Community Facilities Programme Open

Welsh Government's Community Facilities Programme Open for Applications http://gov.wales/topics/people-and-communities/communities/community-facilities-programme/?lang=en The Welsh Government has launched the next round of applications for the Community Facilities programme, as part of their Tackling Poverty Agenda. Capital grants are available to community-led voluntary groups, social enterprises and community organisations to tackle poverty and its effects, increase opportunity, create prosperity for all and develop resilient communities where people are engaged and empowered – through the development of community facilities. Facilities must be useful to, and well used by, people in Welsh communities. Priority will be given to applications from former Communities First cluster areas, however strong applications from other areas will be considered. There are two levels of funding available: Small Grants - between £5,000 and £25,000. Large Grants - between £25,001 and £250,000. Applicants can apply for more than one grant within three years, up to a maximum of three awards. No organisation will be awarded more than £250,000 in any three year period. Grants can fund a variety of purposes, including training services, local health services, safeguarding and providing or re-introducing local community services such as libraries and post offices. Grants could also provide digital access, encourage co-location of local groups and host food banks. Applicants must be working with a partner from the public, private or third sector. This may include a local health board or authority, or a Welsh Government tackling poverty programme such as Communities First, Flying Start or Families First. The application process has two stages: an Expression of Interest stage and a Full Application stage. Applicants should note that this is a popular fund and even strong applications may be turned down. Groups can apply at any time before 31 March 2018.

Merthyr Tydfil Local Development Plan

Replacement Merthyr Tydfil Local Development Plan 2016-2031: Public Consultation on the Preferred Strategy

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council (MTCBC) has approved, for consultation, a ‘Preferred Strategy’ for the replacement Local Development Plan (LDP). Upon adoption, the replacement LDP will form the basis for decisions on land use planning matters in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough (excluding the area within the Brecon Beacons National Park) until 2031.

A six week public consultation will take place on the ‘Preferred Strategy’ and other background papers, including the Candidate Sites Register, between Friday 14th July 2017 and Friday 25th August 2017.

For further information, please follow the link below:

https://www.merthyr.gov.uk/resident/planning-building-control/first-replacement-local-development-plan-2016-2031/

Fund for Wales

ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT TO APPLY! DIM OND UN WYTHNOS I FYND! Cronfa i Gymru Mae grantiau rhwng £500 a £1,000 ar gael ar gyfer grwpiau  cymunedol bach sy'n cael eu gyrru gan wirfoddolwyr, ac  y mae eu prosiectau'n anelu at sicrhau un o'r pum  canlyniadau canlynol: ·        Gwella cyfleoedd bywyd pobl ·        Adeiladu cymunedau cryfach ·        Gwella amgylcheddau gwledig a threfol ·        Hybu cymunedau a phobl iachach a mwy gweithgar ·        Magu etifeddiaeth a diwylliant DYDDIAD CAU: 12yp, Gorffennaf 31ain I ymgeisio cliciwch yma Fund for Wales Grants of £500 to £1,000 are available for small, volunteer-driven  community groups whose projects aim to deliver one of the five  following outcomes: ·        Improving people’s chances in life ·        Building stronger communities ·        Improving rural and urban environments ·        Encouraging healthier and more active people and communities ·        Preserving heritage and culture CLOSING DATE: 12pm, July 31st To apply click here

Comic Relief Launch New Active Ageing Grants Programme (UK)

