News

When our Micro Funds began back in March 2017, we could never have known the demand we’d still have 8 years on. Since they launched, we’ve received and assessed 1409 applications and awarded 642 groups and businesses in the area. Adding in the most recent awards (announcement coming soon!) we will have invested £2.1million into…

We’d like to update the Afan valley community regarding the sale of Afan Lodge. As you may be aware, Afan Lodge closed in November following a consultation period with staff. We had supported the Lodge since 2019, keeping the business active through some extremely difficult periods, including Covid and the ongoing cost of living crisis.…

Hirwaun YMCA has been awarded support from the Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm Community Fund A community centre with an 80-year legacy supporting children and young people has been awarded £385,000 in funding. Hirwaun YMCA, in Aberdare, received the grant from the Pen y Cymoedd Community Fund with the capital to be used to transform…

Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm Community Fund is recruiting for new board members. The Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm has been operating above the upper Neath, Rhondda, Afan and Cynon Valleys since 2016 and its Community Fund, created in 2017, is the biggest of its kind in the UK, guaranteed until 2043, and distributing at…

A vital community leisure facility has been awarded with £300,000 worth of funding from Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm Community Fund. Afan Valley Swimming Pool in Cymmer has become a vital community hub, providing group and one-to-one swimming lessons, family swims, and lane swimming seven days a week, with 36,000 visits recorded annually. The pool…

In 2014 the Senior Citizen Centre based in Glyncorrwg was closed for good. A group of local people wanted to ensure this vital centre, a base for bringing people together, who may otherwise feel isolated, continued to support all ages of the community. Noddfa Community Centre was formed and ever since the Trustees have worked…

This project is a follow-on project to the one in the Upper Cynon Valley, which we supported in 2020 with a grant of £49,242. The award allowed the organisation to engage the local communities residing alongside and close to the northern reaches of the River Cynon (and its tributaries such as the Dare) in the…

New Pathways are a sexual violence specialist support agency and provide services across the region. The project will ensure that people who have experienced sexual violence in the area (rape, sexual assault, or sexual abuse) are able to access therapeutic services that overcome the effects of trauma and promote recovery. It will: Provide specialist sexual…

With funding of £98,000 over 3 years they will work with all 4 Afan schools (Croeserw, Cymmer Afan, Pen Afan and Glyncorrwg) Provide a coach/mentor per school every week for 3 years Run wellbeing workshops in each school Establish and run after-school clubs with approximately 40 children from each school participating in these clubs Host…

A £26k loan/grant mix has been awarded to Hussey’s Auto’s, Hirwaun towards the installation of an MOT Bay. The expansion will aid expansion and diversify of the business and will undoubtedly bring in more customers . The project will also create a full-time Job for an MOT tester. The business was established in January 2022…