Community Funding supports a new family facility in much loved Aberdare Park
JULY 22nd 2022
Back in 2018, the Friends of Aberdare Park approached us with a bold plan to create a splashpad in the beautiful setting of Aberdare Park.
They had:
- Worked with local authority for planning and lease
- Talked to users of the park and carried out consultation with local community and families
- Obtained quotes and carefully costed the whole development
The work began to secure funding and the Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm Community Fund were proud to support them with a grant of £143,994.25. The total cost of the project was over £300,000 and they had secured match funding as well as doing lots of fundraising themselves.
Though a small group they had a business and project plan, a plan for recruiting volunteers and paying for ongoing maintenance and insurance and 3 years cash flow forecasts.
Developing and opening the splashpad during a global pandemic was a challenge but they opened the splashpad in 2021 with an official opening ceremony in 2021.
“this project represents what can be achieved when a group of dedicated volunteers work with the community, local authority and various funders. It was ambitious and the impact is clear to see now, already a beautiful, well-used park for a variety of users the addition of the splashpad means an extra facility to encourage families into green spaces and provides a low cost / free resource to enrich young people’s lives. As well as public access they reserve it for quiet sessions for Cynon Valley PALS and plan events there throughout the year” – Kate Breeze, Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm Community Fund
If you value this as a resource and have some time to spare, they are always looking for volunteers and they would love to hear from anyone that has even a small amount of time to help them out.
The Fund was established by energy company Vattenfall to benefit the communities hosting the Pen y Cymoedd wind farm across the upper Neath, Afan, Rhondda and Cynon Valleys. It exists to support local people, groups and organisations to invest in themselves, their ideas and their communities.
The Community Fund has a substantial annual budget that is index-linked, meaning it increases in line with inflation. As an example, this equated to around £2.5 million in 2025. The Fund will continue to support communities until 2043, creating long-term opportunities for growth, resilience and positive change.
The Fund is managed by an independent, locally based not-for-profit Community Interest Company. It is overseen by a Board of Directors with strong local connections and delivered by a small but dedicated staff team with extensive community engagement experience. We are here to help ensure the Fund delivers on the vision and priorities of local communities.
Over the next 10 years, the Fund is focusing on investment in people, places and businesses — helping the Valleys to thrive, driving bold ideas, supporting transformation and creating lasting impact for current and future generations.