Community grants launched for the Ruthin area

Housing association Grŵp Cynefin has launched an £18,000 fund for activities to improve communities in the Ruthin area.

The grants – of up to £1000 each – are available to voluntary and community groups which are making a difference and improving their local area. It’s all part of the re-development of Grŵp Cynefin’s Llys Awelon Extra Care Housing Scheme in Ruthin.

These days, a major construction agreement of this nature involves investment beyond the construction site, and in the local community as well.

Local company, Read Construction, is the construction company re-developing the site, and therefore fitting that this community investment is in an area where many of their employees and suppliers come from. The development of Llys Awelon is a partnership between Grŵp Cynefin, Denbighshire County Council and the Welsh Government.

“This new project means an additional 35 flats to the existing 21 flats with brand new facilities for the older people in the area,” says Arwyn Evans, Head of Development at Grŵp Cynefin. “It’s therefore great that as well as being able to provide an area with a resource like this, which naturally brings local jobs and spending, that the wider community also benefits through grants.”

Grants  of up to £1,000 will be offered to groups operating in and around Ruthin, within the LL15 postcode.

“We really want groups of all kinds to apply for the funding,” said Ffion Pittendreigh, Grŵp Cynefin’s Community Initiatives Manager. “If they can help any activity that makes life better, brings people together and benefits the community and the environment, go for it! They are relatively small grants but a thousand pounds can make a world of difference for a small enterprise.”

Grants are offered to groups offering activities that contribute to the local community by achieving some of the below:

• Boosting the sense of community
• Involving the whole community (e.g., people of all ages and abilities)
• Encouraging children and young people to get involved
• Organising events to bring the community together
• Supporting a long-term project (social or leisure)
• Providing play and leisure opportunities for children and young people
• Improving the local environment (e.g., litter picking days, creating space for wildlife)
• Helping people feel safer and more secure
• Improving the wellbeing of the community by encouraging a healthy lifestyle
• Promoting the Welsh language
• Responding to the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis

The fund is open to applications until 31 January 2024. Groups can apply for grants via the Grŵp Cynefin website here or they can get in touch for a hard copy by post.

The grants are administered by Grŵp Cynefin’s Community Initiatives Department so if you would like to discuss, see if your initiative or project is eligible or get some help with the application, please contact Grŵp Cynefin’s Community Initiatives team on 0300 111 2122 or email mentraucymunedol@grwpcynefin.org.

If you would like to arrange an interview or for more information, please contact Mari Williams, Grŵp Cynefin’s Communications and Marketing Manager – mari.williams@grwpcynefin.org or 07970 142 305