EXPANDED CATERING SERVICES
MARCH 18th 2018
CEDARS TEA ROOM
£5,000 – MICRO FUND – FEB 2017
Cedars took on management of the Visitor Centre at Afan Forest Visitor Park in 2016. They hope to find local food suppliers for the cafe in time, and are currently using eggs, coffee, chocolate, honey and preserves, bacon and sausages from the central south wales area in general.
Cedars provides local employment and is working to support the local economy by buying local produce and encouraging local spending. The café helps to make the world-famous Afan Argoed an attractive destination for cyclists and walkers and encouraging healthier lifestyles.
“We are in the process of a total redevelopment of the visitor centre space to maximise the space available. We are also redeveloping the kitchen and service area to allow for an expanded menu to be served. We have now employed two more-part time staff from the local area and hope to recruit more as our activities continue to expand. The café now has a new counter area thanks to the grant and once the project has been completed, there will be far more seating available. We have seen an increase in footfall in the café and received a lot of positive feedback from visitors. With money from the grant we have now created a separate room within the Centre that is available for private hire.” Quote from Jill Williams – Cedars Tea Room
LOCATION OF ACTIVITY: AFAN FOREST VISITOR PARK
VALLEY: AFAN
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.