IMPACT REPORT 2016–2018 OUR FIRST TWO YEARS

VAT TE N FA L L 1 Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm | Fund INTRODUCTION

n December 2016 the Pen y Cymoedd Wind IFarm Community Fund opened for business, offering a new, substantial source of funding across four Valleys. Prior to the launch, Wind Farm operators Vattenfall had consulted widely, gathering local ideas. The £1.8 million a year index linked Fund will run until 2043 and will invest in the priorities identified by local communities. Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm Community Fund CIC 4 Venture Building, Depot Road , Cynon Taff, CF44 8DL

01685 878785 [email protected] w @penycymoedd b @PyCCommunity

2 Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm | Community Fund From the outset, the new Directors of the Fund were inspired by the wealth of ideas generated locally and we are determined to develop a strategic approach that builds on the amazing assets and strengths of our communities to make real and lasting difference. We have continued to reach out and have been delighted by the welcome we’ve been given and the huge interest shown.

Amongst the strengths of the Fund is our ability to support businesses as well as community organisations; to take a long-term approach as well as meeting immediate needs; to stimulate creativity and innovation and to collaborate with others to maximise our impact.

It is still early days, and we will evolve further, but we hope that our first two years – reflected in this report – have set the tone for the future. Here we tell the story of some of the projects that have been awarded grants and the people who have made them happen. We hope you enjoy reading it and that it offers food for thought.

We would like to thank Vattenfall – and all of you – for your support, energy and creativity.

Marc Phillips , Chair Barbara Anglezarke, Executive Director

February 2019

Impact Report 2016 – 2018 | Our First Two Years 3 ABOUT The COMMUNITy FUND

Pen y Cymoedd Wind energy Project Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm Community Fund

Developed and managed by European energy company Vattenfall, The Community Fund has been integral to the development of the Pen y Cymoedd is currently the largest onshore wind farm in England wind farm from the start as part of Vattenfall’s long-term and Wales – its 76 turbines have been generating enough power for commitment to the communities hosting the turbines. At £1.8m a 188,000 homes since September 2017. Vattenfall has been involved in year, it is currently the largest such fund in the UK. Although initially energy generation for over 100 years, and the company’s overarching established by Vattenfall, the Fund has its own Board of directors aim now is to make fossil fuel free living possible within one generation. and is independent of the wind farm operation.

The wind farm is situated on Welsh Government land, managed by Following extensive community and stakeholder consultation, Natural Resources Wales. Of the £400 million investment to build the Vattenfall summarised all the wide-ranging priorities identified in a Project, 52% went to businesses in Wales, securing work for more Prospectus – published on our website: than 1,000 workers. Today, a 23-strong Operations and Maintenance www.penycymoeddcic.cymru Team is based at Hwb Pen y Cymoedd on the wind farm site. The Community Fund continues to work closely with Vattenfall staff and very much appreciates their enthusiastic support.

4 Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm | Community Fund Local Jobs and the economy There are currently two grant streams supporting delivery of these priorities (full details on our website) – available to community organisations Transport and Connections and businesses:

Micro Fund: 11% of the total Fund available each health and Wellbeing year – normally one-off grants up to £5,000 – two rounds each year. Vision Fund: 79% of the total Fund available each year – grants over £5,000. The Prospectus Safety and housing summarises all In order to ensure that funds are available well potential actions and Community Spaces into the future and recycled for others to draw on, developments under we are investigating the possibility of offering other types of funding such as repayable grants nine key themes: environment and loans.

Up to 10% of the total Fund pot is available to Tourism cover operational costs.

