North Wales Coast Regeneration Area funding paves the way for further projects

Welsh Government Regeneration Area funding of £25,500 for a feasibility study and a design for a car park in Crescent Road, in Rhyl will pave the way for Denbighshire Council to complete projects which will lever in private sector investment £15 million.

The study and design for the Crescent Road site, which has been purchased by Denbighshire County Council after being identified as a key priority site in Rhyl, will provide the best solution for traffic flow to avoid impacting too greatly on residential properties. The project will also provide conceptual designs of the public realm surrounding the proposed new aquatic centre and Children’s Village underground car park which is a priority for the regeneration of Rhyl’s promenade.

A further £25,000 has been awarded to Theatre Colwyn for the purchase of Digital Cinema which will allow the community cinema to continue and will improve the experience for cinema goers. The new equipment is needed to replace traditional 35mm film projection as distributors are withdrawing this format. The new technology will also make Audio Description, Audio Enhanced and subtitled screenings for the hearing and visually impaired available.

Announcing the funding, Housing Regeneration and Heritage Minister Huw Lewis said:

“I am delighted to announce funding for these projects. The car park feasibility study will pave the way for further development of Rhyl and is an excellent example of how a relatively modest amount of funding can lead to huge benefits for the local economy.

“Theatre Colwyn’s funding award is an example of the community benefits that Regeneration Area funding can bring. It is a relatively small sum of money compared to other projects we have funded, but it will make a real difference to the theatre by ensuring that the community cinema can continue to provide much needed entertainment for cinema goers of all ages. It will also improve the services for people with visual or hearing impairments which is vitally important.”

Heritage Lottery Fund

Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage.

HLF has supported more than 33,000 projects allocating over £4.97 billion across the UK, including more than 2,000 projects totalling over £240 million in Wales.

To find out more, please visit www.hlf.org.uk

For further information about the HLF please contact Stephen Barlow on 029 2023 4165.

Press release from BT regarding G2G Communities CIC

The Office for National Statistics announced that unemployment figures in the UK are at their highest in 17 years. This is evident in Rhyl in Wales, which was named the ‘unemployment capital of Wales’ by the Daily Post in 2011 . The issue of mass unemployment in Rhyl is being directly addressed by community organisation, G2G Communities. G2G is attempting to tackle unemployment by offering tailored ICT training to help get individuals back into jobs or even to start their own businesses.

Moira-Ann Lockitt at G2G, who appreciates employer expectations of prospective employees, said: “Nearly all employers require employees to have computer skills so ICT is high on our agenda for helping people back into employment.” This identification of the importance of computer and internet skills to job seekers led G2G to create an IT and computer training course which helps people obtain the necessary skills to help them find employment.

G2G runs IT classes and teaches everything from CV writing and basic internet skills to more advanced web-hosting and social media networking. One new, unemployed learner commented: “I first came to a training session as I knew nothing about computer skills but knew they would help me get back into employment. I have already learnt so many new skills, which I am sure have enhanced my job prospects.” A trainee getting help with a new business start-up said: “I feel much more confident on the computer after 5 lessons at G2G. I am starting my own one-to-one dog training business and feel the skills that I am learning will help me immensely especially with setting up finance systems.”

G2G received a BT Community Connections award of one years’ free broadband which allows it to continue its work. The local community in Rhyl has subsequently benefited as G2G has helped to get many local residents, addressing their skills shortages which may be preventing them from finding work.

Throughout 2011, seventy six new users were introduced to the internet for the first time, 117 people attended four or more training sessions, 56 people now use the internet regularly and 20 have installed internet at their own homes.

In return for monthly feedback and reports updating BT of its progress over the year, G2G has been chosen as the overall BT community Connections Plus winner and has received £2,000 to continue its fantastic ICT work.

The money will be used to purchase more laptops so that it can go out into the rural areas to engage with more learners and carry on addressing unemployment in Wales.

Communities First Trust Fund

Just to remind you that there are only 16 weeks left for eligible groups to submit an application to the Communities First Trust Fund.

