PEN Y CYMOEDD

THE LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS

Catch Up On Our Latest News

Heart of the Hall, Maerdy Community Centre

Heart of the Hall, Maerdy Community Centre

Summer 2026

Through Pen y Cymoedd funding, the Arts Factory Heart of the Hall project transformed Maerdy Community Centre’s outdated hall into a vibrant, accessible community space that is once again at the heart of local life.

Major £235,532.59 investment awarded to The Fern Partnership to strengthen communities across the Rhondda and Cynon Valleys

Major £235,532.59 investment awarded to The Fern Partnership to strengthen communities across the Rhondda and Cynon Valleys

Summer 2026

A major £235,532.59 investment over three years has been awarded to The Fern Partnership to help secure vital childcare, community and wellbeing services across the Rhondda and Cynon Valleys. The funding will support the organisation’s ambitious Anchoring the Valley’s Future: Rooted in Place, Built to Grow plan, safeguarding the core infrastructure that underpins its wide-reaching work with children, families and communities across the area.

George Caffee: Bringing Authentic Polish Baking to Aberdare Market

George Caffee: Bringing Authentic Polish Baking to Aberdare Market

Summer 2026

When Sylwia approached the fund with her idea to open George Caffee in Aberdare Market, she had a clear vision: to create a specialist Polish cake shop offering handcrafted cakes made from traditional family recipes. Recognising a gap in the local market, Sylwia wanted to provide residents, visitors, and the local Polish community with authentic baked goods that celebrate cultural heritage through quality, flavour, and craftsmanship.

£19,408 Awarded to support Hirwaun Village Green Improvements

£19,408 Awarded to support Hirwaun Village Green Improvements

Summer 2026

We are delighted to announce an award of £19,408 towards improvement works and community activity at Hirwaun Village Green. The funding will support enhanced access, signage, information boards, and ongoing maintenance activity on the Village Green. The project will help celebrate the area’s rich industrial heritage while encouraging greater community use and volunteer involvement.

Pen y Cymoedd Community Fund Awards £25,672.83 to Inspire Future Green Careers Through “Turbine Time!”

Pen y Cymoedd Community Fund Awards £25,672.83 to Inspire Future Green Careers Through “Turbine Time!”

Summer 2026

The Pen y Cymoedd Community Fund is proud to award £25,672.83 to EESW STEM Cymru to deliver “Turbine Time! – Wind Powered Education” across schools within the Fund area. This exciting programme will give hundreds of young people the opportunity to explore renewable energy, engineering and environmental sustainability through hands-on activities linked directly to the Pen y Cymoedd wind farm.

£46,673 awarded to restore rivers and reconnect communities in the Afan Valley

£46,673 awarded to restore rivers and reconnect communities in the Afan Valley

Summer 2026

We’re delighted to award £46,673.48 to West Wales Rivers Trust for their Valleys River Restorers project. For generations, rivers have been at the heart of communities in the Upper Afan Valley, supporting local community, farming, wildlife and wellbeing. But over time connections have lessened while the rivers themselves face increasing pressure.

Thank you to Jamie Smith

Thank you to Jamie Smith

Summer 2026

Jamie has been a fantastic Board Member and has given so much support, insight and encouragement during his time with us. We are very grateful for everything Jamie has contributed and for the time and commitment he has given to the Board.

£16,500 awarded to Bee1 Community for Pollinator Patch Challenge

£16,500 awarded to Bee1 Community for Pollinator Patch Challenge

Spring 2026

We are delighted to announce that Bee1 Community has been awarded £16,500 to deliver its inspiring Pollinator Patch Challenge across the Pen y Cymoedd area. The project will empower schools, residents, and local businesses to design and create pollinator-friendly green spaces – from small garden patches to larger community habitats – helping to reverse biodiversity loss while improving access to nature and supporting community wellbeing.

Exciting News for the Upper Afan Valley!

Exciting News for the Upper Afan Valley!

Spring 2026

We’re thrilled to share that the Upper Afan Valley has been awarded a £55,945 grant from Pen y Cymoedd to fund a part-time Senior Community Development Officer for the next two years. This role, hosted by Neath Port Talbot CVS, will be based in the Upper Afan Valley and is a significant step forward for local communities.

New Board Member Appointed

New Board Member Appointed

Spring 2026

We are pleased to welcome Andrea as a new Member of the Board. This appointment supports our commitment to refreshing the Board over the life of the Fund, bringing in new skills, experience, and perspectives.

OUR SPACE | EIN LLE NI – COMPLETION & REFLECTION

OUR SPACE | EIN LLE NI – COMPLETION & REFLECTION

Spring 2026

Over the past three years, Our Space / Ein Lle Ni has grown into a remarkable body of work — not as a single project, but as 10 individual creative journeys, each shaped by the people, places and voices of the Pen-y-Cymoedd communities.

Pen y Cymoedd Fund Announces New Monitoring & Evaluation Partner

Pen y Cymoedd Fund Announces New Monitoring & Evaluation Partner

Spring 2026

We are excited to announce that, following many years of collaboration with Wavehill, Pen y Cymoedd Fund is entering a new Monitoring & Evaluation contract with People & Work. We want to thank Wavehill for their support, challenge, and insight since 2018 — your work has helped shape how we understand and evidence the difference the Fund makes.

Micro Fund Round 19 Awards Announced

Micro Fund Round 19 Awards Announced

Spring 2026

The Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm Community Fund is pleased to announce the latest organisations and businesses supported through Micro Fund Round 19, with a total of £151,457.35 awarded to 32 projects across the upper Neath, Afan, Rhondda and Cynon Valleys.