The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language, Mark Drakeford has announced that the Small Grants Scheme for the Perthyn project has opened. The aim of Perthyn is to help the Welsh language thrive by providing grants for community groups to help them establish new social enterprises or develop new housing projects that are led by the community. The intention is to help Welsh language Communities by creating economic opportunities and providing affordable housing in areas with high numbers of second homes.
So far 47 community projects have secured funding, such as Menter y Tŵr in Pwllheli, where local residents have come together to buy a hotel. Mark Drakeford said:
‘Prosiect Perthyn grants are a fantastic opportunity to help communities turn their ideas into reality. It has helped community groups to buy and run their local pubs such as Llanuwchllyn and Tafarn Dyffryn Aeron.
Perthyn has also helped Menter y Tŵr in Pwllheli to buy and run a community-owned hotel, as well as supported community-owned renewable energy project such as Egni Trefin.
Small grants can make a big difference in your local community, so I would encourage anyone with ideas for projects to benefit their community and support the Welsh language to apply.’
Grants can be obtained to establish methods of producing local renewable energy also. Egni Trefin received a grant of over £10,000 to establish a community enterprise to explore ways of producing renewable energy.
Clynfyw community received support to buy a farm with land to rent and cotages for local people. Cris Tomos, Community Asset Manager for Planet said:
‘The Perthyn grant funding continues to be an important first phase financial support element for new and expanding community projects developing initiatives around supporting the Welsh Language and Community Housing Schemes. Many of the new start-ups have gone on to establish registered cooperatives that are now buying land and properties for boosting the local economy.’
Jocelle Lovell, Director of Inclusive Communities at Cwmpas said:
‘We are delighted to be working with partners to deliver the Perthyn project. Perthyn works with the communities to identify ways to address the lack of affordable housing, protect community assets and create new cooperatives and social businesses. A real enabler for us has been administering a small grant pilot scheme for the communities to help build local capacity and accelerate their business and housing ideas. We look forward to seeing the ideas develop and to working with more communities over the coming months.’
The grant scheme is administered by Cwmpas on behalf of Welsh Government. You can find more information as well as details of how to make an application on the Cwmpas website.
