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More than £37,000 has been awarded to community organisations in Aberbargoed and Bargoed.
A total of £37,269 in grants has been awarded to organisations such as Aberbargoed Community Action Team and Bargoed Gardening Club – with the highest amount awarded a £12,241.53 grant to Aberbargoed Buds Football Club for a stadium rotary mower.
The grants come from Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Community Empowerment fund, which is allocated to councillors in every ward.
Labour councillor Dawn Ingram-Jones, who represents the Aberbargoed and Bargoed ward, spoke to Caerphilly Observer about the grants.
“We were delighted to have got that money spent on the community,” said Cllr Ingram-Jones, who is also a Bargoed town councillor.
The funds are available to community projects, clubs and charities, with each county councillor awarded £4,490 each for 2021/22 and 2022/23.
The Aberbargoed and Bargoed pot had more in it than expected, as some funds were left over from the previous year and wards in the area recently merged.
This meant there was £22,450 available between the three councillors for the Aberbargoed and Bargoed ward for the 2022/23 year.
What grants were awarded in Aberbarged and Bargoed?
Aberbargoed Community Action Team, £1,440 for activities for isolated elderly individuals
Bargoed Gardening Club, £2,843.82 for IT equipment, DVDs and guest speakers
Aberbargoed Buds football club, £12,241.53 for a stadium rotary mower
Bargoed Labour club and Institute, £7,620 for roller shutter doors and re-upholstery
Bargoed community centre, £2,202.47 for audio loop system and wall sound system
Thriving Communities CIC, £2,149.76 for Nordic walking training and walking poles
Arthur Balfour Conservative Club, £8,771.42 for projector, screen and re-upholstery
Caerphilly Observer previously reported how more than £300,000 for community projects had gone unspent by councillors across the borough.
Caerphilly County Borough Council has since decreased the funding available from the Community Empowerment Fund due to cuts in this year’s budget – it will be reduced by 30%.
Cllr Ingram-Jones highlighted the importance of the fund and said: “We will fight to keep this going.”
After all, empowering community organisations in the area is also a good way of bringing Aberbargoed and Bargoed together, according to Cllr Ingram-Jones.
“We want to make a community overall,” she said, adding that while she may live in Bargoed she also cares about Aberbargoed.
“We want the money spent here,” said Cllr Ingram-Jones.
Visit the council’s website to find out more about the Community Empowerment fund, including eligibility criteria and how to apply.
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