The UK Community Renewal Fund is a UK Government programme for 2021/22. This aims to support people and communities most in need across the UK to pilot programmes and new approaches to prepare for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It invests in skills, community and place, local business, and supporting people into employment.
For more information, visit: UK Community Renewal Fund Prospectus (gov.uk)
Approved Projects
The 10 approved projects in Conwy County for a total of £2,235,522 funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund are:
Transforming Young Minds for Tomorrow – Engineering Education Scheme Wales Ltd
To create and pilot interactive activities for primary school pupils in years 5 and 6, and secondary school pupils in years 10 and 11, to engage and interest them in the range of careers available in the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing, Creative and Digital and Energy and Environment sectors in the region. Activities will include aspects of computer aided design (CAD) and manufacture (CAM), 3D printing and coding activities. It is intended that this pilot project delivers initial activities which can support pupils during the transitional stages of their education.
Contact: Rebecca Davies - rebecca@eesw.org.uk or Aimee Thomas - aimee@eesw.org.uk
Conwy Tourism Innovation Hub – Grŵp Llandrillo Menai
The project involves a series of initiatives to create and apply innovation in the town's vibrant tourism industry & visitor economy. The aim of the project is to help build business resilience, improve efficiency and create a competitive edge for organisations within the town. Businesses should be able to benefit individually as well as working in collaboration to develop a capacity for growth.
Contact: Gary Jones - jones37g@gllm.ac.uk
Digital and Creative Conwy – Menai Science Park (M-Sparc)
The proposal is for a skills academy and business accelerator, to provide potential employees with a variety of workshops and interactive sessions. It includes digital reviews for businesses, and overviews of Net Zero plans and reviews measuring industry footprint with research from Bangor University providing carbon road mapping and toolkits for businesses.
Contact: Emily Roberts - e.j.roberts@bangor.ac.uk
Towyn and Kinmel Bay Community Connections Project – Towyn & Kinmel Bay Town Council
To establish a Community Partnership for Towyn and Kinmel Bay. The aim of the Partnership will be to gather evidence and work to understand the issues facing the community; talk to the community about assets and challenges within the area and identify actions to address these; agree priorities the community needs to make them happen and develop an action toolkit that upskills the community with co-delivery.
Contact: Dylan Thomas - clerk@tkbtc.co.uk
Skills and Employability Programme for Recovery and Growth – Conwy CBC
A series of Pilot projects which includes Pre-employment support, therapeutic counselling for those with mental health barriers to employment, action learning research to evaluate impact of pilot, pathway and development training courses in priority sectors and a feasibility study to identify model to establish multi-agency digital inclusion group in the community. Aimed at helping and supporting people to overcome multiple barriers to employment, with a person-centred strengths-based approach, helping them with job searches or short courses to help get them back into work.
Contact: Libby Duo - libby.duo@conwy.gov.uk
Conwy Culture Strategy Development – Conwy CBC
To create a Cultural Partnership Enterprise to provide overall leadership and co-ordination of the Culture Strategy and five Town Teams to oversee spotlight action plans for our main towns. Also, to develop a Cultural Venture Fund and culture-led community place making. The project includes two feasibility studies; the first will look at opportunities for increasing the use of Welsh words/Welsh language to enhance the visitor welcome and create a more authentic visitor experience. The second will audit and make recommendations on culture-for-wellbeing projects to progress under the Creu Conwy strategy.
Contact: Helen Goddard - helen.goddard@conwy.gov.uk
Rural Conwy Support and Development – Conwy CBC
To expand on the work of the already established Rural team to: enable and support the governance of Town and Community Councils; expand the Transport for the Community scheme; feasibility for small scale renewable energy generation; support rollout of fibre broadband to rural areas of Conwy.
Contact: Tom Jones - tom.jones@conwy.gov.uk
Research on the impact of Covid 19 on our town centres – Conwy CBC
The project will deliver an appraisal of the current state of the 12 town and district centres in Conwy County Borough which will capture not just the lasting impacts of the COVID19 pandemic, but also recognise pre-pandemic longer term trends. This project will commission a study to specifically look at: understanding the impact of future working patterns, and impacts on town centres including the knock-on effects on footfall, spend, home working and the need for town centre co-working office hubs. The impact of the above on demand for office space, residential, tenanted workspace, property and land. This will also include the development of a Motorhome strategy for Conwy.
Contact: Caroline Tabberer - caroline.tabberer@conwy.gov.uk
Digital support platforms for businesses and communities in Conwy – Conwy CBC
Develop a series of online tools available to business sectors and local communities, supporting economic recovery and development. Two workstreams: Customer Relationship Management Database and Directory; Tourism Ambassador Programme development, additional modules covering employment in tourism, customer service, green sustainable tourism and visitor safety in the mountains and on sea.
Contact:
Amanda Ballance - Database & Directory - amanda.ballance@conwy.gov.uk
Gwen Roberts - Tourism Ambassador Programme - gwen.roberts@conwy.gov.uk
Llandudno Bay Promenade Enhancement – Conwy CBC
This is the first stage of the renewal and redesign of the heritage shelters and colonnades on Llandudno North Shore. The project will design replacement shelters and an upgrade of the colonnades to provide innovative new services to visitors and the local community.
Contact: Jasmin Koffler - jasmin.koffler@conwy.gov.uk
