Rural Anchor Funding (SPF)
In 2023 we received funding from the UK Government under the Shared Prosperity Fund, part of the Levelling Up agenda.
We have now received further funding from SPF, which can be found on: Funding for rural areas
By early 2024, following an application process, we had awarded the full funding to 34 rural projects across Swansea, totalling £486,756.16.
Under the locally developed Rural Anchor, grant funding was available to Swansea's rural communities for projects supporting the themes of:
- rural economy and visitor experience
- natural environment and climate emergency
- health and wellbeing
- innovation
Within these themes project are delivering against at least one of the following interventions:
- investment in renewable energy
- biodiversity
- volunteering
- feasibility studies
- local markets
- visitor trails
Revenue projects received up to £15,000 and capital projects received up to £25,000.
The wards eligible for support were:
- Bishopston
- Clydach (includes Craig Cefn Parc)
- Fairwood
- Gorseinon and Penyrheol
- Gower
- Gowerton
- Llangyfelach
- Llwchwr
- Penclawdd
- Penllergaer
- Pennard
- Pontarddulais (includes old Mawr ward)
- Pontlliw and Tircoed
Projects in other wards are being supported on a case-by-case basis if they are on the geographical fringes of the above-named wards, or in extraordinary circumstances areas with extensive natural environments in other wards.
All applications were assessed by a voluntary Rural Advisory Panel, whose expertise across a wide range of rural matters has proved invaluable.
Projects
1. Volunteers Rural Information and Advice Network - Age Cymru West Glamorgan - £15,000
Establishment of an AQS-accredited information, advice, and signposting service tailored for older people and their careers in rural Swansea communities. Services will be situated directly within the communities and delivered by local volunteers.
www.facebook.com/AgeCymruWestGlamorgan
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/cymru/west-glamorgan/
2. Smarter, Cleaner Gower Renewables - Down to Earth - £22,250
Renewable energy project to look at improving the set-up we have at our community building at Murton and Little Bryn Gwyn, Gower with the provision of battery storage to complement our solar arrays which provide power to the buildings and for car charging / e-bike charging facilities.
www.facebook.com/downtoearthswansea
www.downtoearthproject.org.uk
3. Red Lady Project and Visitor Trail - Tourism Swansea Bay - £15,000
Trail and exhibition project marking the bicentenary of the discovery the Red Lady of Paviland, with celebratory festival.
www.facebook.com/TourismSwanseaBay
www.tourismswanseabay.co.uk/red-lady-of-paviland-project/
4. Petallica Eco Community Market - Petallica Flower Farm CIC - £9,687.97
Establishment on a monthly flower market selling ethical, environmentally products to local florists and the public. Seeking to reduce supply chains and establish a locally-based supply.
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087732730079
www.petallica.org
5. Mawr Agriculture and Farmer Engagement and Needs Analysis - Bwyd Abertawe - £14,990
Feasibility study employing a bilingual engagement-consultant to research and map agricultural activity across Mawr, engaging with farmers and agricultural businesses / stakeholders.
www.facebook.com/bwydabertawe
www.environmentcentre.org.uk/bwydabertawe
6. Designing Scalable Apple Storage for Swansea Orchards - Cyfoeth y Coed - £10,626
Feasibility study to design an apple storage unit/s that can be built onsite and incorporate environmentally beneficial features such as construction from recycled materials, thus allowing local orchards to stagger and therefore maximise delivery to the local market and extended delivery to rural outlets such as schools and food banks.
www.environmentcentre.org.uk/cyfoethycoed
www.facebook.com/groups/cyfoeth
7. Installation of Air Source Heat Pumps - Bont Elim Community Church - £25,000
Renewable energy project to install air source heat pumps to reduce the building's carbon footprint and increase more energy efficient.
