More than half a million pounds worth of Third Sector Grants for groups which help their local communities have been approved by Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Board.

The total funding of £513,650 for organisations such as the Glynneath Training Centre (£42,000), Ystalyfera Development Trust (£30,000) and the Citizens Advice Bureau (£80,000) for 2019/20 includes an extra £100,000 from Neath Port Talbot Council (an increase of almost 25%) – the extra funding being approved by the board which met on December 17th.

Others successful in the 2019/20 round of Third Sector Grants allocation include the Gwynfi Miners Community Hall (£4,980), the Y Lolfa Community Library (£950), Neuadd Cwmllynfell Hall (£12,500) and Melincryddan Community Conference (£24,000).

Third Sector organisations are not-for-profit bodies other than local authorities (or other public bodies) whose activities directly or indirectly benefit local people.

The Cabinet Board approved the £513,650 worth of funding for a total of 23 community groups and organisations.

The Council’s Deputy Leader and Voluntary Sector Champion, Councillor Anthony Taylor, said:

“We strongly value the important role volunteers and third sector organisations play in supporting local people in our communities.

“This round of grant funding is evenly spread across both our urban and valley areas and represents true value for money because of the importance of the work being done in areas such as community transport, counselling and education and re-training.”

Below are the organisations awarded the grants – with outcomes to be delivered in brackets :

• Canolfan Maerdy  – £26,000 (Ensure Amman Valley residents have access to services promoting wellbeing and quality of life).
• Citizens Advice Bureau – £80,000 (Give free, independent advice on issues like poverty and debt).
• DANSA Transport – £32,000 (Provide affordable, accessible transport).
• DOVE Workshops – £35,000 (Advance education, training and retraining in the Neath, Dulais and Swansea Valleys).
• Glynneath Training Centre – £42,000 (Advance of education, training and retraining of people in Glynneath).
• NPT CVS Core Funding Contribution – £43,695 (Support, promote, develop participation of voluntary organisations, groups and individuals in the voluntary sector).
• NPT Mobility Shop – £45,000 (Improve access via electric scooters and wheelchairs for the disabled and mobility impaired in NPT town centres).
• Ystalyfera Development Trust  – £30,000 (Advancement education, training and retraining of people in Ystalyfera and Godre’r Graig).
• Age Connects Neath Port Talbot (Age Concern) – £10,000 (continue the EngAGE project, ensuring those with the highest levels of disadvantage due to closure of facilities, service cuts and digital exclusion, get accessible services).
• Care and Repair Western Bay – £4,980 (Support the agency’s core casework service for older people to aid independent living and help older people stay at home).
• Cruse Bereavement Care (Morgannwg) – £2,500 (Bereavement support service for NPT residents of with an emphasis on carers).
• Neuadd Cwmllynfell Hall – £12,500 (Contribute towards meeting part of the salary and on-costs of a fulltime hall manager).
• NPT CVS (OPC) – £33,000 (Support a development officer at NPT CVS to work with the Older Persons’ Council for Neath Port Talbot.)
• Gwynfi Miners Community Hall – £4,980 (Provide a meeting place for groups, classes and activities helping people remain active – work with other agencies to meet community needs.”
• Melincryddan Community Conference – £24,000 (Support the core running costs of the organisation and expand the scope of Get NPT On-line).
• Me, Myself and I – £5,000 (Support the community hub in the Briton Ferry).
• NPT Black Minority Ethnic Community Association – £28,254 (Support core running costs, employ person to help obtain further funding)
• Port Talbot Stroke Club – £500 (Provide social contact for stroke survivors).
• NPT Stroke Club – £500 (provide stroke survivors and their families with support).
• Families Need Fathers Both Parents Matter (FNF-BPM Cymru) – £3,000 (Help non-resident parents retain meaningful involvement in their children’s lives, be service provider for male domestic abuse victims).
• NPT Carers Service Ltd – £25,000 (Provide range of services for carers).
• NPT Community Transport – £15,000 (Focus on recruiting new volunteer drivers and help promote existing schemes).
• Y Lolfa Community Library – £950 (continue providing library hub serving Cwmgors, GCG, Tairgwaith and Lower Brynamman).