The Future is Bright Round 1

Working with our suppliers and contractors we are very excited to give even more back to the local community of Blaenau Gwent

We were overwhelmed with the amount of applications we received for our first round of funding with many being excellent making it extremely difficult to shortlist the applications. We left the voting to tenants and residents of Blaenau Gwent on our Facebook Page.

It was also great to see so many exciting projects taking place here in Blaenau Gwent!

Thank you to everyone who voted, here are your winners!

Abertillery Youth Drama and Music Society

AYDMS is a not-for-profit theatre company in Abertillery. The society is full to the brim with talented performers from the ages of 3 to 30 with the aim of providing quality training in performing arts and producing high quality shows for the residents of Blaenau Gwent to enjoy. “In a time uncertainty and upheaval, AYDMS would like to produce and perform a concert with the Welsh Musical Theatre Orchestra. The orchestra is a professional 18-piece ensemble specialising in theatrical productions. This would be an excellent opportunity for our children to see the product of hard work, commitment and determination in the arts- hopefully inspiring ambition and igniting a greater love for theatre. Not only will the concert benefit the members of the society, but it will also unite our community in a positive and enjoyable evening of music and song”.

Pentref Tyleri CBC

Pentref Tyleri was established to explore opportunities for regeneration in Cwmtillery and the wider Tyleri valley. Local residents in the area did not have space for the community to meet on a regular basis. With this in mind, working in cooperation with Abertillery Excelsiors AFC) a community cafe, Caffi Tyleri was unable to open due to coronavirus restrictions in 2020. The cafe is scheduled to open in early 2021 to facilitate social interaction in the community, enable local residents to meet to enjoy food and drink outside their own homes and to serve as a hub from which further community projects can be developed.

Friends of Coed Y Garn Primary School

Residents and members of the community have volunteered to assist Coed-Y-Garn Primary School in maintaining and redeveloping areas of the school’s gardens. This initiative will provide opportunities for the pupils, staff, members of the community and other groups to come together in a shared project, benefiting all in the process. The volunteers and staff will be positive role models in illustrating to the pupils the benefits of working together and what can be achieved when the community comes together.

Showstoppers

Showstoppers is a theatre group of over 60 members aged 8 to 18. They offer a nurturing, friendly and safe environment for young people to enjoy and express themselves in the disciplines of Drama, Dance and Vocal Training. The aim of the project is to perform a full-scale musical theatre production at the end of April 2021. This will an all-inclusive brilliant experience for members, who will gain confidence and valuable life skills and it will also benefit the area.

Sirhowy Community Centre

Situated in Sirhowy, the Community Centre started up in November 2017, running fund raising days, craft classes, film nights to include the community and provide activities both night and day. Then in September 2018 a food share was started, food is collected at the end of the day and distributed to the community 4 days a week with Fareshare and Tesco. However with Covid it has expanded to 7 days a week. It is now open every day for the vulnerable and everyone is welcome to collect free food.