Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service

Jocelyn Davies AM, Deputy Minister for Housing and Regeneration has announced that Barry is to become the seventh Strategic Regeneration Area (SRA) in Wales with a £9 million investment from the Welsh Assembly Government. For more information please visit the Welsh Assembly Government website.

The Volunteer Centre would like to notify you of the decision to extend the deadline for applications to the youth opportunities bank by one week. This means the deadline for Neath Port Talbot CVS to receive applications is now Friday 22nd January.  This decision is due to the snow experienced in the past two weeks and the impact this has had on organisations. If groups would like any advice on their applications or need any further information please contact Nigel Cram, Youth Volunteering Development Officer, Neath Port Talbot CVS on 01639 631387 or nigelc@nptcvs.org.uk.

The third round is now open for applications, but the deadline is closing fast!  The deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday 14th December 2009. Applications need to be sent to grants@carmarthenshire.gov.uk . For more information go to Swansea CVS website.

Grant Applications are now being taken by NPTCBC to support community groups who organise firework displays in celebration of Guy Fawkes Night.  Eligible community groups can now apply for grants of up to £500 to organise their own firework displays and also receive help and advice on safety at the event.  Groups can find out more about this scheme by contacting Kerry Jones or Suzette Phillips on 01639 860008 or preferably via email at specialevents@npt.gov.uk.  The closing date for receipt of applications is 25th September 2009. For more information visit www.npt.gov.uk

If you are 16-25 and passionate about making your community a better place then visit the Big Challenge website to be in with a chance of winning part of the £65 000 prize fund to implement your campaign idea! For further information and to apply go to the Big Challenge website.  The deadline is 28^th September.

CDC met with Children in Need late last year to advise them on their new grant giving programme called ‘Fun and Friendship’. This is a programme specifically working with disabled children aged between 12 – 18 years and awarding grants to projects that give disabled young people opportunities to just do what other young people do and that projects must demonstrate disabled young people’s participation and leadership. The ‘Fun and Friendship’ grant programme has now been launched with a closing date for applications as 31st July 2009. For more information see http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/grants/funandfriendship.shtml

From Neath Port Talbot CBC website:

First time buyers in Neath Port Talbot’s renewal areas can now apply for energy efficiency grants. Sandfields East and Aberavon and the Upper Amman Valley are set to benefit from £50,000 funding from the Welsh Assembly to help first time buyers reduce their energy bills and carbon footprint by installing such things as new central heating boilers and loft and cavity wall insulation. Grants of up to £5000 are available for first time buyers who have purchased homes since 27th June 2007. These must be existing properties not new builds.http://www.neath-porttalbot.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=2482&pr_id=3580

The new GwirVol International Youth Volunteering Grant round has been launched. Applications and guidance can be downloaded from the WCVA website through the link below. The closing date for this grant is Monday 20th July 2009.

http://www.wcva.org.uk/grants/dsp_grant_scheme.cfm?display_sitetextid=64&grantid=45&lang=en

Neath Port Talbot Older Persons Small Grants Programme 2009/2010 is a one off grant available to any voluntary or community group which aims to support and promote the health and wellbeing of older people (aged 50 plus) living in Neath Port Talbot.

To be eligible for funding, groups or organisations must:

• Represent, serve or support older people
• Be based within the Neath Port Talbot County Borough
• Have an acceptable constitution
• Be a not for profit group with an annual turnover of less than £5000

Groups can only apply once for the grant and may apply for any amount between £50 and £500. For further information please contact Emma Jones, Neath Port Talbot CVS on 01639 631246 or emmaj@nptcvs.org.uk

Information from WEFO website:
A £22m investment has been announced by Deputy Minister for Regeneration, Leighton Andrews, to develop expand and enhance the unique tourism potential of the South Wales Valleys. The Valleys Regional Park project, which covers the Valleys in South West and South East Wales, has received £9.7m Convergence funding.  The three-year project will capitalise on the unique combination that the environment and cultural heritage of the Valleys offer as a tourism opportunity. It will be led by the Welsh Assembly Government in partnership with a range of local authorities, statutory public bodies and community and voluntary organisations. For more information got to http://www.wefo.wales.gov.uk/default.asp?action=newsdetail&ID=2600