Funding for staff member at Community Gym
JUNE 16th 2021
In September 2019 we awarded Cwmparc Community Association a £5000 Micro Fund grant to cover a part time gym instructor for 16 hrs per week for one year with match funding from themselves. Already an important and varied community resource they were in middle of community gym area being re-developed.
They employed the gym instructor in March 2020 and then COVID struck. They were able to keep instructor retained and ready for when gym re-opened and since 4th May they have 50 new gym members and are averaging 20-30 people using the community gym each day.
The role funded by PYC Micro fund was for 20hrs per week but such is demand the new facility is open from 6-7 most days and they have found people really like having a qualified gym instructor there so are having to increase and fund extra hours. The instructor offers: Induction into Gym, training advice and support as well as fitness classes during quiet time to encourage people to get involved in fitness if the Gym is not for them
They have received really great feedback and are now self-funding the Gym Instructor whilst looking at ways to recruit a 2nd. The facility looks great and we wish them lots of luck as they re-build post lockdown.
“Just being able to go to a gym again is fab and not forgetting the lovely Ceri our lovely instructor x”
“The running machine cross trainer and rowing machine are my favourite.”
“The beast of a machine in the corner downstairs I don’t even know what it’s called
The achinator!”
“Fab session last night.xxx”
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.