8. Supporting Volunteering at Penllergare - The Penllergare Trust - £15,000
Project focused on building capacity for volunteering at the Penllergare Trust through funding a Volunteer Coordinator.
www.facebook.com/penllergare
https://penllergare.org/
9. Head Forward with Nature: A wellbeing programme for people and the environment to benefit together - Happy Headwork Community C.I.C - £14,900
A blended learning and volunteering programme aimed at increasing health and wellbeing in the local community and the surrounding natural environment.
www.facebook.com/happyheadwork
https://happyheadwork.com/
10. Welfare Hall Refurbishment - IT and Blinds - Llwchwr Town Council - £6,203.92
A two strand project with one element aiming to contribute to the reduction of fuel usage by the installation of thermal roller blinds, and, the second seeking to offer increased opportunities for digital inclusion through the acquisition of IT equipment and training of volunteer instructors.
11. Building Biodiversity and Resilience to Climate Change for mutual benefit to the Environment and Community - Cae Felin CSA CIC - £15,000
Project based at the Cae Felin site to restore wildlife and rebuild community by connecting people with their natural environment, to celebrate ecological and cultural diversity, while improving social well-being, physical and diet related health, through volunteering.
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085366365598
www.caefelincsa.co.uk
12. Rural Community Voices: a feasibility study for Craig Cefn Parc - Mawr Community Council - £9,725
Feasibility study to enable the two villages of Garnswllt and Craig Cefn Parc to adapt and progress as active, intergenerational rural communities. The feasibility study will map a way forward for social action and capacity building.
www.mawrcommunitycouncil.org.uk
13. Renewable Energy Project for Llanmorlais Hall - The Llanmorlais and District Community Hall Trust - £14,580
Renewable energy project for Llanmorlais Hall consisting of solar panels and storage batteries, with option to sell back to the national grid.
14. A Bug's Life: Mawr Biodiversity Project 2.0 - Mawr Community Council - £14,265.75
A successor project to previously funded RDP Biodiversity project across 2 sites, protecting the post of Biodiversity Project Co-ordinator and continuing the recruitment, engagement and skills development of the volunteers as well as introducing elements of outdoor learning and nature play.
www.facebook.com/people/Mawr-Community-Council/100078414536658/
www.mawrcommunitycouncil.org.uk
15. ClearFlood - new LED Floodlights - Friends of Craig Cefn Parc (FoCCP) - £14,500
Installation of energy efficient, low-polluting 'ClearFlood' floodlights, to an open access, all weather, community MUGA which is due to be installed (funding secured).
www.facebook.com/groups/1801623270130744
16. Install Solar Panels and Battery Electricity Storage - Three Crosses Community Council - £15,303.57
Installation of solar panels, with battery facility for power storage at Three Crosses Community Centre.
17. Crwydro Creadigol Gŵyr: Reflective Rambling in Gower - Gower Ministry Area - £15,000
Wellbeing nature walks and creative activities based around the historic church buildings that are part of the successful Gower Pilgrimage Way which set up in 2022 for walkers and cyclists. Funding will be used to employ a full-time events coordinator to explore the project as a pilot scheme, build a volunteer base, with a view to plan a five year scheme.
www.facebook.com/wonderwellbeinggower
www.wonderofwellbeinggower.org
18. Felindre Food and Crafts Market - Felindre Welfare Hall - £13,183
Project seeks funding for basic equipment (mats, bins, and storage unit) to assist in facilitating a very successful local market which has brought proven benefits to local residents and producers. Without this grant these elements would be unaffordable.
www.facebook.com/people/Felindre-Food-Crafts-Market/100091451748144/
19. Refurbishment and Energy Efficiency Retrofit Feasibility Study - Llanmadoc and Cheriton Village Hall - £15,000
Feasibility study to establish options and costings for the refurbishment and energy efficiency retrofit of the village hall.
www.llanmadocvillagehall.co.uk
20. Nature Quest Neighbourhood Trail - Bantani Cymru CIC - £14,699.94
Project aims to inspire primary learners aged 8-11 across 10 primary schools to find, explore, research and create a nature trail near to their school, and to support its promotion or creation with tour guide style resources. The learners are tasked with creating or consolidating a local nature walk, learning about the nature there and preparing accessible digital visitor guides to promote support and enhance the walk on the proposed nature trail.
