Supporting RuralCarmarthenshire

Who are RDP Sir Gâr?RDP Sir Gâr is a team of organisations working together toregenerate rural Carmarthenshire.They are implementing the Rural Development Plan (RDP)for Wales in the county, which is a pot of funding designedto support the needs of rural areas.

How can RDP Sir Gâr help you?This booklet has been produced to show you the range ofactivities that have been supported to date in the county.We want to make rural Carmarthenshire an even betterplace to live, work and play for all of us.

*The Rural Development Plan for Wales is funded by the Welsh Government and theEuropean Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

Photo courtesy of discovercarmarthenshire.com ©

Festivals, community broadband, walks and trails are just afew of the projects that have received assistance.

Case Study: Taf Myrddin Time Credits

RDP Sir Gâr awarded a grant to the Taf Myrddin TenantNetwork through Carmarthenshire County Council’sHousing section, in conjunction with the regeneration andleisure department, to set up an exciting Time Banking pilotscheme. Tenants who take part in the scheme are thankedwith credits for contributing time to their community andcan then use those credits to access events, training andleisure services. There is a menu of volunteering activitiesand a menu of where they can spend their time credits.

The project has funded a dedicated officer from anorganisation called Spice to co-ordinate the system.

Focus on Community

25 New orimproved

facilities in localVillage Halls

33 Projectsfor YoungPeople

Case Study: The Level Crossing

Several RDP Sir Gâr schemes supported the community-owned The Level Crossing (TLC) in Llandovery.

The previously unoccupied public house the North Westernis now being leased by The Level Crossing communityinterest company and has been renovated to become a 50bed bunkhouse offering hostel style accommodation. Thebuilding will also provide a training venue, hosting cateringand hospitality courses, linking in with local colleges.RDP Sir Gâr funded the conversion of the building, solarpanels, marketing and an upgrade of the kitchen. RDPadvisors assisted the group with funding and businessplanning.

All profits generated by the organisation will be reinvestedinto furthering the aims of TLC to promote sustainableemployment, tourism, training and enterprise in Llandoveryand surrounding area. The new enterprise will create 7 jobsalong with the potential for engaging volunteers andtrainees on work placement schemes.

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Case Study: Dathlu Diwylliant

Dathlu Diwylliant offered support to communities andevent organisers in rural Carmarthenshire to develop theircapacity to organise successful and sustainable events.

Dathlu Diwylliant officers assisted community groups todevelop projects that promote heritage, culture and localhistory through the medium of Welsh.

Led by Menter Bro Dinefwr in partnership with MenterGorllewin Sir Gâr and Menter Cwm Gwendraeth, theproject allowed people of all ages to enjoy and take part inthe arts in rural Carmarthenshire.

64 EventsFunded

Events funded include; festivals,workshops, history projects, poetryand literature sessions, dancesessions, live music, gigs andEisteddfodau.

88 Community

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A Greener Rural Carmarthenshire: 13community halls fitted with solar panels.

Zero Carbon Future (ZCF), part of RDP Sir Gâr’sInnovative Hubs project, promoted economic, social andenvironmental sustainability in rural Carmarthenshire.

The aim was to deliver innovative solutions and projects thattackled climate change by reducing carbon footprint in linewith the Welsh Government target to reduce CO2emissions by 80% by 2050.

ZCF worked to raise awareness of climate change and itspotential impact on our lives and to develop:

• energy and resource saving and sharing schemes

• local food projects and networks

• community transport and car share schemes

• a greater understanding of local biodiversity

• new ideas and other Low Carbon initiatives

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Focus on Business

Support has been made available to businesses in ruralCarmarthenshire providing assistance to help existingbusinesses grow and to encourage the start up of newbusinesses.

This has been done both through the provision ofbusiness advice as well as financial assistance to bringredundant buildings back into business use throughprojects such as Dewis Menter, Mentro, RedundantRural Buildings and Adfer.

These schemes have helped to:

• Create 105 jobs

• Safeguard 58 jobs

• Create 69 new enterprises

• Develop 45 new products and services

• Expand 41 enterprises

• Advise 1143 enterprises

• Support 28 farmers to diversify

Case Study: Biofutures Ltd.

A business in Llandeilo has expanded with the help of anRDP Sir Gâr Redundant Rural Building grant creating twonew jobs and safeguarding another.

Established in 2008, Biofutures Ltd supply, install andservice wood pellet heaters and boilers. Having beensuccessful in securing distribution agreements withEuropean manufacturers the company needed morepremises to cope with demand for their ‘green’ energyproduct. Owner Kedrick Davies received funding towardsconverting two redundant outbuildings for business use inTaliaris. Mr Davies said:

“The grant has helped to make the new site possible. As wellas the new Technical Officer and Office Administrator roles,we will also be using a local plumber and an electrician whoare trained in the specialist heating systems.”

