As a fund we are committed to responding to opportunities and challenges as identified by communities themselves. Our ambassadors are people who
• Have real knowledge of their community and what issues and opportunities are
• Have an established online presence or connect with their communities regularly in other ways
• Have a professional and kind manner
• Share Pen y Cymoedd’ s Vision for the impact the funding can have over 20 years
• Have the ability to Gather Feedback and Provide Innovative Insight.
We will engage with them and ask them to share with PyC team what is happening in their community and what opportunities and challenges their community is facing. They will provide informal feedback and help promote awareness of the Fund at grassroots level
Meet the Ambassadors
Mark Adams – Hi, my name is Mark Adams and I really think that the presence of the Pen Y Cymoedd Community Fund, with its unique remit and structure, offers organisations that wouldn’t normally qualify for assistance from traditional grant funders, a wonderful opportunity to secure their vision.
I have been fortunate to be part of two successful bids. The first was a grant to a community organisation I head up that enabled us to secure the equipment to provide cookery classes to other community groups. The second was a loan that allowed my business to purchase new IT equipment so that we could continue to operate, by delivering our training courses virtually during the pandemic as we were no longer able to deliver in person.
Both Kate and Michelle at PyC are extremely helpful and will guide you all the way from concept to completed submission. Successful projects and businesses help regenerate and build cohesive communities for the benefit of all. I am honoured to be asked to undertake the role of Ambassador and look forward to assisting in any way I can.
Tina Williams – My name is Tina Williams, I am a Councillor for Aberaman South in the Cynon Valley.
Part of the responsibilities within my role is helping groups find funding: I have supported a variety of groups in my ward with the guidance of the Pen y Cymoedd Supporting Communities Team. Together we have helped secure funding for groups: examples of this are, the Woodland group in Cwmaman and Gestures Abercwmboi.
Pen y Cymoedd Supporting Communities Team offer an amazing level of support which is invaluable. It is with great pride that I have accepted the role of Ambassador.
Dave Harris – I am Dave Harris and my role at Men’s Shed Treorchy is chairman and spokesperson which I am proud to have held for just over 4 years with this amazing volunteer lead community project. Our community work defines us as a group, the individuals and groups we work with have supported all the work we do and we are only able to offer this level of engagement because of the funding and support that we receive from Pen y Cymoedd.
Their staff offer an amazing level of support which is invaluable for us, not just the funding but the back room support. It’s with great pride that I have accepted the role of ambassador, I feel it is a great honour for me personally, but also reflects the importance of everyone’s role within the Treorchy project and the positivity we all portray when we go out into our community. We continue to develop our community links and if I can help other community groups and individual to develop and grow then this will lead to the whole of the community benefitting.
Andy Mulligan – The support from Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm Community Fund has helped shape and define our live music and education projects for a few years. The application process was straightforward due to the excellent support and feedback at every step. The fact that the fund would support me as a sole trader was a huge incentive, there is simply no way Hot Jam would have become a registered Community Interest Company without the initial backing from the fund. It gave me the validation and confidence to take that crucial next step. I am delighted to be an ambassador for the fund, and I’m looking forward to supporting other community groups with their growth. There are so many amazing projects you can see in the valleys that have been boosted by them, and I know there will be many more over the next few decades.
Adrian Emmett – My name is Adrian Emmett and I run the Lion Treorchy and I chair the Treorchy Chamber of Trade. Last year Treorchy became the Champion High Street of Great Britain. Our regeneration has been led by community minded entrepreneurs, in partnership with the local authority and support by the local community. This bottom up approach was supported by Pen y Cymoedd and we received funding to launch Visit Treorchy.
We are an incredibly creative community, but good ideas need capital to grow. Pen y Cymoedd have helped so many small businesses to grow their business and realise their potential. Successful businesses create successful communities and Pen y Cymoedd are a key ingredient to enabling our community to create it’s own success.
Neil Francis – My name is Neal Francis and I live in Resolven, Neath. I am a community councillor and am lucky enough this year to be Chair. Part of my responsibilities within the council is to apply for grants so I have had a lot of dealings with Pen Y Cymoedd with a good success rate. As such I have offered help and advice to other groups/individuals within our community in applications to the scheme.
In addition I am also trustee, secretary and a volunteer for Resolven and District Community Library and again we have been successful with obtaining grants from the fund.
I am also a trustee for Ty Olwyn within Morriston hospital.