Megan's Starr Foundation and St Clears RFC get key funding

The Community Facilities Programme, a capital grant scheme that aids improvements to community spaces, has announced support for Megan's Starr Foundation and St. Clears Rugby Club amongst others.

Megan's Starr Foundation, a charity devoted to young people's mental health and countering bullying, has received £20,000. The funds are to be used to create a welcoming coffee house in Pembrokeshire, enhancing the mental health services they offer the community.

Also benefiting is St Clears Rugby Club, set to secure £25,077. This is to uplift the club's facilities, notably pitch-side fencing.

Highlighting the significance of the programme, Jane Hutt, the cabinet secretary for culture and social justice said: "The Community Facilities Programme is important in helping organisations improve facilities so local people can benefit from them in their day-to-day lives.”

The cabinet secretary visited Gorseinon to see how its £300,000 funding will redesign and repurpose the church building into a community space. She added: "Each recipient of support from the programme provides a crucial service to the people they serve and it is great the Welsh Government is able to help them do even more.”

Rev Dr Adrian Morgan, vicar of St Catherine's in Gorseinon, said: "The space is used by many community groups for a wide range of weekly activities, but the limited functionality of its internal design has constrained the community's use of the hall. However, with Welsh Government support we are now going to transform this space so that it can house many more community group activity groups on an ongoing basis."

Looking forward, Rev. Dr Morgan added: "I’m delighted that government can see the benefit of centres like these to support community based intergenerational activities, reduce loneliness and isolation for both young and old alike, and help communities strengthen their sense of place and be a welcoming place for all."