses and enterprises are able to apply for up to £100,000 of project funding.

Mark Gray, Director at Môn Shellfish, said: “The foundation challenge fund will allow us to cast our net across the community to increase the consumption of fresh, local seafood through education and training.

“The project will help to reconnect the community with local seafood, support the local fishing industry and offer a very healthy food choice.”

Other projects supported:

■ Denbighshire County Council – £90,334. A pilot project to identify and tackle loneliness using AI in the form of a humanoid collaborative robot.

■ Flintshire £100,000

For a project enterprises care services.

■ Cwmni Cymunedol Bro Ffestiniog – £100,000. To support community businesses to work with three social enterprises to develop plans in community tourism, renewable energy and digital media.

■ HF Trust – £59,000.

For the provision of a friendship and dating app for people with learning difficulties and autism.

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