We first supported Valleys Kids with a large grant to establish and support their amazing social enterprise The Play Yard back in 2019. That facility is now a well-used and valued local asset. Like all charities, the last few years have been really difficult for Valleys Kids with the pandemic, the cost of living crisis and other factors meaning demand for their services are higher than ever but funding opportunities harder to come by.
They approached the fund to help secure the short-term future of the Penyrenglyn Community and Family Centre while they develop plans to transform the existing setting into a flagship wellbeing hub for the Rhondda Fawr, especially the areas of Treherbert, Treorchy and Pentre. This involves the relocation of the Family Team to allow them to be more focussed on delivery, responding and building on existing community relationships and start to work more closely with local schools to continue and expand the support offered to the children and families they work with.
“This is a good example of how PyC funding can fit flexibly to give organisations time and space to develop longer term plans and funding streams. Valleys Kids is a place-based community development charity that, since 1977, has provided essential support, advice and opportunities to people of all ages in RCT and we believe their vision for Penyrenglyn can have lasting impact for fund communities.” – Kate Breeze, Executive Director, Pen y Cymoedd
“Valleys Kids are grateful for the support and continued confidence demonstrated by Pen y Cymoedd working together we can make change happen and this is part of the journey.” – Kathryn Edwards, Chief Operating Officer, Valleys Kids