Heart of the Hall, Maerdy Community Centre
Through Pen y Cymoedd funding, the Arts Factory Heart of the Hall project transformed Maerdy Community Centre’s outdated hall into a vibrant, accessible community space that is once again at the heart of local life.
The investment has delivered significant social, economic, and wellbeing benefits. The improved facilities now support a wide range of activities, including fitness sessions, youth provision, wellbeing programmes, community events, music activities, and cultural celebrations, creating more opportunities for local people to connect and engage.
The project has helped reduce social isolation, improve confidence and wellbeing, and provide a welcoming environment where residents can access support and build relationships. Community feedback highlights the positive impact the space has had on people’s lives.
The refurbishment has also strengthened the local economy and the centre’s sustainability. Hall bookings have increased by more than 40%, attracting more visitors to the venue, increasing use of on-site facilities, supporting local businesses, and generating additional income through venue hire.
Most importantly, the project has restored a valued community asset, helping to rebuild community pride and creating a sustainable space that will continue to benefit local residents for years to come. Maerdy’s hall is once again a thriving hub where people can come together, participate, and flourish.
Community feedback highlights this impact:
“We used to go out of the area for events, but now we can stay local. It’s made a big difference to Maerdy.”
“This is just the beginning – there’s so much more that can happen here now.”
“It feels like we’ve got our community centre back.”
“The hall is finally something we can be proud to hire out. It’s helping keep the centre going.”
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.