Culture £1,800,000 VISION FUND Schools and Training MICRO FUND OPeRATING COSTS

Impact Report 2016 – 2018 | Our First Two Years 5 PeN y CyMOeDD WIND FARM COMMUNITy FUND CIC

he Fund is managed by an independent, Vision: the community’s vision set out within the Prospectus is that in 2040 and beyond, the Pen y Cymoedd area is a dynamic, exciting, Tlocally accountable Community Interest vibrant place to live and work. Company with a Board of six non-executive Our Mission: our role is to do all we can to make the community’s Directors, who are legally responsible for all vision a reality – using the resources we have, to sustain and enhance investment decisions and delivery of the the economic, social, cultural and environmental assets of the area of benefit. Strategy. Priorities and Values – we aim to: Strategy and priorities 1. Identify and raise awareness of opportunities and potential – Our Strategy sets out how we will support delivery of the broad ideas people and ideas – encouraging discussion and shared learning. and aspirations captured in the Prospectus. It helps to guide our 2. Help to raise aspirations – fostering the development of a can-do decision making and prioritise activities for the coming years. This attitude. strategy is by no means set in stone and will be revised and adapted as 3. Help to build capacity – to develop ideas and take action. needed to reflect changing circumstances and the progress that is 4. Invest in economic opportunities, retaining assets in the local area being made. – people, money, infrastructure. 5. Sustain and develop community infrastructure – things that need to be in place to be able to live in the area. 6. Improve connectivity and connect communities. 7. Develop the CIC as a long-term investor in the area.

6 Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm | Community Fund Marc Phillips Mair Gwynant (Chair) (Treasurer) STRATeGy Professor Bob Chapman All were appointed following an open Donna Mead recruitment process in June 2016 and can serve a maximum of two three-year terms. We will be looking to appoint new members gradually over the next few years to ensure continuity as original AND Directors stand down. The recruitment process will again be transparent and Dave henderson Glenn Bowen open and well-publicised and will ensure that Board membership reflects the make-up of our communities. PRIORITIeS Day to day management of the Barbara Anglezarke Kate Breeze Community Fund is undertaken (Executive Director) (Programme by our Staff Team of two: Administrator)

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December 2016 June 2017 Launch Roadshow First Vision Fund and Micro Fund awards made September 2017 October 2016 opens for business Round 2 Micro Fund Programme Administrator awards announced appointed, office opened

March 2017 Round 1 Micro Fund September 2016 awards announced Executive Director appointed April 2017 September 2017 Over Vision Fund opens £1,000,000 + June 2016 committed Board appointed

10 Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm | Community Fund July 2018 Over £3,000,000 + March 2018 committed Round 3 Micro Fund awards announced March 2018 Over £2,000,000 + September 2018 committed Round 4 Micro Fund awards announced

November 2017 Wavehill appointed as November 2018 Monitoring & Evaluation May 2018 Over Consultants Supporting Communities Team £4,000,000 + appointed – partnership with committed Interlink and NPT CVS

Impact Report 2016 – 2018 | Our First Two Years 11 WAyS OF WORKING

riting a funding application probably isn’t top of anyone’s Wlist of fun things to do but we do our best to make the process as pain-free as we can – and we always welcome and act on feedback to make improvements.

Before any proposal is submitted, we We apply the following principles to our encourage discussion with our friendly (and assessment processes: Respect for applicants, small!) staff team – Kate and Barbara. This Openness, Being Proportionate and Fairness. helps us to understand what’s planned, answer process questions, deal with eligibility issues A grant award to Neath Port Talbot CVS and etc. Potential applicants can book slots at Interlink has brought in an additional resource – informal advice sessions held regularly the Fund now has a dedicated Supporting throughout the Fund’s area of benefit – Communities Team providing community publicised on our website, via social media and development support. Skilled staff ensure that posters in community venues. Community Fund applicants and grant recipients receive additional hands-on guidance and are We aim to work with applicants in a supportive signposted to further specialist services when and helpful way – we know that for some people that’s needed. The team will also help to bring the process can be daunting. Staff don’t make groups together across county and community award decisions – Board members do that – so boundaries, identifying and promoting Kate and Barbara can offer a helping hand. opportunities to work together.

