A grants scheme set up to help regenerate the South Wales Valleys has seen more than £4m invested in community projects over the past three years, with a further £6m of awards in the pipeline.
The South East Wales Community Economic Development Programme has supported 88 social enterprises – not-for-profit community and voluntary organisations - since it was established in 2010, creating 83 jobs and 15 new groups across the region.
Delivered in partnership by a local authorities consortium of Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Torfaen, Merthyr Tydfil, Bridgend and Rhondda Cynon Taff, the £13.5m programme is supported by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.
Torfaen projects which have attracted funding include: Fighting Fit Torfaen, a fitness centre and registered charity in Griffithstown; Blaen Bran Woodland Services, the trading arm, carrying out a woodland management plan and developing sustainable income streams, on behalf of founding charity Blaen Bran Community Woodland; Torfaen & Blaenau Gwent Mind, a mental health charity; Able Radio; Gateway Credit Union, and Garnsychan Partnership, which is dedicated to social, environmental and economic regeneration.
In Blaenau Gwent projects which have been helped include: Blaenau Gwent Care and Repair, which helps older and disabled people live independently in their own homes; Kidz R Us Ltd; and Ty Ebbw Fach, a social enterprise set up by Six Bells Regeneration Ltd.
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