PEN Y CYMOEDD
project case studies
Projects that inspire
Discover the inspiring projects recently supported by the Pen y Cymoedd Community Fund. From local enterprises and environmental initiatives to community spaces and youth programmes, these projects highlight the creativity, passion, and commitment of people across the Neath, Afan, Rhondda, and Cynon Valleys. See how funding is helping communities grow, connect, and thrive.
Fruits of labour: Local school children join forces with community garden for National Garden Week to support the old and vulnerable.
Gilgal Community Association – Micro Fund Grant – £2,098
Summer 2023
Just under a year ago we awarded a Micro Fund to Gilgal Coffee and Breakfast club. They were the 1st organisation in the Upper Afan Valley to establish a Food Bank and when the pandemic restrictions started to lift, they recognised people in community needed somewhere safe to come and have a chat and get used to being with other people again and this combined with cost-of-living crisis gave them the idea to start an affordable coffee and breakfast club.
Supporting activity in Tonmawr update
Y Siop Fach Sero – Vision Fund Grant £26,000 – Case Study
IRONWORX LTD – Case Study
Spring 2023
Back in early 2021 we supported Morgan a local man with his dream to open a gym and fitness centre. The IronWorX Gym offers a first-class fitness facility with specially designed space, equipment and knowledge. It promotes health, fitness and ultimately well-being within the community for all ages.
SUPPORTING TOURISM
Spring 2023
Dare Valley Trout Fishery owner Neil has visited fishing lakes all over the UK and could see the huge potential in a redundant reservoir situated at Dare Valley Country Park to offer something different to people living close by and further afield. He approached PyC for support in developing the lake and surrounding land and received a loan of £25,000.
GLYNNEATH RFC – £74,593.50
Spring 2023
Truly a club at the heart of their community, the Community Transformation Project included new pitch side and perimeter fencing to enclose the playing area, re-surfacing of car park, refurbishing the changing rooms and providing additional changing room and shower facilities for girls and ladies teams.
GLYNNEATH GOLF CLUB DRIVE FOR THE FUTURE – £110,000
Funded Friends of Ferndale and Blaenllechau – £4,740 Micro Fund Grant
Spring 2023
As well as the fun of the event and the community coming together, we supported this as this was a few groups and local businesses coming together to draw more people to town and to help people see what is available in their area and is we hope the first of many collaborative events in the area between local businesses and community groups” – Pen y Cymoedd
Taking Tonmawr Forward After Covid – Grant Update and Impact
Ynysfach Primary School – Siop y Ddraig Goch
Winter 2023
We have linked to the Under the Sky project and we also had GroundWorks in to help with the planting of herbs, fruit and vegetables. The pupils learned a lot about sustainability and understood the importance of reducing food waste. Anything that was grown, was then then shared in the shop with customers from the community.
PyC Fund supports local art group
MICRO FUND GRANT TO BRIARS BRIDLEWAYS – £5,000 – Update
Winter 2022
Briars Bridleways RCT have been established for over 15 years, promoting access for horse riding throughout RCT and creating events for equestrians to attend and enjoy, within the local area. They are a local Bridleways Access Group, registered with the British Horse Society, who actively promote all aspects of equestrianism.
Friends of Treorchy Park Food Van
Winter 2022
Last year we funded Friends of Treorchy Park with a £5,000 grant. They wanted a food van for the park and pool that they run but also to use at other community events that they support. If Pen y Cymoedd supports vehicles we want to be sure they will last for many years and so we asked the group to consider match funding to purchase a more sustainable vehicle which they did.
DofE enhancing young people’s CV! (Cynon Valley)
Autumn 2022
In March 2020 the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (the DofE) who are the UK’s leading youth achievement award approached the fund with a project idea for the Cynon valley and we were excited to support them with a grant of £22,220 for their project DofE enhancing young people’s CV! (Cynon Valley).
GTFM Connecting Cynon Case Study – £12,491 grant from PyC
Autumn 2022
Back in 2020 GTFM approached the fund as they had ambitious plans to extend their already popular radio station into the Cynon valley. Originally formed in 1999, GTFM provides a voluntary local radio service. It was awarded the first Community Radio licence in Wales in 2005 and had an audience of more than 20,000 regular listeners mainly centred in the Pontypridd area.
UPDATE ON MICRO FUND GRANT TO VISION ELECTRONIC SECURITY SOLUTIONS – £4,400
Community Funding supports a new family facility in much loved Aberdare Park
Rhondda Hub for Veterans
Summer 2022
The Rhondda Hub for Veterans is a registered charity set up to help ex-service personnel in the Rhondda and surrounding valleys, who are or at risk of being homeless. They source accommodation in the local private rented sector for potential beneficiaries referred to them by other organisations and charities or veterans who self-refer.
Cwmbach Wetlands
Summer 2022
Cwmbach Community Wetlands is a 11 hectare site comprising lagoons and wet pastures. This site has a mix of marsh, grassland, swamp, open water, woodland, scrub and lies in an area dominated by housing and industrial activity. Over the years it has organically developed into a haven for a wide variety of wildlife and provides local people with the opportunity to connect with nature on their doorstep.