12 Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm | Community Fund Getting out and about and meeting people is really important to us. Over our first two years, we:

HELD ADVICE SESSIONS IN 28 DIFFERENT COMMUNITY VENUES ACROSS THE FUND AREA – SOMETIMES TEAMING UP WITH OTHER FUNDERS SUCH AS BIG LOTTERY TO MAKE SESSIONS MORE USEFUL FOR POTENTIAL APPLICANTS

MET D SECURED MORE THAN E D N E T T 365 A INDIVIDUAL GROUPS 300 TWITTER FOLLOWERS AND BUSINESSES FUNDING FAYRES SECURED MORE THAN The Fund Website www.penycymoeddcic.cymru is also full of information: you can find details of projects funded, the grant programmes themselves, who Board members and staff are – along with 340 advice and guidance notes for applicants. FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS – OUR AVERAGE POST HAS 96 LIKES AND IS SHARED 12 TIMES

Impact Report 2016 – 2018 | Our First Two Years 13 GRANT APPORTIONMeNT A full list of all grants awarded can be found on our website. headline figures 1: Grants 2016 – 2018

PAy 178 GRANTS AWARDED £4,018,017

FOUR MILLION, EIGHTEEN THOUSAND AND SEVENTEEN POUNDS Smallest Grant: £280.00 – Rhondda Civic Society A further £3.7 million Largest Grant: £491,869 – St. Elvan’s Community Heritage Project brought in as match funding 31 Awards to Businesses – £312,914 147 Awards to Community Groups – £3,705,103

Vision Fund Micro Fund • 344 applications received, requesting • 45 full applications received a total of £1,173,206 • 63 preliminary expressions of interest received • grants awarded (22 Business and • Total grants requested: £20,345,491 145 123 Community), totalling £463,178 • 33 Vision Fund grants awarded, totalling £3,554,839 • A further brought in as • A further £4,150,049 brought in as match funding £1,668,803 match funding – so a total of £2,131,981 invested in projects and activities

14 Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm | Community Fund Geographical Spread Jobs Over its 25-year lifespan, the Fund aims to ensure that all areas Jobs Created (brand new jobs) benefit equitably. In the first two years, our bigger towns have attracted larger grants for projects that were well developed and ready to go. Over the years to come, we look forward to working further with communities throughout the Fund area on a range of exciting projects. From 2016 – 2018: 48

Neath Valley Afan and 29 Awards Pelenna Valleys 35 Awards £423,776 Jobs Safeguarded = 9 Skills Development Training = 15 (keeping people in work and (these include sports coaching £269,224 developing opportunities). qualifications and Duke of Edinburgh Leaders’ training).

Business Start-ups and Development Rhondda Fach and We have supported seven new Rhondda Fawr Valleys start-ups and have helped 14 53 Awards 60 Awards businesses to grow – from 14 £1,614,766 £1,275,286 chocolatiers, organic soap makers and florists to cafés, window cleaners, furniture businesses and campsites. A further grant to Neath Port Talbot CVS and Interlink (£434,965 over five years) enables the work of the Supporting Communities Team across the whole Fund area.

Impact Report 2016 – 2018 | Our First Two Years 15 CASe STUDIeS hese are just a few of the 178 projects we’ve been able to help so far – it’s been really Tchallenging to choose which to include here! You can read about other exciting initiatives on our website.

Women in business Many of our business grants have been awarded to enterprising women – setting up or developing their ventures. These include:

Afan Vale Chocolates, Cymer unique product that is desirable Flowers by Kirsty craft workshops, the grant Micro Fund Business Grant £3,250 to anyone who wants top quality Micro Fund Business Grant £3,500 covered the cost of a website, chocolates for all occasions”. The marketing campaign, a laptop and grant funded essential equipment a part-time member of staff for to enable production capacity to six months. As well as this part double. “Being able to purchase time post, another full-time post these has resulted in less stress, has now been created. “We are larger production volume and less passionate about teaching and wasted stock – our production involving people in craft activities capacity has more than doubled and This floristry business on the – learning, creating, having fun Based in the Upper Afan Valley, our customer base is expanding.” main high street in Treorchy and building confidence. There is the business produces hand- Anita, Afan Vale Chocolates offers craft workshops in the high local demand for this from made luxury chocolates, sourcing shop itself and out in the both schools and community ingredients locally where possible, community, as well as selling centres. The grant has helped us and aspiring to “stand out as a flowers for all occasions. To to take out the workshops further company that produces the support the development of both and link in with lots of groups.” tastiest chocolates, offering a the business and community Kirsty, Flowers by Kirsty

