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The UK Government has supported community venues across Wales that were at risk of being lost forever with 拢1.1 million of levelling up funding from The Community Ownership Fund.

The UK Government鈥檚 拢150 million Community Ownership Fund helps community groups take ownership of local institutions falling into disrepair and give them a new lease of life so they can continue to provide vital services, create more opportunities for local people and boost local economies

The five projects celebrating newly-successful bids in Wales include a social enterprise in Pembrokeshire, a 180 year old village shop in Llandyrnog and a group that has taken over a former hotel to offer vital support to people with chronic and life limiting conditions.

Levelling Up Minister Dehenna Davison said:

I want to see the places that local communities cherish survive and thrive for future generations 鈥� that is levelling up in action.

Whether it鈥檚 town halls or the village shops that mean so much to rural communities, the Community Ownership Fund is breathing new life into Welsh institutions by putting them into the hands of local people.

Welsh Secretary David TC Davies said:

Last year we launched three new funds 鈥� the Levelling Up, Community Renewal and Community Ownership funds - which have so far seen more than 175 projects right across Wales given more than 拢165m for schemes ranging from improvements to road infrastructure in the Rhondda to money for Gwynedd locals to help buy their community pub.

These five latest Welsh recipients of the Community Ownership Fund are fantastic projects that will make a huge difference to their local areas.

Levelling up is at the centre of the UK Government鈥檚 ambitions and communities across Wales will be transformed over the coming years as this funding continues.

Dr Alan Axford OBE, HAHAV鈥檚 Chair of Trustees said:

We are amazed and delighted to have been awarded such a substantial grant from COF. This investment will be transformational, enabling us to protect, Plas Antron - our 鈥楲iving Well Centre鈥�. The building makes such a difference to the quality of life for hundreds of people across Ceredigion each year, many of whom are isolated and vulnerable.

Without the COF grant, Plas Antaron was at risk of being lost with time rapidly running out for us to secure the funding required to finalise the purchase.

We would like express our sincerest thanks to the UK Government, The Welsh Government, and everyone locally who has assisted in fundraising towards this vital project, for their life-changing support.

Successful projects confirmed include:

• The 鈥楬averhub鈥� in Pembrokeshire, a social enterprise nestled in the heart of the historic Quay Street and Riverside Quarter, will take ownership of their building so they can provide a variety of educational courses for local people.
• Over 拢170,000 will help dedicated volunteers at the Aberystwyth and District Hospice provide vital support to people with chronic and life limiting conditions and their carers. The grant will give the local community the funds they need to buy their premisses outright.
• The doors of an 180-year old village shop in Llandyrnog will fly open once again to warmly welcome local people. The shop will act as a community hub for the village and support people鈥檚 mental health with 拢200,000 in funding
• In Ceredigion, the Aberporth Village Hall will be rebuilt brick by brick into an environmentally friendly community hub to act as a one-stop-shop for tourists and local business.

The move forms part of the government鈥檚 drive to level up local communities across the country, create more opportunities for local people and boosting local economies as a result.

Combined with Round 1 projects, this additional funding takes the overall total to 拢16.74m for 70 Community Ownership Fund projects, with 拢1.6m so far allocated to Wales.