www.facebook.com/BantaniEdu
www.bantani.cymru
21. Solar energy collection, storage and utilisation and additional thermal insulation to reduce / replace mains electricity usage at village hall - Upper Killay Community Council - £24,655
Seeks to deliver carbon reduction measures at the Upper Killay Community Hall with improvements to the insulation in the hall, siting of solar panels on the roof and installation of a battery storage system to run the lights.
www.facebook.com/UpperKillayCC/
22. Solar Panel / Battery and LED Project - Bishopston Community Council - £24,335
Renewable energy project for Bishopston Community consisting of solar panels and storage batteries, with option to sell back to the national grid. Additional LED lights on health and safety grounds.
www.facebook.com/BishCC
www.bishopstoncc.com
23. The Gower Food and Drink Festival 2024 - Pennard Community Council - £7,000
Food and drink festival based on the Gower to take place on one day in September 2024.
www.facebook.com/PennardCommunityCouncil
https://pennardcc.gov.wales/
24. Surf To Success - Surf Therapy CIC - £14,640
Project using the Ocean Therapy Programme to work with individuals aged between 18-25 involved in the criminal justice system. The scheme will teach participants to surf and ensure they acquire the skills needed to become surf mentors, with a view to gaining employment in the sector.
www.facebook.com/surftherapyCIC
www.surf-therapy.org
25. Graig y Coed Woodland Project - Llanrhidian Higher Community Council - £10,080
Volunteer-based project to clear and start developing a derelict woodland site recently leased from Swansea Council to create a nature park within easy reach to all.
https://www.facebook.com/graigycoedwoodlandproject
26. Cooperatives and Collaborative Working for Food Businesses in Rural Swansea - Swansea Council - Swansea Food Partnership - £14,627
Feasibility study to establish how local food cooperatives could work to assist small-scale farmers and food makers in rural Swansea.
www.swansea.gov.uk/foodpartnership
27. Enhancing our Green Space - 6th Llangyfelach Scout Group - £5,364.82
Project aims to further develop this plot of land and enhance its biodiversity so that the Scout group as well as other Scout groups and the wider community can make use of the land for recreational / educational purposes.
www.facebook.com/p/6th-Llangyfelach-Scout-Group-100093683193348/
28. Development of Community Garden and Coed Gwilym Park Grounds by Volunteers - Friends of Coed Gwilym Park - £3,345.30
Development of a community garden for the benefit of native flora and fauna, the volunteers who work in it and the community members who visit.
www.friendsofcoedgwilympark.co.uk
29. Solar PV and Battery Storage Project - Grovesend Miners Welfare Trust Scheme - £25,000
Renewable energy project with solar panels and battery storage for Grovesend Community Hall.
30. Otter and Water Vole Restoration Project - The Penllergare Trust - £14,049.12
Biodiversity project focusing on otters and water voles habitats at the site.
www.facebook.com/penllergare
www.penllergare.org/about-us/thepenllergaretrust
31. Gower Loaf Flour Milling Project - Y Felin Ddwr Charitable Trust - £15,000
A transformative project to reinvigorate the operation of a 12th-century flour mill into a self-sustaining venture by employing a part-time miller to build up a team of volunteers learning to operate the mill equipment and working with them to develop a new product in our mill shop by reintroducing a flour mix for bread making not seen on Gower for 200 years - the traditional Gower Loaf.
https://www.gowerheritagecentre.co.uk/
32. Farming and Families; Mumbles to Bishopston - Gower Unearthed - £15,000
Project to produce a new digital archive on the agricultural and rural history of Mumbles in particular its links to the rural hamlets of Bishopston. The archive will include eight oral history recordings, the collation and publication of family trees and previously unpublished photographs of rural life.
www.facebook.com/GowerUnearthed
https://www.storyofmumbles.org.uk
33. Solar Battery Project - Reynoldston Village Hall Association - £10,450
Project to install solar powered batteries to introduce a more sustainable and cost effective system of energy use.
34. Solar Panels to Existing Changing Room Building - Friends of Coed Gwilym Park - £13,294.77
Installation of 12 solar panels and associated storage battery to supply energy to the community pavilion and charging points to fuel proposed community electric-minibus / community car.
www.friendsofcoedgwilympark.co.uk
Please contact ruralanchorspf@swansea.gov.uk for further information.
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