16 Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm | Community Fund The Tired Mama Collection An innovative and growing space. This grant has supported and events and to hold stock, Vision Fund £23,065 clothing brand (with English and significant expansion, enabling rather than make to order – Welsh ranges) aimed at tired the purchase of a dedicated reducing order fulfilment times mums and dads… and their workshop and the recruitment of and increasing direct sales to new babies! Set up a year ago and run two local part-time members of customers. Tired Mama has a until now from the applicant’s staff on flexible hours, structured strong ethical policy, working only home in Aberdulais (with the around childcare. The plan is to with responsible suppliers. support of family and friends), the promote sales in new outlets business had outgrown its attic such as small shops, baby shows

Community groups

Under the Sky – Growing and GTC is community based and led – and confidence, securing land for Two project officer posts have Learning, Glynneath Training offering a wide range of activities growing food locally and generally been created, along with a Centre (GTC) and services and acting as a focal helping to build understanding of Horticultural Apprentice studying Vision Fund Grant: point for the local community. the health benefits of good food – at NPT College. A Horticultural £194,258 over 4 years This project is developing a uniting the community in physical Trainee, supported by Elite community food movement – exercise and social activity. It’s Agency, has also joined the team. establishing a new food/growing hoped that new green enterprises partnership for the Upper Neath will be developed as work Valley. Partners include all local progresses. The project offers schools and nurseries, residential many and varied volunteering care homes, allotment groups opportunities, along with the and many more. Activities focus chance to work towards on developing knowledge, skills accredited qualifications.

Impact Report 2016 – 2018 | Our First Two Years 17 Cwmgwrach Boxing Club provide training sessions four The Play yard, ynyswen the time and now includes: party Micro Fund Grant: £3,226 nights a week for 80 members, Vision Fund Grant: packages; physical activity aged eight – senior level, £357,000 over 4 years classes for toddlers and children, including 22 girls and women. In such as BeatBall and Parkour; less than a year, the Club is proud holiday football camps in to have its first Youth Welsh partnership with City FC; Novice Champion. The Micro Fund weekly pre-school educational grant supported the purchase of classes; Cariad Babi Stay & Play essential start-up equipment – a Playgroup; adult fitness classes ring, gloves, head guards etc. The such as Funky Pump and Circuit Established in November 2017, Club has an impressive level of Training; over 50’s Walking this Welsh Amateur Boxing energy and commitment. They Football; ‘Breast Foot Forward’, a Association affiliated Club is a have already built a strong Based in the former Burberry monthly Breast Cancer support community boxing gym and a network with local schools, the Factory, the Play Yard is Valleys group with 30 members; work social hub. It promotes the sport Police, Community Council and Kids’ exciting new social experience and volunteer itself, as well as the overall health groups of all kinds – and have the enterprise. The facility includes a opportunities with accredited and well-being of all the people support of local businesses who large children’s indoor play space, training such as Communication living in Cwmgwrach and the provided in kind support for indoor sports on two five-a-side in Autism, First Aid, Foodwise In surrounding area. People are building repairs. “We are working pitches, a fitness studio and a Pregnancy and Food Safety & welcome just to call in for a cup of to develop a Boxing Club that the café, all under one roof with Hygiene. tea – they don’t need to put gloves community will be proud to be ample parking. The project is on! The venue is available for hire part of.” going from strength to strength by other community groups too. Leighton Collins and has exceeded some of its Activities are affordable and original targets – e.g. it was accessible, encouraging fitness, anticipated that six and a half discipline, friendship, fair play jobs would be created and there and respect for all. Its four are already 16. The range of qualified volunteer coaches activities offered is expanding all

