- Area:
- Wales
- Programme:
- Community Asset Transfer
- Release date:
- 28 6 2012
A project to breathe life back into a dilapidated ancient castle in Cardigan and a project to create a new Community Arts Centre in Gwynedd are among those sharing in more than £4 million awarded through the Community Asset Transfer programme (CAT) today.
The £13 million CAT programme is a partnership between the Big Lottery Fund and the Welsh Government which aims to provide both capital and revenue funding to support the transfer of assets, such as land and buildings, from public sector organisations to community ownership.
The projects sharing in £4,198,346 today will use the cash to regenerate and reinvigorate the assets to improve their livelihoods and neighbourhoods (full list of awards at end of release).
A grant of £743,345 has been awarded to Cadwgan Building Preservation Trust to develop their plans for the Cardigan Castle - Unlocking the Potential project. Part of an £11 million project, the money aims to help save Cardigan Castle and associated buildings on the two acre site. The Castle that can be seen today was erected in 1100 by Gilbert de Clare, 1st Earl of Pembroke. With the cash injection from BIG, the project aims to refurbish the building to deliver activities such as a visitor heritage attraction, exhibitions, shops, a restaurant, private functions and education activities. The upper floor of the main Castle Green House will be used for a number of Adult classes, meetings and conferences.
Commenting on the CAT award, Jann Tucker, Chair of Cadwgan Buildings Preservation Trust, said: “The CAT award is the final important piece in our funding package to restore Cardigan Castle. This award fires the starting gun for what will be the most important development in the town for centuries. It is great news for the castle and the town.
"We have had marvellous support from funders such as the Big Lottery Fund and the Welsh Government- now we as a community have to reflect that support by raising £150k ourselves as match funding.”
In Gwynedd, North Wales, Cwmni Tabernacl (Bethesda) Cyf will use the £610,368 they were awarded towards refurbishing Neuadd Ogwen on Bethesda High Street and creating a multi-purpose Community Arts Centre which will include a cinema, live theatre and concerts, heritage activities and a gallery space for local artists. In a project estimated to cost up to £1 million, the new and refurbished facility will also offer musical tuition, drama and dance classes, adult education, a variety of workshop opportunities and office space for the community council and other community groups.
Delighted with the funding, Dyfrig Jones, the Secretary of Cwmni Tabernacl Cyf, said: “Tabernacl is extremely pleased to have been awarded this funding. Although we still need to raise additional funding, this contribution means that we are now in touching distance of reaching our goal. Once we have secured all the funding for the project, we will be able to make all the substantial renovation work needed to transform Neuadd Ogwen into a community and cultural centre of the highest standard. This will provide a huge boost for Bethesda High Street and will be a valuable resource which the whole community can enjoy.”
And in the Welsh Capital, Cardiff, a grade II* listed Victorian mansion house in Llandaff has moved another step closer to becoming a centre for heritage learning and community activity. As part of a £4.5 million project to breathe life back into the Insole Court Mansion house and grounds, the Insole Court Trust will plough the £761,724 they were awarded from BIG into a new visitors’ centre and community centre. The overall project will see the stables repaired and upgraded to provide for community activities, education activities and a wide range of other related community functions, principally operated by community businesses and social enterprises. The adjacent outbuildings will be converted to provide a visitors’ centre and tea rooms. The house and gardens will also be restored to their full glory as part of the larger project.
Insole Court
Highlighting the importance of the project, Sir Norman Lloyd-Edwards, the Chairman of the Insole Court Trust, said: “I am delighted that the Insole Court Trust has been successful with their application for a Community Asset Transfer grant.
“There is a great need for community facilities in Llandaff and this funding will provide these, helping both young and old. It will fund the restoration of the Stables, which have been derelict for many years and willcreate jobs in administration, heritage and catering. The CAT funding is the first, and very important,step towards the renewal of this stunning Victorian house and gardens, where we hope to be able to tell the story of the Insole family and their production of Rhondda Steam Coal.”
And in the heart of Powys, Mid Wales Food and Land Trust Limited will use their award of £777,958 to acquire Newtown Market Hall. Once completed, the centre will offer flexible short term leases to small businesses, with options to increase and decrease leases to accomodate business growth and to help small businesses to manage periods of economic pressure respectively. The project will also establish two new social enterprises.
Expressing her delight at the news, Catherine Smith, the Executive Director and the Trust’s Company Secretary, said: “This is excellent news for the Market Hall project and for Newtown. In addition to supporting local small businesses, restoration of this Grade II listed building will provide a real boost for town centre regeneration.”
