Update on impact of Vision Fund award of £11,538 to Men’s Shed Tynewydd / Grow Rhondda in 2022
DECEMBER 10th 2024
“The funding supported a 4 hrs per week funded role for a Grow Rhondda administrator. This role supported all our activities thought the Upper Rhondda. As all our projects remain volunteer led there is a need for this paid parttime administrative role which has supported several activities and programmes during 2022-2024. We have been able to maintain this role since grant ended with support of RCTCBC (Levelling Up Funding). We also used part of the PyC funding for our Grow Garden Pantry project – we were able to pay somebody for 15hrs per week.
We have supported training at Tynewydd for staff and volunteers, which the Pen y Cymoedd vision grant has also supported, this training has been essential to the development of our community engagement. Now with the whole of the Tynewydd building coming under Grow Rhondda and with the development of Y Pot Bach Siop Coffi and Food Pantry-Shop both in their first year of operation, we need to consider what longer term funding model looks like.
We are creating a business plan to support a long term plan to enable us to grow and develop, we are currently looking at partnerships with local and regional groups and have very exciting plans for a new programme to support the whole of the Treherbert community through health and wellbeing initiatives, this will take time and funding to come to fruition but will have a positive impact in the long term.
“The Pen y Cymoedd vision grant also supported a 40 week sessional programme, the support for our food growing space across the area has really benefited from this sessional programme, this also included the creation of street gardening, this new idea of gardening hadn’t been tried before in the area. But has been met with success. Our sessional lead was able to work with a number of volunteers in the community to create an amazing new gardening space in Ty Newydd. This has led to the creation of 2 new roles “Kerb Side Postcode Sessional Gardener “and the “Seed Bank- Sessional Food Grower” both of which have received funding from the RCTCBC Multiple grants, will continue the good work created into 2025, with the possibility of long-term funding for this role being made available.
Lot’s more to do but PyC has really helped us on this journey.” – Dave Harris
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.