NEATH Port Talbot Council has announced a list of the successful recipients who will be awarded a share of its new Community Heritage Fund this week.
The funding is part of the Neath Port Talbot’s heritage project, which has been backed with donations from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, a scheme that has distributed National Lottery grants since 1994, to help projects that sustain and transform the UK’s heritage.
It means groups such as charities, community groups, and town councils can now apply to the grant from the borough council, in order to help them deliver heritage based projects, and to make sure that heritage groups in the area are sustainable for the future.
The latest round of funding awarded will help with projects such as those at Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Tyle’r Ynn, where they will create artwork based on local heritage sites, while Saron Chapel will work with local people and an artist to make a stained glass window to put in their chapel.
Others such as Y Lolfa GCG Community Library will use their share of the funding to create a leaflet with information and maps giving information on local heritage.
The announcement marks the second round of funding that has been awarded in the area, and comes just one month after the local authority announced plans for both its local cultural and heritage strategies- designed to turn the borough in to a “nationally recognised destination with a high-quality, accessible offer of sport, heritage, arts and culture.”
The key themes of the strategy will include the continued celebration of new and old industries within communities, recognising the people who make up Neath Port Talbot, and employing the power of culture to support people’s health, fitness and wellness.
It also introduces the idea of a new 10-day comedy festival, that is in the early stages of development, and would build on the Neath Comedy festival reaching all parts of the borough.
Neath Port Talbot Council’s cabinet member for nature, tourism and wellbeing, Cllr Cen Phillips, said: “Thanks go to National Lottery players and the National Lottery Heritage Fund for making the Heritage NPT project and Community Heritage Fund possible. It’s wonderful to see so many community projects taking shape thanks to the council’s new heritage fund.”
