The Community Facilities Programme is significantly over-subscribed. This means we have a large number of applications in the pipeline.

To manage within our available budget, we will unfortunately have to pause the programme to new applications from 15 November 2024.

All applications currently in the pipeline and those received by 15 November will be processed in the normal way. Assessing these applications may take longer than usual – the Community Facilities Programme team will work as quickly as they can.

The Community Facilities Programme will re-open to new applications in 2025. We will announce the date at least a month ahead of the programme re-opening.

If you have any questions, please contact us at communityfacilitiesproghelp@gov.wales

The Comic Relief Organisational Growth Grant is now open for applications with a closing date of 6 December 2024.

The aim of the Organisational Growth Grant is to give organisations the chance to make strategic changes that enhance their impact and increase resilience, for example:

• Building on what is working well in relation to your organisation’s community activity
• Strengthening and measuring the impact of your core community led activity
• Developing new ways of working

Grants between £20,000 and £35,000 are available to voluntary organisations in Wales with an annual income of less than £250,000.

Please visit our website for further details on the fund and on how to apply.

Art & Arthritis 6-week Self-Management course

Every Wednesday 6^th November to 11^th December 2024

Online 2-3pm

Register via Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/celf-ac-athritis-art-arthritis-6-week-self-management-course-virtual-tickets

Join us on this 6-week self-management course to find out how Art Therapy can be used to manage arthritis and chronic pain.

Art therapy can be a powerful tool in the management of pain, using this type of psychotherapy can help modify your response to emotional and physical issues relating to pain.

Art therapy helps lower the perception of pain by moving your mental focus away from the painful stimulus. But it’s not simply a distraction, rather a way to teach you how to relax and alter your mood, so the pain doesn't control your emotional state.

Over the 6 weeks and using various creative techniques we will look at ways to manage pain and stress, to focus and relax, to improve dexterity and movement in our hands and to build confidence and resilience in ourselves. Each session will produce a final piece of reflective artwork.

Participants will need to be able to supply their own basic art/craft materials such as colouring pens/pencils, coloured paper, glue stick, paints (i.e. child’s hard paint slab), artist sponges or similar sponges, old magazines/newspaper, cardboard, grease proof paper/cling film/old plastic bag, protection for your surfaces such as newspaper or an old cloth, tools for the clay session such as an old knife, spoon, fork, shells, foliage and knick-knacks for decoration.

Participants will be provided (via royal mail post) the specialist items for weeks 4, 5 & 6 which include an air-dry clay block, Christmas decoration materials and a memory/keepsake box.

The course is being run in partnership with ReConnecting Carms CIC, who are experienced in delivering online art and craft-based sessions helping people to make connections through skill-based learning.

A “Quiz Night” will be held on Wednesday 13^th November at 7pm at the West End Bowls Club, The Walk, Merthyr Tydfil.

The event is to raise funds for the Merthyr Tydfil Community Trust.

The Merthyr Tydfil Community Trust is a charitable trust that supports local voluntary and community groups. It makes small grants to small groups that make a big difference to them. It only supports groups operating in the County Borough of Merthyr Tydfil. For more information on the Trust click on www.merthyrcommunitytrust.co.uk

Please support us by coming along and entering a team.

To register complete the booking form.

If you require further information please contact Ian Davy on 07966 698017 or at ian.davy@hotmail.co.uk