HEART BEATS MOVING
OCTOBER 23rd 2017
ON HEARTBEATS COMMUNITY CHOIR
£1579.56 – MICRO FUND – FEB 2017
This new group applied for equipment to help facilitate a community arts programme, targeting young people and giving them opportunities to engage with a variety of artists, musicians and creative talents at weekly sessions and monthly workshops. There is a singing group and music lessons, along with regular excursions to exhibitions, musical events, museums and other similar community groups. In time, the group will give concerts and display its work. The grant request was modest, costings had been sought, and having some key items of equipment available at the start assisted them recruitment and engagement. It will also enable to group to plan early performance events, so that they can start to generate income.
“We are very grateful for the funding we have received…we have had an amazing response from the local community and each week we are delighted to see new faces and have been steadily growing in numbers. We have been really overwhelmed by the comments we receive from local people…we are meeting all our targets to become sustainable.”
Lisa Gauvain – Heartbeats
LOCATION OF ACTIVITY: FERNDALE
VALLEY: RHONDDA FACH
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.