Case Studies

A Grant with Impact: Supporting Local Women into Business Last year, Pen-Y-Cymoedd was proud to award a £6,500 Micro Fund grant to a determined local woman with a long-standing career in hairdressing but no salon of her own. Her goal was simple but powerful: open her own business in the heart of Tynewydd, providing a…

Between September 2024 and March 2025, the Saving Our Water Vole project, led by the Initiative for Nature Conservation Cymru (INCC), has made significant progress in community engagement, education, and conservation across Rhondda Cynon Taf and Neath Port Talbot. In December, INCC reached new audiences at the Treorchy Food Festival, using Water Vole-themed cupcakes and…

Over last couple of years, Pen y Cymoedd has supported several local garages across the fund area through Micro Fund and Vision Fund grants. While each business is different, clear themes emerged from their journeys with us — highlighting the value of flexible, friendly support and the direct impact on growth and employment. Key Themes…

When Daisy Fresh Wales first applied for support, they were already creating beautiful, handmade home fragrance products—candles, wax melts, diffusers and room sprays—with a clear artisan spirit and strong focus on quality and safety. With a Pen y Cymoedd grant of £3,430, the business was able to take its next big step: launching community candle-making…

Upper Rhondda Vets Football Club (URVFC) was founded to bring together men aged 40+ for fun, friendly, and accessible 6-a-side football. The idea was born from a social media survey that highlighted a lack of provision for older players in the Upper Rhondda area. From the outset, the group embraced a welcoming, non-judgemental ethos that…