The £11 million Programme ARFOR, which aims to deliver an economic boost and strengthen the Welsh language across counties Gwynedd, Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire, and Anglesey, is now inviting applications to its Enterprising Communities Fund. The second phase of this pioneering Programme comes as part of the Cooperation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru.
Following on from the success of its first phase, the Programme is now open to tenders for the Enterprising Communities work stream. This presents an opportunity for companies, social enterprises and cooperative enterprises to apply for funding up until March 2025, to support communities that are Welsh language strongholds to thrive economically and in turn reinforce the language.
ARFOR’s Enterprising Communities fund is multifaceted; firstly it encourages the creation of a variety of jobs in order for young people and families to be able to work in their indigenous communities. In doing so it responds to the possible risk of losing essential local assets and services from these communities. The fund also calls on social and commercial enterprises to make more use of the Welsh language, which will not only add value to their products or services but will also maintain the local Welsh identity of ARFOR’s communities.
The Programme welcomes applicants from all four counties and hopes to see creative and ambitious plans that will lead to brand new Welsh businesses, protecting or creating more local jobs, and in turn establish more Welsh language spaces within the communities. The plans should focus on the unique qualities of each community, including the Welsh language, and aim to circulate money within the area to increase the amount of wealth that stays local.
Since its launch in 2019 the ARFOR Programme has created 238 full-time equivalent jobs, created 89 part-time jobs, and provided support to over 150 businesses.
For more information and to apply visit: Enterprising Communities