To date we’ve received over 470 applications which is a great uptake – but to date 234 + of these have been returned to groups for information that is missing/ End of Project Report not completed for previous grants etc.

However, because they have been returned early in the process it means that these groups do have time to resubmit their application within ample time before the deadline.

Therefore I would urge to you encourage as many groups as possible to do the same and submit an applications as soon as possible so that funding allocated to your ward / area is spent and not returned to Welsh Government at the end of the year. The later you leave it the less chance we have of sorting any problems!

Can you also make sure that the groups read and understand the CFTF guidelines themselves when submitting an application  - We’ve had some incidents recently where groups are blaming Co-ordinators for mistakes they are making when not spending / accounting for the grant award properly. They have stated that they were not made aware of any guidelines when they were told to fill in applications.

Finally – if you want a member of the CFTF to visit your area / assist with groups submitting an application, please do not hesitate to contact us – 0800 587 8898.

North Hoyle Off Shore Wind Farm

Operated by RWE npower Renewables Limited and Rhyl Community Partnership, Prestatyn and Meliden Community Partnerships Community Fund.

• Is your group in need of a grant?
• Are you based (or deliver a service) in Rhyl or Prestatyn and Meliden?
• Is your group a formally constituted body?

If you have answered yes to the above questions why not apply to the Rhyl or the Prestatyn and Meliden Community Partnerships, who are distributing a total of £45,000 for Rhyl and £30,000 for Prestatyn and Meliden on behalf of the North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm Community Fund owned and operated by RWE npower renewables.

If your group has a project which will make a lasting difference to the community and you want an application pack, please call in and pick one up:

For: Rhyl Community Partnership, c/o The Clwyd Coast Credit Union, 17-19 Bodfor Street, Rhyl, LL18 1AS.

or

For: Prestatyn and Meliden Community Partnership, c/o First Class Clothes, 12 High Street, Prestatyn, LL19 9BB or the Pop In, Meliden Road, Prestatyn, LL19 9RT.

Or email: rhylcommunitypartnership@yahoo.co.uk

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS is 31st August 2011 and should be returned to:

For: Rhyl Community Partnership, c/o Tynewydd Community Centre, Tynewydd Road, Rhyl, Denbighshire, LL18 3RD.

For: Prestatyn Community Partnership, Pop In, Meliden Road, Prestatyn, Denbighshire, LL19 9RT.

PLEASE DO NOT RETURN THE COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM TO CLWYD COAST CREDIT UNION OR FIRST CLASS CLOTHES.

£13m fund tackles derelict sites

A £13m scheme to regenerate derelict land and buildings around Wales has been announced.
The fund will be run jointly by the Welsh Assembly Government and the Big Lottery fund for community groups to take over derelict sites now in public ownership.
It could give disused buildings a new lease of life according to the Welsh Assembly Government.
Voluntary groups in Wales said it may secure their future.
The aim of the fund is to help community groups gain public buildings and facilities.
Leighton Andrews, AM, deputy minister for regeneration said a disused school might become a centre for local artists or derelict land might be transformed into a community garden.
"This is a win-win situation," he said. "There are many public assets in Wales that are not being used to their full potential and empowering the community to use these buildings to suit their needs is the main aim of this initiative."
'Generate income'
For voluntary groups who want to buy and improve disused buildings or land currently owned by the local authority the Community Asset Transfer fund will be available from October.
They can apply to the fund which is worth £13m in all.
The Big Lottery Fund will administer the scheme and provide revenue funding, while the Welsh Assembly Government will provide capital funding.
Huw Vaughan Thomas, the chair of the Big Lottery fund Wales said they have been able to make life easier for applicants.
"Our aim is to help more people benefit from their local community assets but also to generate local income and employment," he said.
Lindsey Williams of the Wales Council for Voluntary Action said buying up disused buildings from local authorities could provide an income if they are done up and part of them are then rented out.
"We warmly welcome this initiative and hope we can build on it in the future," she said.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk

South West Rhyl Communities First funding directory

SWRCF Funding Directory