WIREDGOV

Transforming old railway buildings into community spaces and creating facilities for maritime history, business and sports are among projects sharing in £317,440 of grants from the Big Lottery Fund. 

The money, from the £9 million Community Asset Transfer 2 Programme (CAT2), aims to provide both capital and revenue funding to support the transfer of assets, such as land and buildings to community ownership. The assets can be transferred from individuals, the public or private sector. 

Seven initial grants of up to £50,000 each are helping projects develop their ideas before being invited to submit developed applications to the second stage of funding with the aim of securing grants of between £300,000 and £1,150,000. (Read full project descriptions here). 

Porthcawl Harbourside CIC will spend £50,000 to progress plans to transfer harbour side land from Bridgend Council and build a five-storey maritime centre. This will be a visitor attraction with a focus on coastal science, maritime history, maritime related sport, fitness, leisure, learning and employment. 

Operations director Mark Bryant said: “We are delighted to be awarded this grant by the Big Lottery Fund. We very much appreciate the significant support from Bridgend County Borough Council and the National Lottery. This award will enable us to substantially take forward our ambitious community led project." 

Bryncethin RFC Limited gets £50,000 to develop plans to transfer an existing sports pavilion, the Clay Pits site, and a large grass area from Bridgend Council and create three football/rugby pitches, a cricket pitch, allotments, fishing and kayaking lake, mountain bike route, health and well being walking trail and campsite.

Also in the pipeline is a community building with changing rooms, meeting rooms, activity space and kitchen. 

Grŵp Cynefin receives £38,435 for its plans to transfer ownership of a former grade II listed railway good shed in Meliden near Prestatyn from Denbighshire Council and refurbish it to provide a cafe, business workshop units for local artisans, community shop, bike hire, community allotments and orchard. 

Spokeswoman Mair Edwards said: “We’re delighted to hear that the CAT 2 application for development funding had been successful. The partnership project between Grŵp Cynefin, Denbigshire Council and the local Residents Association (MRAG) aims to renovate the old Good’s Shed into a vibrant community resource. 

“We look forward to progressing the project over the next few months in preparation for the final application.” 

Similarly, Llanelli Railway Goods Shed Trust will use £50,000 for plans to transfer another Grade II listed goods shed in Llanelli from Network Rail. It wants to repair, restore and modify the building to provide space for a range of activities including heritage, community performance and exhibition as well as enterprise. 

Another £50,000 will be used by Maindee Unlimited to help transfer the ground floor ofMaindee Library and some land nearby from Newport Council and see it transformed into a community space, cafe, bandstand and indoor and outdoor event space. 

In north Wales, Aberdyfi Enterprise Trust will use £29,005 to develop plans to transfer the former Aberdyfi Primary School and land from Gwynedd Council and refurbish it to include a centre for older people with a 4-person holiday let for disabled people. 

Finally, staying in the same county, Grŵp Datblygu Y Fron Development Group will use£50,000 to progress work to transfer Ysgol Bronyfoel from Gwynedd Council. Plans include renovating the building to provide two community halls, shop, treatment room, kitchen and 16-bed bunkhouse for tourists.

Money from the CAT2 programme is being used to help community groups to regenerate and reinvigorate the assets and develop manage and sustain them to improve their livelihoods and neighbourhoods. Through this programme, groups will be encouraged to use the asset to generate multiple income streams and provide quality services and amenities. 

Rob Pickford Wales Big Lottery Fund Wales Committee member and Chair of the CAT2 programme committee said “This programme is helping Welsh communities to become stronger and more sustainable by assisting them to obtain and develop assets and improve where they live. By helping to transfer assets 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.”

Further Information: 
Ben Payne - Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 01686 611720 
Out of hours contact - 07980 914 898 
Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030 Textphone: 0845 6021 659

Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available at:www.biglotteryfund.org.uk  
Follow BIG on Twitter: www.twitter.com/biglotterywales  
Find BIG on facebook: www.facebook.com/biglotteryfundwales  

Notes to Editors:

• The Big Lottery Fund supports the aspirations of people who want to make life better for their communities across the UK. We are responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised by the National Lottery and invest over £650 million a year in projects big and small in health, education, environment and charitable purposes.
• Since June 2004 we have awarded over £6.5billion to projects that make a difference to people and communities in need, from early years intervention to commemorative travel funding for World War Two veterans.
• Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £34 billion has been raised and more than 450,000 grants awarded.