Job Creation: Paving the Way for a Brighter Future
MARCH 5th 2024
Did you know that PyC funding has created over 25 jobs and helped support and sustain a further 156 jobs in the fund area so far?
As a fund, we are committed to promoting and growing local businesses, creating job opportunities, and attracting enterprise and investment to the area, creating high-quality, secure jobs.
The fund is committed to supporting initiatives that:
- Develop jobs skills of the future.
- Support local businesses to sustain jobs and growth.
- Support local people on their journey towards employment by removing barriers of all kinds to employment at all stages and for all ages
- Develop jobs that focus on reducing carbon emissions, restoring nature and making environmental improvements
- Raise the employment aspirations of people, in particular disadvantaged people living in the valleys
- Encourage entrepreneurship, sole traders, social enterprises, and co-operatives
- Provide quality, secure jobs
The community want the fund to be advocates for innovation and employment, so we continue to work with business support agencies, local authorities, and other partners. We ensure businesses of all descriptions receive the ongoing development and support they need, and we work to leverage that into the fund area.
The fund has supported and will continue to support a wide range of organisations including for example:
- Independent retailers / local businesses
- Community adult education
- Youth education and employment
- Chambers of commerce
- Social, voluntary, sports groups and
- community hubs
- Social enterprises
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.