Fresh hope for Ferryside residential education centre


Ferryside Social Enterprise Group have received funding from RDP Sir Gâr’s Innovative Communities project, part of Axis 4 Innovative Hubs scheme, to develop a project at the Ferryside Residential Education Centre.
The aim of Ferryside Social Enterprise Group is to acquire the site known as the Ferryside Residential Education Centre from Carmarthenshire County Council and to convert the building from a public liability and eyesore into an attractive community asset, supporting a wide range of activities for residents and visitors and creating employment opportunities.
Among the proposed services the Centre could provide are:
Specialist day centre for physically and mentally frail adults and carers, foot care and other quasi-medical services and alternative therapies, changing room facilities for the adjacent multi use games area, office space for start up businesses and high grade hostel type accommodation for coastal path walkers, bird watchers, visiting sports teams and residential workshops.
The Community Council carried out a survey in 2010 which demonstrated a strong local support for the project which was endorsed by a public meeting and letters of support from local organisations.
This was followed up by a study which was carried out by Trilein and was funded by C.C.C. stressing the need to redevelop the education centre with consolidated community facilities and link with improved playing fields.
Les Jones, of the Ferryside Social Enterprise Group, said “The Innovative Communities grant will allow us to undertake the first key stage in the process which is to carry out architectural and structural design work required to obtain any necessary planning permissions before applying for funding for the conversion.”
Innovative Communities supports the trialling of new ideas that could benefit community life and has been funded through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which is funded by Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
Innovative Communities project officer Helen Williams said: “The economic benefit in the long term for this project will be job creation, improved health, new businesses and increased tourism to the area. Without the project, the site and its buildings will deteriorate further and become a financial burden on the County.”
If you would like further details on RDP Sir Gâr’s grants and support call 01267 242366 or visit www.wwec.org.uk

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