Dryslwyn community comes together
Residents in Dryslwyn can post a letter and buy a dozen eggs at the same time, thanks to the hard work of volunteers and a little help from Carmarthenshire County Council.
Members of the community led a campaign to retain a Post Office counter and shop in the area to ensure residents don’t have to face a 14-mile trip to the nearest facilities.
Now Dryslwyn Community Shop – which is a partner service of the Post Office – is staffed entirely by a team of 30 volunteers, their backgrounds ranging from nursing to teaching.
Produce is sourced locally, and any trading surplus gets ploughed back into the shop or distributed to local causes.
The campaign was led by volunteer Tony Graf, a retired teacher, who worked with the council’s Access to Services officers to apply for funding to renovate and refit the shop with refrigeration units, a tea room and community services such as internet access.
Volunteers also secured a £5,000 interest-free loan from the Carmarthenshire Lottery to help with the business start-up.
Access to Services is part of the Rural Development Plan - a package of programmes aimed at improving the quality of life in rural areas by supporting the delivery of basic services and promoting sustainable community actions.
The two-year project is funded by Carmarthenshire County Council, the Welsh Assembly Government, and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
Tina Grech, Community Regeneration Officer, said: “This project, although still in its infancy, is already starting to make a real difference to rural communities across Carmarthenshire.
“We would like to invite further applications for funding, and would be happy to help any groups who are eligible.”
Access to Services funding can be applied for by voluntary and community groups, registered charities, town and community councils and not-for-profit organisations whose projects are sustainable and will improve access to services in rural communities.
Groups present a project idea, and a development officer will be assigned to help determine eligibility and complete applications.
Groups must be able to contribute their own funding to their project.
Cllr Clive Scourfield, executive board member for regeneration, said: “We’ve already approved a number of projects which will be of huge benefit to rural communities across Carmarthenshire. I’d encourage anyone with a viable project idea to get in touch with our team to see if we can help them take their ideas forward.”
For further information about Access to Services contact Tina Grech on 01267 242428, or email TGrech@sirgar.gov.uk
Picture caption: Some of the volunteers who run Dryslwyn Community Shop – Tina Nippers, a retired nurse; Viv Griffiths, a retired teacher; Kevin Sivyer, who is a health and safety consultant; Gerry Gold, who worked in information systems for the NHS; and Tony Graf, a retired physics and maths teacher. Pic Jeff Connell
Members of the community led a campaign to retain a Post Office counter and shop in the area to ensure residents don’t have to face a 14-mile trip to the nearest facilities.
Now Dryslwyn Community Shop – which is a partner service of the Post Office – is staffed entirely by a team of 30 volunteers, their backgrounds ranging from nursing to teaching.
Produce is sourced locally, and any trading surplus gets ploughed back into the shop or distributed to local causes.
The campaign was led by volunteer Tony Graf, a retired teacher, who worked with the council’s Access to Services officers to apply for funding to renovate and refit the shop with refrigeration units, a tea room and community services such as internet access.
Volunteers also secured a £5,000 interest-free loan from the Carmarthenshire Lottery to help with the business start-up.
Access to Services is part of the Rural Development Plan - a package of programmes aimed at improving the quality of life in rural areas by supporting the delivery of basic services and promoting sustainable community actions.
The two-year project is funded by Carmarthenshire County Council, the Welsh Assembly Government, and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
Tina Grech, Community Regeneration Officer, said: “This project, although still in its infancy, is already starting to make a real difference to rural communities across Carmarthenshire.
“We would like to invite further applications for funding, and would be happy to help any groups who are eligible.”
Access to Services funding can be applied for by voluntary and community groups, registered charities, town and community councils and not-for-profit organisations whose projects are sustainable and will improve access to services in rural communities.
Groups present a project idea, and a development officer will be assigned to help determine eligibility and complete applications.
Groups must be able to contribute their own funding to their project.
Cllr Clive Scourfield, executive board member for regeneration, said: “We’ve already approved a number of projects which will be of huge benefit to rural communities across Carmarthenshire. I’d encourage anyone with a viable project idea to get in touch with our team to see if we can help them take their ideas forward.”
For further information about Access to Services contact Tina Grech on 01267 242428, or email TGrech@sirgar.gov.uk
Picture caption: Some of the volunteers who run Dryslwyn Community Shop – Tina Nippers, a retired nurse; Viv Griffiths, a retired teacher; Kevin Sivyer, who is a health and safety consultant; Gerry Gold, who worked in information systems for the NHS; and Tony Graf, a retired physics and maths teacher. Pic Jeff Connell
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