Carmarthenshire funding fair success
A one-stop funding fair for groups and charities has been hailed a huge success.
More than 1,300 people attended the South West Wales Regional Funding Fair in a bid to secure coveted grant aid.
Scores of groups, charities and organisations all converged on Ffos Las to meet with high profile funders like the BIG Lottery Fund, Sports Council for Wales and the Heritage Fund.
They were able to access top level advice on grant support and funding streams.
The event was jointly organised and funded by Carmarthenshire County Council, Carmarthenshire Association of Voluntary Services, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Services, Pembrokeshire County Council, Pembrokeshire Association for Voluntary Services, the City and County of Swansea and Swansea Council for Voluntary Services, with support from the WLGA Regional Partnership Forum for South West Wales.
Organisers say they were delighted with the response to the event.
Help was given on developing ideas and there were talks from guest speakers who have run successful organisations in the region.
The event, which was also part funded through the EU’s Convergence programme through the Welsh Assembly Government, demonstrated the strong commitment to collaboration on funding issues that was agreed during the first regional funding fair in 2008.
Carmarthenshire County Council Leader Meryl Gravell was a keynote speaker during the day.
She said: “The event was aimed at providing an opportunity for community groups, voluntary organisations and social enterprises to find out about the support available to them.
“It is vital that voluntary groups attend events like this because the nature of funding in Wales is changing and the competition for grants is ever increasing.
“The region has a thriving voluntary sector and I was delighted that there was such a good response.
“Opening the doors to grant funding brings real economic benefits to the region, leading to job creation and it supports the innovative regeneration work that the council is driving forward.”
Here to help: Roz Moreton of Burry Port Chamber of Trade with Darren Rees and Ruth Rees from the Carmarthenshire County Council led Collaborative Communities project.
Offering support: County council officers Rosie Davies, Gillian Jones and CAVS officers Mathew Lawlor and Sara Edwards.
Pictures: Jeff Connell
More than 1,300 people attended the South West Wales Regional Funding Fair in a bid to secure coveted grant aid.
Scores of groups, charities and organisations all converged on Ffos Las to meet with high profile funders like the BIG Lottery Fund, Sports Council for Wales and the Heritage Fund.
They were able to access top level advice on grant support and funding streams.
The event was jointly organised and funded by Carmarthenshire County Council, Carmarthenshire Association of Voluntary Services, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Services, Pembrokeshire County Council, Pembrokeshire Association for Voluntary Services, the City and County of Swansea and Swansea Council for Voluntary Services, with support from the WLGA Regional Partnership Forum for South West Wales.
Organisers say they were delighted with the response to the event.
Help was given on developing ideas and there were talks from guest speakers who have run successful organisations in the region.
The event, which was also part funded through the EU’s Convergence programme through the Welsh Assembly Government, demonstrated the strong commitment to collaboration on funding issues that was agreed during the first regional funding fair in 2008.
Carmarthenshire County Council Leader Meryl Gravell was a keynote speaker during the day.
She said: “The event was aimed at providing an opportunity for community groups, voluntary organisations and social enterprises to find out about the support available to them.
“It is vital that voluntary groups attend events like this because the nature of funding in Wales is changing and the competition for grants is ever increasing.
“The region has a thriving voluntary sector and I was delighted that there was such a good response.
“Opening the doors to grant funding brings real economic benefits to the region, leading to job creation and it supports the innovative regeneration work that the council is driving forward.”
Here to help: Roz Moreton of Burry Port Chamber of Trade with Darren Rees and Ruth Rees from the Carmarthenshire County Council led Collaborative Communities project.
Offering support: County council officers Rosie Davies, Gillian Jones and CAVS officers Mathew Lawlor and Sara Edwards.
Pictures: Jeff Connell
Comments