The Cadwyn Cadwyn/AVOW Prosperous Communities key fund was launched in Sept 2022 as a result of receiving £500,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
This Prosperous Communities grant provided a wraparound support for community groups through officer support from both Cadwyn Clwyd and AVOW, with guidance and support to both strengthen and enhance community based projects. Organisations who were invited to apply for funds were those that were looking to provide access to community led services and community infrasture throughout the Borough of Wrexham.
There were three main aims of the grant:
1. Spread opportunities and improve public services, especially in those places where they were deemed to be the weakest
2. Restore a sense of community, local pride and belonging, especially in those places where they have been lost.
3. Empower local leaders and communities
The Cadwyn Clwyd/AVOW Prosperous Communities Community Key Fund wanted to support community projects which would:
· Provide community spaces, such as village halls, green spaces or community centres for local civil society and community groups to use;
· Enable locally owned renewable energy generation and waste management to improve the transition to low carbon living;
· Create and improve community local green spaces, community gardens, watercourses and embankments, along with incorporating natural features and biodiversity improvements into wider community space;
· Deliver and support community led local arts, cultural, heritage and creative activities;
· Deliver access to services via local sports facilities;
· Provide digital infrastructure within community owned assets
How did we do this?
The Cadwyn Clwyd/AVOW Prosperous Communities Community Key Fund offered organisations the opportunity of applying for either of two capital funds- both with the prerequisite that all projects must be completed by 30th September 2024.
Small Capital grant of up to £10,000
Large Capital Grant of up to £50,000
After a Grant Panel meeting in October 2023, Jo Young from AVOW and Helen Williams from Cadwyn Clywd were delighted to award the following organisations financial support. Further wrap around support from the AVOW team was also available indefinitely for all projects:
Chirk Parish Hall – premises upgrade
Cefn Mawr- Community Cinema
Brymbo Enterprise Centre. Community Hub Transformation
Gresford Library. Connecting our community
The Venture. Adventure Renewal
Rossett and Burton Village hall – redecoration
Plas Kynaston Recreation ground – Developing sport facilities
Emerge Community Arts – Arts For all
Litegreen. Energy Action Wrexham
Erddig Nordic Walkers. New storage facilities
Llay Community Church – Facilities improvement
FLIE (Flamingo Lounge Inclusive Events) CIC & WCD Young Carers Wrexham. Silent disco equipment
The Land – Homegrown’ community hub/food project. New Youth Club
Paallam Arts – Identity we Create
North East Wales Multi Cultural hub Feasibility study
Groundwork- Pedal Parade
Willington & Worthenbury Community Council – Playground Redevelopment
WYPP – Inclusive toilet facilities
Wrexham Sounds – Return to music
Rossett Community Council – Accessible toddler play area
St Margaret’s Hall. Ease of access project
St Mark’s Church – Renewed
Wrexham Miners Project. Feasibility study
A further round ensured that the following organisations also benefitted from the Prosperous Communities Grant.
Jubilee Beau Unicorn Equine Project. Access for all
Chirk Castle. Mindful Meadow
Penley Youth Club- Storage
Agri-cation Wellie-being
Gresford Library – new storage
“I am so delighted that through a successful partnership with Cadwyn Clwyd, and funding from the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund that we have been able to provide the Prosperous Communities grant to so many deserving organisations throughout the Wrexham Borough. I firmly believe that through this fund we have genuinely been able to support a very wide range of projects in both urban and rural communities, ensuring the fund has made a real difference to Wrexham residents. Helen and I have been delighted to be welcomed by grant holders as we have visited their projects over the last couple of months. Photographs are available on the AVOW Facebook page – with more projects still to visit within the next month!”
My thanks also go to our Grant panel members who we appreciate had to make some very difficult decisions but are also delighted with the long lasting outcome. Although I appreciate that the Prosperous Communities have come to an end, please don’t hesitate to contact me on [email protected] for any further funding support or advice. Also, please don’t forget that new funding posts go out daily on the AVOW funding facebook page – so please follow!
– Jo Young AVOW Funding and Grants Officer
Cymraeg 
English (UK)