New Cymraeg projects to get Welsh Government support

15 community groups will be awarded up to £10,000 each to turn their ideas into viable projects to support Cymraeg in their communities.

Since it was established in 2022, the Welsh Government's Perthyn small grants scheme has supported 62 community projects.

Llanrwst town has secured a grant of up to £10,000 to help the local community to purchase the Bys a Bawd book shop that's served the community for 50 years. The Welsh language has been at the heart of the business, and now the community intend to buy and transform the space into a literary hub.

The Perthyn small grants scheme aims to support Welsh-speaking communities with high numbers of second homes by creating economic opportunities, provide affordable housing, and help the social fabric of the local community and naturally the Welsh language being a  core element of the projects.  

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language, Mark Drakeford, said:

“Small grants can make a big difference to our communities. It's fantastic to see such a range of projects in this round of Perthyn funding, which includes a sustainable energy project, communities coming together to buy and run their local pub, shops, library and chapel which aim to benefit their community. We have also supported several community led projects to create affordable housing to enable people to live in their local communities.”

The grant scheme is administered by Cwmpas on behalf of Welsh Government.

Jocelle Lovell, Director of Inclusive Communities at Cwmpas said:

"We are delighted to be working with the Welsh Government and Planed to deliver the Perthyn project. Perthyn works with the communities to identify ways to address the lack of affordable housing, protect community assets and create new cooperatives and social businesses. A real enabler for us has been administering a small grant  scheme for the communities to help build local capacity and accelerate their business and housing ideas. We look forward to seeing the ideas develop and to working with more communities over the coming months.”

If you're a community group in a Welsh-speaking community and would like further support to turn your ideas into viable projects, please contact Cwmpas: Perthyn - Cwmpas

Notes to editors

Full details of projects:

1. Ymddiriedolaeth Tir Bro'r Ffynnon – £10,000 – Llanystumdwy, Gwynedd – Community looking into affordable housing.
2. Bys a Bawd Pawb – £10,000 – Llanrwst, Conwy – Community looking into buying and running the Bys a Bawd book shop in Llanrwst  
3. Deryn Du – £8,500 – Ceredigion – Community looking into affordable housing
4. Menter Gymunedol Llanuwchllyn – £10,000 – Gwynedd – Community looking into affordable housing.
5. Menter y Ring – £9,632 – Gwynedd – Community looking into purchasing and running the Brondanw Arms.
6. Llanfywio – Ysgol Llannefydd – £10,000 – Conwy – Community looking into bringing the old school into community ownership and turning into affordable housing.
7. Dyffryn Peris – £9,899 – Gwynedd – Community looking into affordable housing.
8. Dyfodol Salem Gâr – £10,000 – Sir Gaerfyrddin – Community looking into creating a community hub.
9. Hwb Penmachno – £10,000 – Conwy – Community looking into affordable housing
10. Cwmni Nod Glas Cyf – £9,998 – Dinas Mawddwy – Community led business
11. Pwyllgor Pentra Deiniolen – £9,950 – Gwynedd – Community looking into buying the running the old library building as a community hub.
12. Hwb Llansaint – £9,932 – Carmarthenshire – Asset transfer to the community
13. Gweithgor Dyffryn Aeron – £10,000 – Ceredigion – Community led energy project
14. Canolfan Bethlehem – £10,000 – Casnewydd – Community looking into purchasing a chapel to create a community space and affordable housing.
15. Hwb Aberteifi – £9,050 – Aberteifi – Community looking to purchase and run the old Tabernacle Chapel as a community hub.