18 Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm | Community Fund Rhondda Netball Treorchy Rhondda Netball is now the Cynon Valley Museum These rooms are increasingly expansion largest female sport participation Vision Fund Grant: popular and are generating Micro Fund Grants: activity in Wales – contributing to £388,178 over 4 years crucial income. The café provides Round 1 – £4,953 & Round 3 – £4,940 all-important increased physical a welcoming service for Museum activity levels and well-being. visitors and again, brings in Micro Fund grants have regular income for the Trust. supported the significant Visitor numbers are up from 60 a expansion of provision in week in mid-2017 to more than Treorchy for under 5’s, 7’s and 15’s: 400 a week now. Shop sales are • 160 young people in Treorchy also increasing. now play regularly. The Cynon Valley Museum Trust • 3 volunteer coaches have was established in 2015 as a As well as learning about the rich Established in 2016, Rhondda obtained accredited result of a community led history and culture of the Cynon Netball works in partnership with qualifications. campaign to save the Valley’s Valley, visitors also now take part schools, RCT CBC, Welsh Netball • A competition structure in the museum from closure. Although in a programme of events such as and Sport Wales in RCT to ensure Upper Rhondda Fawr is its doors were shut for a while, the Steampunk Experium and that there is the same access to benefitting local primary the Museum has successfully Food Markets, along with craft netball as there is for other schools. reopened, with management fairs. Resources to engage with popular sports. Before 2016, there responsibility now fully handed secondary schools and further was little provision for netball (or Rhondda Netball has some high- over to the Trust by RCT CBC. The and higher education providers in any other sport to equal the level supporters: “It inspires the Vision Fund grant has been a the area are also being developed. provision for boys). As soon as young girls to dream big, to set crucial part of this, supporting doors opened, over 200 young goals and to explore their own three key posts – Manager, people signed up to play netball potential. I believe RN has great Communities Officer and Museum on a regular basis and there are things in store in its future and I Co-ordinator – along with external now more than 1,500 weekly am proud to show my support to signage and the redevelopment participants across RCT (mostly such a wonderful cause.” of internal activity and meeting girls,though boys are welcome). Tanni Grey-Thompson spaces in the historic building.

Impact Report 2016 – 2018 | Our First Two Years 19 St. elvan’s Community heritage beyond. The Vision Fund grant exhibition area, additional rooms spring 2019 and it’s hoped that the Project Vision Fund Grant: provided crucial match funding on mezzanine levels for new facility will be fully open in £491,869 over 4 years for the Community Heritage community use and the provision mid-2020. Project – unlocking a Heritage of interactive history facilities. Lottery grant £786,700 as well as The Vision Fund will support the “The Vision Fund award is funding from Cadw and a range of creation of a new Community fantastic news for our parish and other Trusts and Foundations. Heritage Officer post, the the community. It is our mission The project will involve the recruitment and training of a through this project to give complete refurbishment of the volunteer team and the provision confidence to the wider church and the installation of a of work and educational community by re-ordering St community heritage space to placements. and Elvan’s church and creating a St. Elvan’s Church is an iconic create a welcoming facility for all culture has a long and powerful vibrant hub that will serve and landmark in the centre of who live in and visit the Cynon history in the Valley and the support people’s needs both Aberdare and has embarked on an Valley. New facilities will include a project will highlight and culturally and in practical terms.” ambitious project to re-invent café and Tourism Information celebrate this rich heritage. Work Father Robert Davies, Vicar of itself for the 21st century and Centre, an arts and crafts area, an on the building is due to start in Aberdare Businesses