Local Government and Communities Minister Carl Sargeant said: “The Community Asset Transfer programme breathes new life into community facilities across Wales and so the £4million that community groups will receive in this latest round of funding is very welcome. I'm sure that it will bring social and economic benefits and also empower local communities to use buildings and land to suit their needs.”
Big Lottery Fund Wales Committee Member and Chairman of the CAT Committee, Mike Theodoulou, said: “This programme is helping Welsh communities to become stronger and more sustainable by assisting them to actively develop where they live. By helping to transfer assets from public sector bodies to enterprising organisations that actively involve and benefit the communities they serve, we are ultimately helping more people to benefit from their local community assets and also generating local income and employment.”
For more information visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/wales or email cat@biglotteryfund.org.uk
Full list of projects
| Cardiff – 1 Grant worth £761,724 |
|
|
|
Insole Court Trust |
The Renewal of Insole Court |
The applicant will acquire a lease to achieve the conservation, redevelopment and reuse of Insole Court and develop the Stables so it can be used by the community and as a heritage visitor asset, including public gardens. The completed project will provide a wider range of facilities for local community uses, a new learning and educational facility, events and functions facilities, a café and visitor’s facilities, a community garden area and other supporting uses. |
£761,724 |
| Ceredigion - 1 Grant worth £743,345 |
|
|
|
| Ymddiriedolaeth Cadwraeth Adeiladau Cadwgan Building Preservation Trust |
Cardigan Castle - Unlocking the Potential |
The project is for the leasehold transfer of the Council owned Cardigan Castle. The applicant will undertake refurbishment/building works to deliver activities such as a visitor heritage attraction, exhibitions, shops, cafe, private functions and education activities. The upper floor of the main Castle Green House will be used for a number of adult classes, meetings and conferences. |
£743,345 |
| Gwynedd – 1 Grant worth £610,368 |
|
|
|
Tabernacl (Bethesda) Cyf |
Neuadd Ogwen |
The applicant intends to acquire the freehold transfer of Neuadd Ogwen, a 1912 built hall located in Stryd Fawr, Bethesda, Gwynedd. The hall upon completion will provide a multi-purpose Community Arts Centre providing a cinema, live theatre, concerts, musical tuition, drama and dance, adult education, variety of workshop opportunities, office space for the community council as well as other community groups, heritage activities and a gallery space for local artists. Activities will be provided to cater for all ages. |
£610,368 |
| Neath Port Talbot – 1 Grant worth £691,807 |
|
|
|
New Sandfields and Aberafan Sustainable Regeneration |
NSA Community Employment Academy |
The applicant intends to acquire a 50 year lease on the Dalton Road Community Centre from Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. The centre, upon completion, will provide advice, training and support to workless people and help to improve the skills of people who are in work. There will be a cafe, training rooms and a main hall which will be let out to a number of local groups for activities such as exercise classes, meetings, seminars and social activities. |
£691,807 |
| Powys - 1 Grant worth £777,958 |
Mid Wales Food and Land Trust Ltd |
Newtown Market Hall Small Buisness and Enterprise Centre |
The applicant intends to acquire the freehold transfer of Newtown Market Hall. The centre upon completion will offer flexible short term leases to small businesses, with options to increase and decrease leases to accommodate business growth and to help small businesses to manage periods of economic pressure respectively. The project will also establish two social enterprises. |
£777,958 |
| Wrexham – 1 Grant worth £613,144 |
|
|
|
Glyn Wylfa Limited |
Glyn Wylfa Community Enterprise and Heritage Centre |
The project involves the leasehold transfer of a redundant dilapidated late Victorian House in Chirk, Wrexham from Wrexham County Borough Council. The applicant will develop the site to function as a community enterprise and heritage centre. Activities include community cafe, managed workshops and offices, local heritage interpretation centre, gallery, craft and gift shop. |
£613,144 |
Further Information
Big Lottery Fund Press Office – Oswyn Hughes: 02920 678 207
Out of hours contact: 07760 171 431
Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030
Textphone: 0845 6021 659
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Notes to Editors
- The Community Asset Transfer programme promotes the transfer of public sector assets at significantly below market value via freehold or leasehold transfer arrangements. This round of funding gives community groups nearly £4 million so that they can create thriving social enterprises that address local community needs.
- In Wales, most people are within a few miles of a National Lottery-funded project.
- The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004. It was established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
- Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to Good Causes. As a result, over £28 billion has now been raised and more than 383,000 grants given out across the arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
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