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 29th January 2024

All funding must be spent by 30th August 2024

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

What: Online “Meet the Funder” easyfundraising. Free unrestricted funds for your organisation

When: Wednesday 24^th January 11pm for an hour via Teams

Suitable for: All third sector organisations including voluntary groups, CICs, social enterprises, churches, schools, sports clubs and charities of all shapes and sizes.

easyfundraising is a free to use fundraising platform which your organisation can use to receive unrestricted funding on an ongoing basis.  

easyfundraising’s Community Fundraising Manager Becky Coleman will:

• Explain and demonstrate how it works
• Show you how to get started
• Show you how to make the most of it
• Answer all your questions!

This is an easy and effective way to boost your funds so do come along to find out more!

Did you know that hundreds of travel companies including TUI, Booking.com, Lastminute.com, Haven Holidays, Expedia, Thomas Cook and Hotels.com will all donate money to your organisation when you and your supporters book with them? Just one way that easyfundraising generates income for your group. To find out more – book a place on the event !

To book your place email : karen.vowles@vamt.net

easyfundraising is trusted by 100,000+ community groups charities and voluntary organisations already and over £47m has been raised to date.

To find out more about easyfundraising and set up a free easyfundraising page for your organisation, visit http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/cymru or contact becky@easyfundraising.org.uk

In just three weeks communities across Wales and the UK will come together to mark Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD), on 27 January. If you have planned your activity for HMD please let us know your plans by adding them to our activity map. 

If you are still to plan your HMD activity, then there is still time as HMD activities can take place up until the end of February.  

In 2024, it will be the 30^th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda which occurred in 1994. During this genocide, approximately 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus were murdered. On HMD we remember those individuals and those who survived, such as Antoinette Mutabazi, who spent 90 days hiding from the killers who murdered many of her relatives during the genocide. 

Some emotions are simply beyond the reach of words, and the day I realised that the killing was finally over brought conflicting feelings of relief and deep sadness … As a genocide survivor, I feel compelled to share what happened, no matter how painful or traumatic. ~ Antoinette Mutabazi 

The Holocaust Memorial Trust is here to help and support you with resources, ideas and guidance for your HMD activity: 

·       Free to use resources including films, educational materials, social media assets and more can be found on our website.

·       See updated guidance for how to mark HMD in 2024.  

·       Our national moment, Light the Darkness, is at 8pm on 27 January and can be joined in person and digitally.  

·       Register here to watch online the HMD 2024 UK Ceremony: Curated Moments. 

To order booklets, badges or candles for this follow this link and for more information on how to support our work, please click here.  

If you have any questions or if you would like more information, please email enquiries@hmd.org.uk.

Holidays, weekend trips, and hotel stays can provide your organisation with unrestricted funding.

Travel companies including TUI, Booking.com, Lastminute.com, Haven Holidays, Expedia, Thomas Cook, Hotels.com, and more all partner with online fundraising company easyfundraising, to give your organisation a way of receiving funding – for free.

When someone supporting your organisation books a holiday, the company they book with will send your organisation a free donation as a thank you; most will give up to 5% of the total spend at no extra cost to the shopper.

With many people booking holidays in January and February, this is an easy way for them to help you fund running costs, services, projects, and more.

Just one person booking a family holiday could raise £85.36 for you.

Think what multiple people could do.  All types of third sector organisations can receive this funding - your organisation just needs to be registered with funding website easyfundraising which you can do here (it’s very straightforward and there is no cost): www.easyfundraising.org.uk/merthyr-tydfil/