Environment

Environment Project: Community Gateways

This project aimed to improve heritage and conservation sites in Neath Port Talbot whilst working with rural communities to raise awareness and deliver changes in attitude towards the local environment. Groundworks Bridgend & Neath Port Talbot, a not for profit organisation, ran its CoRE programme of activities which was founded upon the facets of “Community, Regeneration, Environment”. It aimed to deliver an inclusive programme of environmental activities to rural wards in Neath Port Talbot with an emphasis on community participation as a way of benefitting an individual’s health and their local environment.

The project delivered over 50 activities, ranging from creating small bowl planting areas to planting community orchards and to designing and constructing a £20,000 natural playground.

Environment Project: Y Gronfa Wledig/The Rural Fund

The main aim of Y Gronfa Wledig is to support projects run by not for profit organisations. These projects have to create a sense of pride in the rural communities of the County Borough and heighten their sense of local identity. 

A part-time Grants Officer was appointed to offer advice and guidance to potential project applicants and to monitor a scheme which provided funding for new and innovative community projects that promoted culture and heritage under the following broad headings: Cultural events, Promoting civic pride, Supporting rural heritage, Environmental projects and Projects that market local attractions and initiatives.

Voluntary/community groups, social enterprises, registered charities, town and community councils were able to apply for capital and revenue grants of £8,000 towards project costs and Y Gronfa Wledig was successful in assisting 25 grassroots community organisations to deliver 38 culture and heritage projects during the lifetime of the project.