Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Transforming old railway buildings into community spaces and creating facilities for maritime history, business and sports are among projects sharing in £317,440 of grants from the Big Lottery Fund. The money, from the £9 million Community Asset Transfer 2 Programme (CAT2), aims to provide both capital and revenue funding to support the transfer of assets, such as land and buildings to community ownership. The assets can be transferred from individuals, the public or private sector. Seven initial grants of up to £50,000 each are helping projects develop their ideas before being invited to submit developed applications to the second stage of funding with the aim of securing grants of between £300,000 and £1,150,000. ( Read full project descriptions here ). Porthcawl Harbourside CIC will spend £50,000 to progress plans to transfer harbour side land from Bridgend Council and build a five-storey maritime centre. This will be a visitor attraction with a focus on coastal science, mari...

Felinfoel’s Senior Citizens Group, based at Carmarthenshire County Council’s Tirynys Sheltered Scheme , have been celebrating a lottery windfall. They didn’t get six numbers and the bonus ball, but they did scoop £3,335 of Big Lottery funding  to spend on a variety of outings. They’ve already visited Cae Hir Gardens , Dolaucothi Mines and stopped for a meal at the Plough in Rhosmaen, Llandeilo , and they’ve got trips to Abergavenny Food Festival and others in the pipeline. Sheltered Scheme Officer Andrea Goodall said: “The group are thrilled to have secured this funding and have been busy planning their trips. We’re very grateful to the Big Lottery Fund.” Tirynys is one of around 20 Carmarthenshire County Council Sheltered Housing Schemes. They provide secure homes for older people who want to keep their own independence, with their own front door, whilst having the added benefit of companionship and support close by. For further information, including vacancies and to view fla...

Steve Lloyd, Community Outreach Manager Wales Cymru for the Media Trust and Community Channel, has sent me the following news - Media Trust and Community Channel are working with Big Lottery Fund on a three-year campaign to celebrate the incredible work of projects across the country. Our Do #SomethingBrilliant campaign sets out to celebrate all that is brilliant about the incredible, diverse and talented people who make England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland a better place for us all. The campaign will be structured around four categories – Do Something Green, Together, Creative and Active. Each of these categories will contain lots of Brilliant Things or ideas for people to do in their communities. To watch the TV ad click here . Do #SomethingBrilliant is here to help you to promote your project further and to amplify your story about the brilliant work you do in your community. We would like to feature your project on the Do #SomethingBrilliant website, Twitter and...

Projects in Carmarthenshire have attracted more than £40,000 into the county through the Big Lottery Fund Awards for All. A total of 74 community-based projects across Wales share in the £275,429 awarded under the latest round of the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All small grants programme. Eight projects in Carmarthenshire have benefited to the tune of £40,636. The successful schemes are Trallwm Area Forum, which received £5,000; Carmel and District Welfare Club, which received £5,000; Sbri-Ni holiday club, which had £4,980; Carmarthen Women's Aid Limited, which was awarded £4,994; Llandovery University of The Third Age, which received £2,350; Cylch Meithrin Llanddarog, which had a grant of £4,772; Meidrim Senior Citizens, who received £3,540; and Ferryside OAP Association, which was awarded £5,000. The money is helping to establish groups, societies and clubs, promoting learning, increasing volunteering opportunities and helping to build stronger communities. Carmarthenshir...

Carmarthen has scored a full strike after landing close to £800,000 to develop a bowling alley and community centre at the former St Ivel factory in Johnstown. The Towy Community Church, supported by Carmarthenshire County Council, has been successful in its bid for funding from the Community Asset Transfer Programme (CAT) – a partnership between the Big Lottery Fund and Welsh Assembly Government. It means the ambitious Xcel Bowl project can now get underway, providing yet another first-class leisure facility for Carmarthen. Alongside the 12-lane bowling alley, the first phase of the development will also include a food bank and a furniture recycling facility to benefit local families experiencing hardship, projects that will be funded by the profits from the bowling business. Towy Community Church leader Mark Bennett said: “We are thrilled to be able to go ahead with a project that will bring sustainable long term benefits to local people.” The second phase of the project will includ...

A Llanelli residents' group has won national acclaim for its work to revive the community spirit in a deprived part of town. Morfa Residents and Tenants Association has worked tirelessly to boost the area and improve facilities for young and old alike. Members have helped to reopen a local park closed by vandalism, raising more than £114,000 to transform it and beating off competition from across Wales to win £50,000 in the Big Lottery People’s Millions live television final. Their efforts have now been rewarded in the Wales Council for Voluntary Action Volunteer of the Year Awards where they scooped first prize in the group category. The group was formed in 2006 and this year decided to get the community more involved by organising family fun days and exercise classes, as well as securing a new bus service for the area. It also decided to work to work to reopen Havelock Park, a Morfa landmark that had been closed due to vandalism and become an eyesore. The park is now at the hear...

A Carmarthenshire project which is helping people overcome chronic alcohol problems by supporting them to gain confidence and life skills is through to the semi finals of the National Lottery Awards 2010. Turning Point, with the support of partners including Carmarthenshire County Council, has been successfully shortlisted for the awards for its innovative Carmarthenshire Life Skills Project under the Best Health Project category. The winning project in each category will receive national recognition on a star-studded BBC 1 show later this year and will receive a £2,000 cash prize to spend on their project. The prize will be in addition to the £997,927 the project has already received from The Big Lottery, which has been received over the last four years. People are being encouraged to vote for the CLSP project which will help local people to rebuild their lives and put their alcohol problems behind them. Andrew Soroka, Carmarthenshire Life Skills Project Service Manager said: “Without...

A one-stop funding fair is being staged for groups and charities in Carmarthenshire. Officials from the Big Lottery Fund, Sports Council for Wales and the Heritage Fund will converge on the county next month. The high profile event will bring together a host of high profile funders under one roof, including WREN, CWM and the Coalfields Regeneration Trust. Community groups, charities and organisations will be able to access top level advice on grant support and funding streams. Help will also be given on developing ideas and there will be talks from guest speakers who have run successful organisations in the region. Workshops based on the theme of sustainability will be held throughout the day. The South West Wales Regional Funding Fair will be held at the Ffos Las Racecourse on Tuesday 8 June from 10am-4.30pm. It has been jointly organised by Carmarthenshire County Council, Carmarthenshire Association of Voluntary Services, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, Neath Port Talbot Co...

A Carmarthenshire community is celebrating a £430,000 Lottery windfall for a new state-of-the-art village hall. Villagers in Myddfai have secured the huge grant to create and sell a new ‘Myddfai, made in a great tradition’ brand of products. The flagship social enterprise will draw on the 13th Century legend of the Physicians of Myddfai, who were renowned for their homeopathy skills. Local people will grow and sell herbal medicines under the new range, and skilled craft workers will use the brand to sell quilted, pottery and glass products. All the goods will be sold at a new purpose built community hall, which will replace the dilapidated 60-year-old village hall. The innovative project has received funding from the Big Lottery Fund’s Village SOS scheme, which is aimed at supporting business ventures that create jobs and improve the quality of life for local people. Residents, working under the village hall charity, Ty Talcen, have been supported in their bid by Carmarthenshire County...