Social Enterprise

The Welsh Assembly Government produce newsletters every quarter to publicise opportunities for social enterprises and to celebrate the achievements of local community social enterprises. Perhaps we will have Flintshire projects mentioned in future newsletters?

CASE STUDIES

Mountain Gate is open for business

Facing a financially uncertain future, like many charities and grant-funded organisations across Wales, the people behind Amman Valley Enterprise did the sensible thing - they bought a run-down pub.The Tairgwaith based charity is hoping The Mountain Gate, in Tycroes, can help compensate for the funding gap expected when the European Objective One funding well for Wales runs dry.Amman Valley Enterprise, a non-profit organisation, which provides a range of about 40 education and training courses, childcare facilities and advice for community projects, has been dependent on grant funding since its inception 20 years agoBut with competition for such money increasing, those in charge believe taking the plunge into business may be the only way to maintain the charity’s staff and services, which have made the enterprise such an integral part of one of Wales' most deprived areas.

Business Manager Nicola Llewelyn said, "The Mountain Gate has been a big move into commercial enterprise. We bought it for £280,000 in December, 2003, and it was quite a coup to get a commercial mortgage, because banks are quite reluctant with charitable organisations. We're putting all the profits back into the Enterprise. Objective One is coming to an end, so grant funding will get very competitive.”"The Mountain Gate pub and restaurant is about being able to keep the staff and services we provide. We've really given it the Gordon Ramsay treatment. It was quite an eyesore before.

Luckily one of us had a great flair for renovation, and we've managed to do a great job."And after being closed for nearly two years, a new restaurant area, lounge, function room and civil wedding room were finally opened to the public in November, and accommodation for up to 10 guests is being made available later this month.Stuart Worth, who manages the Mountain Gate, said, "We're doing quite well, but it's the weddings where we're expecting to create a lot of income and bookings are starting to come in."The charity was started nearly two decades ago against a backdrop of poverty created by the closure of two major collieries – Abernant and Betws.

A small group of women decided it was high time the community of Tairgwaith offered something for them.Founder Sonya Reynolds, who is still a board member, recalled, "There was a rugby club and the workingmen's club, which was open to women, but not the kind of places you sit and have a coffee and a chat."But there was this derelict building [the old colliery building] so we found out about how it could be bought for the community, and used to run educational courses."When we first went in there were only a couple of rooms which were dry, but we'd go in with a flask of coffee, some sandwiches and whatever tools we could scrounge, some paintbrushes or a drill, and get on with it"We had to do it because many of the men were concentrating on getting any work they could, like working in taxis.

They couldn't afford to think long-term."The centre was officially opened in February, 1988, and with the help of Swansea University the organisation soon established courses, ranging from confidence-building and assertiveness training to Welsh lessons and computer courses, and later, Open University group coursesNow the organisation plays a huge role in the lives of people in the Amman Valley, and boasts the Lots of Tots childcare centre and a centre for lifelong learning at Tairgwaith, with The Development Centre in Ammanford.

Also in Tairgwaith is the Steer recording and media studio - which has become an extremely popular community facilityNicola said, "We were told when we bought the equipment that the mixing desk used to belong to Mick Hucknall, so it's got some successful history.

"We're looking at ways to make it more profitable but we can't start charging a fortune because that takes away the whole point of having it in the first place."Enterprise has often carried its community work unnoticed, but Cwmaman mayor Kevin Madge said, "What they've done for the area has been fantastic."They've made big differences to a lot of people's lives, including myself. I went on a computer course years ago, and those are skills I still use."The village of Cwmaman is also in the running for Calor Gas Welsh Village of the Year, another drive which has been supported by Amman Valley Enterprise.The mayor said, "We've had the judges here this week, and we're down to the last six. If you'd told me 20 years ago that was going to happen I just would not have believed you."

Ganllwyd Village Hall

The Ganllwyd village hall project was officially opened by the First Minister Rhodri Morgan on Thursday the 20^th of April 2006.

Three years ago Ganllwyd Hall was in disrepair. The people of Ganllwyd had nowhere hold social occasions or for meetings. The community approached the National Trust for help in restoring the hall. Three years on one of Wales’s few remaining mission halls, a classic example of the ‘tin/sinc’ small buildings of Wales, has undergone a £243,000 restoration programme – half of which was paid for with an Objective 1 grant from the Welsh Assembly Government.

Rhodri Morgan said: “Objective 1 has been crucial in helping preserve and restore important community facilities across the country. The most deprived parts of Wales have benefited from more than £1.5bn since 2000, helping fund 2,740 projects.

“Community Halls are so much more than bricks and mortar – or in this case tin and zinc! They are the focus of towns and villages across Wales and encourage and continue the community spirit.

“This new hall will help create new and vital economic opportunities in the village, and the IT training offers an excellent service to both able-bodied and disabled users.”

Chair of the Hall Gwyneth Evans has lived in the village all her life and is delighted that the hall has been restored, “It’s such an important amenity – we don’t have a shop here so the hall is our community meeting place. I’ve spent my life enjoying all sorts of community activities at the hall - from bingo to classical concerts. I’m so glad that my children will be able to enjoy using the place – the whole community can hardly believe that it’s changed so much - it’s now light, warm and you can’t hear the traffic noise – it’s marvellous.”

There are now facilities for the building to be hired out for parties, weddings, meetings and training. Residents will be able to provide catering at these events and local crafts and produce can also be sold there. The Hall will also be used for social occasions, bringing the community together. There are plans to provide an Ysgol Feithrin in the Hall which may be extended into a crèche to allow more mothers to become economically active. Central heating, new toilets, a new kitchen, new lighting and IT facilities have all been installed and there has been a particular emphasis through the project on providing equal opportunities for all, with the installation of translation facilities, toilets for people with disabilities and a hearing loop.

The final stage of the project, which is now underway, is the provision of interpretation in and around the Hall. A walks leaflet will be produced to encourage more people to stop and enjoy Ganllwyd’s beautiful surroundings including Coed Ganllwyd, a National Nature Reserve and Rhaeadr Ddu, one of Wales’ most spectacular waterfalls. A village website will be created and the story of the restoration will be told inside the Hall itself.

John Morgan Area Manager for the National Trust said “The Ganllwyd village hall project is an outstanding example of how partnership working can contribute to a local economy, improve the physical environment and strengthen community pride and cohesion. We are delighted to see Ganllwyd Hall restored to its former glory – this is sustainable rural regeneration in action.”

This project was possible due to the support of Welsh Assembly Government Objective 1 funding (£121,712) and its Pathways to Prosperity programme (£65,000). Match funding was also provided by the National Trust (£46,712) and the Ganllwyd community (£10,000).

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