The Redundant Rural Buildings Grant provides assistance tomicro businesses for the conversion of rural buildings thatare no longer used into business premises.

“This has enabled us to turn a derelict barn into a warm, dryshowroom and is an exciting step in the development of ourBiomass business”. Kedrick Davies, Managing Director

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Case Study: Little M’zzz

The Old Church Hall in Llanybydder hasbeen transformed into a Children’s ActivityPlay Centre, café and community facilitycalled Little M’zzz with the help of an RDPSir Gâr Redundant Rural Building grant.

The building had been vacant and in a state ofdisrepair for some time when Nigel and Kim Mumfordspotted a gap in the market for a play centre for youngfamilies in Llanybydder and the surrounding area.

Little M’zzz offers children aged 0-12 a recreation centrewith jungle gyms, soft play structures, slides andimagination inspiring areas. The centre provides a dedicatedsensory room aimed at babies and children with specialneeds and the cafe area serves a variety of reasonably pricedfood and beverages, including healthy option alternatives.

“Receiving the RDP grant was the determiningfactor that allowed our vision to develop. We offera safe, clean, and stimulating environment in whichchildren can interact, enjoy play and explore. Inaddition, the centre provides the opportunity formembers of the local community to socialise andinteract – which we felt was important due to theavailability of traditional meeting places decliningin rural areas.“Kim Mumford

As well as offering a fantastic new facility for children in thearea, Little M’zzz is bringing a welcome job boost toLlanybydder by creating 2 full time and 4 part time jobs andthere are a further 2 new posts planned for next year.

Case Study: Colin Henry of Devanah Farm,Llangadog, along with his wife Gillian andson Steffan, have set up Tywi Hydraulics amobile hydraulics repair service.

Because hydraulic systems such as cranes,diggers and agricultural machinery are crucialfor the completion of contractual works forpotential clients, the new venture will meanthey can get quick, on-site service if somethingbreaks down. This will help to avoid profitsbeing affected and work being held up.

The Henrys successfully applied for an RDP Sir Gâr SupportingFarmers to Diversify grant to set up. They usedthe funding to purchase equipment and investedin a laptop so that the new venture could betruly mobile. The family are confident that thenew arm of the business should increase thehousehold income significantly in the first yearof operation.

Steffan said:“Financial risk is always a factor when starting a new business, butthe support from RDP Sir Gâr helped us to decide to go for it -and we are really pleased that we did!”

The Supporting Farmers to Diversify (SFD) grant aims tomaintain and increase the income of farm households inrural Carmarthenshire, by providing the capital needed toenable farming families to diversify into non agriculturalactivity. Retaining young people in farming by helping themto develop alternative sources of income and alternativeemployment opportunities is also a key factor.

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Focus on Places

The aim was to boost the county’s rural economy and tostrengthen the identity of local communities through theundertaking of improvements to properties andenvironmental enhancements using small scale capitalinvestment.

Case Study: Pendine Gateway

The aim of the project was to create a sense of arrival toPendine and to improve the physical environment along theapproaches to the village which would benefit bothresidents and visitors to the area.

Works undertaken include a new footpath/ cycle way linkbetween the villages of Pendine and Llanmiloe, an increasein the local biodiversity of the local area and a saferpedestrian environment.

"Pendine benefits from a world class beach in a world classlocation but the village facilities were not up to scratch. The RDPGateway fund has allowed us to address these deficiencies. Thereis no doubt that the inward investment provided by the fund willbenefit Pendine for many years to come."Simon Morris, Chairman of Pendine Community Council

14Local BusinessPremisesImproved

Case Study: Carmarthen Park Enhancements

The Carmarthen Park Enhancements Project was deliveredby Carmarthen Town Council.

The project included the refurbishment of a redundantbuilding and establishment of a community enterprise – Y Siop De, restoration of the velodrome, improved securitymeasures and walkways, outdoor fitness equipment andlandscaping.

The Park is widely used by local groups such as the TowyRiders, Carmarthen Quins and local schools with furtheropportunities for audience development planned.

The history of the Park has also been interpreted in ahistory booklet and interpretation panel.

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Case Study: Carmarthenshire Centre for Crafts

Funding from RDP Sir Gâr supported the refurbishment ofthe Farmers’ Co-operative stores in St Clears into theCarmarthenshire Centre for Crafts.

The Santa Clara Potters have regularly used both the artiststudio and pottery room at the Centre:

“Carmarthenshire Centre for Crafts has given us the opportunityboth to develop our skills creatively as a group, and experience theexcitement of seeing other people’s work grow and develop. We are currently moving towards mounting an exhibition in theCentre’s gallery, in September, and are looking forward to thefuture.” Judith Rees, Santa Clara Potters

Support funded via RDP Sir Gâr was designed to strengthenthe local distinctiveness of rural communities in order toattract additional tourism and investment as well asproviding improved social opportunities for local people.Tourism facilities were upgraded to meet changingconsumer needs and grants were given for the ‘greening’ oftourism operations. Projects supported ranged from a newvisitor centre at Llwyfan Cerrig Station to the furtherdevelopment of Gwili Railway.