Comic Relief Launch New Active Ageing Grants Programme (UK) https://www.comicrelief.com/grants/initiatives/active-ageing-creating-change-communities The new Active Ageing: Creating Change in Communities initiative is providing £1.5 million of funding in order to engage older people aged 65 and over from ‘harder to reach’ groups to get involved in opportunities which use their skills, knowledge and experience to contribute to their communities. Registered and un-registered community based organisations and partnerships across the UK, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man can apply for grants of between £40,000 and £80,000 to support projects, initiatives and activities which primarily focus on benefitting older people, specifically those older people who do not usually participate in volunteering or social activities because they are from a disadvantaged community, or face barriers to participation. Comic Relief is also interested in supporting activities which will have a wider benefit for the community in which they are taking place. To be eligible for funding, projects should: Meet at least one of the following outcomes: Older people improve their mental health and wellbeing. Older people increase the quality and quantity of their social connections. Older people develop an enhanced sense of purpose and empowerment. Provide creative, fresh approaches to engage beneficiaries in social action activities which bring people together and help to improve their lives and solve problems that are important to their communities. This may include activities around campaigning and fundraising as well as volunteering, all of which can create a double benefit for communities and the older person themselves. For the activities to have positive benefits for the older people involved, they should: Provide meaningful roles with opportunities for social interaction and leadership. Ensure that older people are recognised and valued for their contribution. Make older people feel valued and enable them to be creative and productive. To do this, activities might focus wholly on older people, or use a broader community or intergenerational approach. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they really understand the needs of their community, the role that older people can play in catalysing social change and make the case that they can deliver. Comic Relief expects to award grants to between 15 and 25 projects. The deadline for applications is 29 August 2017 (midday).

Vacancy: Business Development Manager

Twynyrodyn Action Group currently have a vacancy for a Business Development Manager - follow this link for the job description and person spec:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0Yh4o6lh7xIeUtQQVdBN29sSEU/view?usp=sharing

For further information contact:
Callum Palmer 
Twyn Action Group Youth Club ( TAG Youth ) 
Glaser Road, Twynyrodyn , Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 0TD
tel / ffon: 01685 709430 Direct Line: 01685 709434
Works Mobile: 07494482257

Find out how your lungs are functioning

The British Lung Foundation (BLF) and Cwm Taf University Health Board, will be running a lung screening event at St.Tydfil's Shopping centre, St.Tydfil’s Bridge, Merthyr Tydfill, CF47 8EL on Wednesday 12 July between 10am and 4pm.

 

The events aims to help find residents of Merthyr Tydfill (and visitors) living with undiagnosed Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), so that they can get support and help.

 

COPD encompasses a number of conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, which can cause people to have difficulty breathing due to long-term damage to their lungs.

 

Head of British Lung Foundation Wales, Joseph Carter, said: “If you have felt breathless or have had a persistent cough for three weeks or more, then come along to one of our free events. We will have a specialist BLF nurse at hand who can offer free advice, information, and a lung function tests.”

 

“It’s quicker (seeing us at an event) than waiting to go and see your doctor if you have concerns, and our nurses are always happy to help. There will be information for people to take away on the day too”

 

To find out more about the British Lung Foundation visit www.blf.org.uk phone 03000 030 555 or follow us on Twitter @BLFWales

Keeping fit during pregnancy

Keeping fit and active while pregnant is good for wellbeing- so in that spirit the sports development team in Merthyr Tydfil leisure centre are offering Bumpfit.

Cwm Taf Community Capacity Grant Scheme Project confirmed

VAMT and Interlink can now confirm that 12 projects have been awarded grant funding via the Cwm Taf Social Services & Well-being Partnership.  Click on the link for a quick overview:  CCGS 2017-18

Draft Cwm Taf Well-being Objectives

The draft Cwm Taf well-being objectives have now been published via the Our Cwm Taf website. 

The webpage contains the draft well-being objectives, proposed steps and information as to how stakeholders are able to get involved in the ongoing conversation.

Please share this link among your networks.

Celebrating Volunteering 2017

Today sees the launch of VAMT's Celebration of Volunteering 2017.  The event will be held on 12 September at the Red House/Old Town Hall between 4:00pm-6:00pm - up to 5 volunteers plus a staff member if required may be nominated to attend.  This year we hope to have a very special guest to present volunteers with certificates so places are extremely limited.  Please make your nominations early and by 19 July at the very latest.  Places are available on a first come first served basis.

A covering letter and nomination form is available in word format here and pdf here