Here’s a great funding opportunity to sit alongside your pantry or may fund a warm bank in your community building.

Fuel Poverty Fund

The Fuel Poverty fund aims to support economically disadvantaged areas and to target grassroots organisations that serve historically underrepresented and marginalised groups.

Who can apply

Registered charities, non-profit companies limited by guarantee, or statutory bodies can apply for up to £10,000; constituted charitable organisations with no charity number can apply for up to £2000.

Eligible expenditure

Successful projects will need to meet one of the following themes:

• Helping individuals to access energy tariff advice or support accessing schemes, including, but not limited to, winter fuel discounts and Social Fund schemes
• Providing energy efficiency or heating solutions to people living in fuel poverty
• Operating a ‘Warm Bank’ in a community building
• Improving energy efficiency in a community building used as a warm space
• Providing warm packs to vulnerable households e.g. radiator bleed keys, heavy curtains, blankets, radiator foil etc.
• Innovative approach to combating fuel poverty

Objectives of Fund:

This winter, National Grid’s electricity distribution business has teamed up with Localgiving to deliver grants to charitable organisations tackling fuel poverty in their communities. With the increase in fuel costs and the cost of living, many families will find paying their bills a struggle at this time of year. And in response to the continued need for support and application levels for previous funds, we are proud to be distributing £5m this Winter. But hurry, the deadline is Friday 10th November!

How to apply

If you are an existing Localgiving member, then simply log into your account (https://localgiving.org/login) to apply. A link to the application form can be found under the ‘My Grants’ section of your account displayed on the left-hand side of your dashboard. If you are not a Localgiving member, then apply here - https://localgiving.org/community-matters-fund-2023-apply

If you are successful with your application and are not yet a Localgiving member, you will also receive a complimentary Localgiving annual membership.

A special online workshop for Trustees Week held in partnership with the Young Trustees Movement.

When 1/12 trustees are named either John or David and fewer than 3% of trustees are under 30. It’s no secret that board diversity is an issue.

Join us in changing that. The first step is attending this workshop.

By the end of this 1 hour workshop you will:

• Be able to articulate and understand how young trustees can enable organisations to navigate uncertainty, future proof decisions and reflect the interest of their communities .
• Have a framework to understand how to approach diversity on boards.
• Be able to run a session with a board to plan practical and achievable next steps.

Who the event is for :-

This workshop will be useful for anyone with an interest in charity governance but will be particularly relevant for trustees and who want to increase board diversity and champion younger trustees on their boards.

To book your place, click the link

Young Trustees Movement Champion Workshop! Tickets, Tue 7 Nov 2023 at 14:00 | Eventbrite

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council would like to invite comments from electors regarding the convenience of voting at polling stations currently used for elections and would welcome suggestions for alternative sites.

The review will seek to establish how suitably placed the polling stations are within each electoral area, making specific reference to both disability and accessibility issues. We would welcome representations or comments on the authority’s proposals from any person or body with expertise in access for persons with any type of disability.

The arrangements are reviewed every five years; however, this does not prevent changes being made at any time prior to the next review.

Further information, including any comments by the Returning Officer about the review will be published on www.merthyr.gov.uk

For further information please see the following links

https://www.merthyr.gov.uk/council/voting-and-elections/polling-review/

https://www.merthyr.gov.uk/council/voting-and-elections/polling-review/?lang=cy-GB&

Submissions can be made by in writing to:

• Email: electoral@merthyr.gov.uk or
• By post: Democratic Services Department, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, Civic Centre, Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8AN

All responses must be submitted by 17 December 2023

Revenue Grants up to £65,265 available

Deadline – 12 noon November 28th 2023

Supported by the Welsh Government Regional Integration Fund

Grants:

Grants of up to £21755 per area are available for projects led by voluntary and community groups/organisations based and working in Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil or Rhondda Cynon Taff. Only Regional collaborative bids are expected.

 Purpose:

• Combat loneliness and isolation of people living with dementia, their family and Carers
• Prevent unnecessary access to statutory services/support discharge
• Support beneficiary groups to maintain their health, wellbeing and independence
• Helping community and voluntary organisations build capacity

Who For?

Projects will need to:

support one or more of the following beneficiary Groups:

• People living with Dementia
• Carers/Family of people living with dementia

How?

 Application Form and Guidelines on request

For more information contact:-

Anne Morris - Interlink:  07736 587912 amorris@interlinkrct.org.uk

Karen Vowles - VAMT:  07503 954158 karen.vowles@vamt.net

Laura Dadic – BAVO  01656 810400 lauradadic@bavo.org.uk

Merthyr Tydfil Global Village was set up in 2005 to raise awareness of and celebrate the cultural diversity of Merthyr Tydfil. Using art and creative projects the team worked tirelessly to develop an annual festival dedicated to bringing cultures together and educating people about Merthyr Tydfil’s diverse roots.

Bids are invited for arts-based projects that align with the spirit of Merthyr Tydfil Global Village Projects should celebrate and raise awareness of the diversity of Merthyr Tydfil. Projects can include workshops, educational activities, dance, music, crafts and food etc to support and promote community cohesion within Merthyr Tydfil, leading up to a celebratory event or be used for a multicultural event in themselves.

Maximum award of up to £1500

Closing date – 12 noon on 1^st December 2023

All funding must be spent by 30th August 2024

For an application form and guidance, please contact karen.vowles@vamt.net