Over £2 million will be awarded to 7 much-loved local places in
Wales, so they can stay open to keep their communities
thriving.
This includes £1 million to save 4 spaces in Wales, including the
Tafarn y Plu pub in Gwynedd, The Bunkhouse music venue in
Swansea, a museum in Powys and a community shop in Gwynedd. This
funding will be used to refurbish, renovate and secure the future
of each of these buildings, allowing them to offer a diverse
programme of events and activities including live music,
well-being sessions and educational opportunities.
As set out in its Plan for Change, the
UK government is committed to kickstarting economic growth and
raising living standards. Thriving communities lie at the heart
of a thriving economy, and the support provided by the Community
Ownership Fund will inject funding where it is most needed,
making change happen and bringing people together in the
process.
The highest single award in Wales - £400 thousand - will also go
to saving Llanfair Light Railway station and Cloverlands car
model museum. This project will host a museum, archives, and a
shared community space for residents and visitors to use. The
funding will allow the community building to provide a visitor
centre in which tours will learn the context to the railway
station and its operations.
Minister for Local Growth, said:
“These are all multi-functional spaces that do so much for local
people and most of us will have fond memories in treasured places
like these.
“We've prioritised these grants to help preserve and upgrade what
these vital places offer to their communities – whether improving
access to sport, tackling loneliness or boosting family services
for parents and children.”
Projects also set to receive money in Wales include:
-
£300,000 to renovate Eveswell Community
Centre in Newport. The centre will provide new and improved
facilities for local families to host more activities like
family groups, play groups, a Lego club, craft classes and
after school youth groups.
-
£300,000 to refurbish the Pentre
Comrades club. The transformed building will provide the
community a central hub to use for socialising and learning
with facilities including a pub, shop, café, community
garden, and kitchen spaces.
-
£299,000 to renovate and refurbish
Caerphilly Rugby Football Club. The space will provide new
and improved facilities for their rugby development
programmes as well as space to host events like fundraisers,
local festivals and educational workshops.
Welsh Secretary, said:
“Congratulations to these fantastic community projects in Wales.
Over £2 million is being spent by the UK Government to make sure
that these special places are refurbished and improved so they
can provide facilities for local people to come together.
“All across Wales there are brilliant people who give back to
their communities. I'd like to thank them for all that they do
and the UK Government is proud to be able to support
them.”
This UK-wide funding prioritised by the Ministry of Housing,
Communities and Local Government will help protect these
cherished places from closure and disrepair, preserving popular
spots for local people and visitors.
Altogether £36 million has been awarded to 85 projects across the
UK.
The projects will support the government on its path to national
renewal through its missions in the Plan for Change - from
breaking down barriers to opportunity to kickstarting economic
growth and creating safer streets by restoring community pride.