Case Study: Welsh Green WeddingsReceived an RDP Sir Gâr Strengthening theTourism Appeal of Rural Carmarthenshire(STARC) grant to commission theconstruction of a unique pair of linkedwedding tipis from local craftsmen togetherwith the flooring and the dance floor. TheTipis can accommodate up to 120 people for a wedding reception and have enabled themto increase the size of weddings they canaccommodate from about 60 to 120.

“Those we can't accommodate here on the farm stay in local B&Bs and cottages,eating, drinking and enjoying themselves locally.” Owner Roger Broome

Focus on Tourism

5 Tourism Clusters have been established toencourage communities and businesses in RuralCarmarthenshire to work in partnership tobenefit their local area through improving its tourismoffering. www.tourismclusters.co.uk

Projects promoting the area’s culturaldistinctiveness included...Dolaucothi Goldmines new interpretive materials, Costumesfor a Laugharne community theatre group, Hywel Ddainscription panels, a heritage corner at Oriel Myrddin andheritage trails in Newcastle Emlyn, Llandovery and StClears... and much more.

South West Wales is quickly gaining a reputationfor being a world class artisan producer ofcheese, meats, preserves and other dairyproducts. To help build on this flourishingindustry, an innovative new food tourismproject – Taste Local – was launched toenhance and improve South West Wales’ foodoffer by exploring how delivery partnersacross the EU develop their local foodculture. Taste Local offered a LearningJourney Bursary to eligible South West Walesfood producers, retailers and hospitalityproviders giving them an opportunity to visitpartner areas in Italy, Denmark and Malta toshare best practise in relation to their sector.www.tastelocal.org

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Tourism service providers benefitted fromtraining in a variety of related skills throughthe Galluogi project. The aim of theGalluogi project was to help improve theskills and knowledge of those employed intourism businesses in rural Carmarthenshire.

By working in partnership with Coleg SirGâr, Gallu and the Carmarthenshire TouristAssociation, the project has provided shortcourses, seminars and workshops in areasidentified as a requirement by the business.

Focus on Training

• Business Administration

• Information and

Communication Technology

• Marketing

• Housekeeping

• Restaurant Service

• Sense of Place

• Bread Making

• Book Keeping

• Social Media

• Selling Skills

• Design

• Matching Wines to Food

• Customer Care

• Patisserie and Confectionery

Sgiliau Byw sessions were held with parents andcarers of children under the age of 5 to promotehealthy eating, exercise, literacy and numeracy withan accompanying cookbook and CD.

Tywi Afon yr Oesoedd ➜ Tywi CentreThe project conserved, enhanced and celebratedthe rural, natural and cultural heritage of theTywi valley, creating a legacy for the future. It established a Traditional Sustainable BuildingCentre – now known as Tywi Centre – atDinefwr Home Farm. The Centre providestraining for students and members of thepublic to learn the fast disappearing traditionalskills of stonemasonry and woodwork neededto maintain the traditional buildings associatedwith the rural valley.

It acts as a rural information centre, demonstrating the useof sustainable technology in traditional buildings andproviding the general public with advice on sustainablerestoration and upgrading of the cultural heritage.www.tywicentre.org.uk

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Case Study: Llansteffan Sports Association Ltd

University of Wales, Trinity St David and Llansteffan SportsAssociation Ltd teamed up to deliver a new Rural HealthInitiative project from the Pavillion in Llansteffan.

The project focused on improving leisure, social and sportsfacilities for young people in the area and Llansteffan SportsAssociation received a grant from Innovative Communities tocarry out the initiative. The funding was used to purchase gymequipment which will be manned by Level 2 Gym Examinerqualified graduate students from Trinity St David during thetrial period.

The community worked inpartnership with the University on aneducational basis and it providedbenefits to both the community andalso to the students as part of theirdegree course. During the pilot,graduates trained two residentsfrom the village to take over thefacility after the initial trial.

Focus on Innovation

Case Study: Llandybie Memorial Hall

Llandybie Memorial Hall received funding from RDP SirGâr to employ a Development Officer for their Health andWellbeing Suite.

The new Health and Wellbeing building began providing arange of wellbeing services for the statutory and voluntarysectors initially, and is now looking to provide a range ofchildren and young people’s services.

Their goal is to ensure the sustainability of the building bydeveloping a range of local community based services. TheDevelopment Officer is also responsible for the Skypeconsultation project that will enable residents to undertakemedical consultations, reducing the distance people need totravel for specialist care.

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The 2014-2020 round of RDP fundingwill commence soon.

If you have an innovative project idea,please get in touch.

wwec@carmarthenshire.gov.ukwww.wwec.org.uk 01267 242 364

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