Cedars Tearoom at Afan Park In 2016, Cedars took on of a new counter area, enabling have now employed two more- Visitor Centre management of the Visitor the installation of more tables part time staff from the local area Micro Fund Grant £5,000.00 Centre at Afan Forest Visitor Park and seats and the fit-out of a and hope to recruit more as our – world famous for its mountain meeting and function room activities continue to expand. We biking and walking trails. The café available for hire. “We are working have seen an increase in footfall makes the Centre an attractive to redevelop the visitor centre to in the café and received a lot of destination for all visitors – maximise the space available and positive feedback from visitors.” cyclists or not – and it provides are also redeveloping the kitchen Jill Williams, Cedars Tearoom employment for local people. The and service area to allow an grant supported the installation expanded menu to be served. We

20 Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm | Community Fund Willow Springs Campsite, Willow Springs will benefit from hot Jam percussion and movement and Afan Valley an eco-friendly laundry washing Vision Fund Grant: some are given the opportunity to Vision Fund Grant: and drying room, mobile field £23,392 over 2 years play our instruments. Everyone £66,143 over 2 years shelters with midge screens, learns what is involved in writing a tables and benches, an upgraded song and improvising”. reception area with tourist information and local produce for With music provision in schools sale, and two new Camping Huts reducing, this programme gives (dogs welcome!). The number of young people the opportunity to stays went up from 631 in 2017 to discover talents they didn’t know 1,090 in 2018 and the campsite they had and inspires others to now employs one full-time staff Over the next two years, 4,000 take part in further music An eco-friendly, traditional member, two part-time and three young people aged three to activities – hopefully boosting campsite with ten pitches and a casual staff who come in when fourteen in 30 schools across the membership of choirs and bands glamping Shepherd’s Hut – along needed. The prize for the most Fund’s area of benefit will be able in the years ahead. The project with llamas, pigs, ducks, geese, a intrepid visitors goes to the to take part in a variety of music involves skills development, dog and cat! With solar energy, a couple from Azerbaijan, who and song writing workshops – confidence building and awareness bio digester system for waste and travelled on their bikes and public delivered in both Welsh and raising for young people, Welsh natural spring water on site, there transport to get to Willow English. Professional musician songs and musical traditions are are no electric hook ups or Springs. “The campsite has been and Hot Jam creator Andy part of the musical mix and local generators; and visitors are non-stop over the 2018 summer, Mulligan said, “We take a four- freelance artists are employed to encouraged to socialise around and the Huts have been a piece band (vocals, guitar, bass deliver the workshop sessions. the fire pits. The grant supported sensational hit, so much so, we've guitar, keyboards and drums) into the employment of site altered the specs on our schools to deliver exciting management staff and Shepherds hut to run in a similar concerts and workshops across a development of facilities – all in way to the huts.” wide variety of music genres – response to feedback received Marc Souter, Campsite Owner jazz, folk, pop and rock. Pupils can from campers. Future visitors to take part through singing,

Impact Report 2016 – 2018 | Our First Two Years 21 MONITORING AND eVALUATION e manage the Community Fund on behalf Wof local communities and a lot of trust is placed in us to do that as well as we can.

To make sure that we are doing a good job, and constantly improving our service, we have appointed independent consultants, Wavehill, to monitor and evaluate our work over the next five years. They will look Thanks to supporters and partners closely at: Our heartfelt thanks to: • the impact and outcomes of Community Fund investments; • all at Vattenfall – without whom none of this would be • delivery of the Community Vision set out in the Fund Prospectus; possible! Special thanks go to Rahel Jones and Emily Faull; and • the people and communities of the Fund area – for • the CIC’s own working practice and effectiveness in support of welcoming us so warmly and bringing such exciting projects these. forward; • Officers and Members of CBC and Neath If you have applied for a Community Fund grant, successfully or Port Talbot CBC – for all their help and support; unsuccessfully, you will be hearing from Wavehill! We very much • Community and Town Councillors – for their support and welcome your honest feedback and will respond to all of it. Annual spreading the word about the Fund; evaluation reports and actions taken as a result of recommendations • Interlink and Neath Port Talbot CVS – for their expertise and will be published on our website. local knowledge, working with us so positively and supporting Fund applicants.

22 Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm | Community Fund