Supporting Social Value in Powys

PAVO is dedicated to supporting the thriving third sector in Powys, and employs a Social Value Development Officer to help empower non-profit organisations in delivering Social Value to their communities. 

 

 

FUNDED PROJECTS

Powys Social Value Forum Development Fund 2023-25 Funded Projects

Thank you to everyone who applied to the recent round of the Social Value Forum Fund.  We had an exceptional number of applications many of which the panel wished they could have funded.  The fund has been awarded as follows.

 

Gofod Gwneud Machynlleth Makerspace CIC

Funding: £24,515.79

Project Title: Machspace Community Workshop

Description:  We will create a free community makerspace, a workshop full of tools and equipment members can use to make, craft, and repair. The space will promote social inclusion for marginalised people, based around shared interests and constructive activities.

 

Accessibility Powys

Funding: £68,253.00 Skills

Project: Title Sharing for all – empowering disabled volunteers

Description: Believing those with difficulties & disabilities also have strengths and abilities and that helping others promotes wellbeing we will match people with different needs and strengths, offering volunteering opportunities, supporting independent living and reducing loneliness and isolation.

 

Llanwrtyd Wells Community Transport

Funding: £37.639.00

Project Title: Community Shopping Bus

Description:The aim of the project is to make shopping and transport available to all. We aim to make this service affordable and accessible and introduce a bus buddy scheme, so anyone with additional needs can also be supported and able to access the service.

 

Ponthafren working with Brecon Volunteer Bureau, Crickhowell Volunteer Bureau, Ecodyfi, Knighton and District Community Centre, North Montgomeryshire Volunteer Bureau, Rhayader and District Community Support & Ystradgynlais Volunteer Centre

Funding: £172,474.24

Project Title: Bringing People Together - An Informal Volunteering Powys Wide Project

Description: The project aims to utilise eight delivery partners based around Powys working as a consortium to pilot Pan-Powys informal volunteering. The pilot projects main aim is to ensure access to small support needs which have a huge impact within local communities and for the individuals accessing informal Volunteers.

 

Welshpool Community Haven

Funding: £37,117.97

Project Title: Welshpool Community Haven – Fridays Haven Club!

Description: We plan to provide a space for some of the elderly residents (65+) of the town to come together and enjoy a weekly meal together and other activities ranging from games, guest speakers to craft and digital skills. The activities will follow the input from those attending and will be co-produced following their lead. The project has been designed to tackle isolation and loneliness amongst the elderly residents and their carers and has been designed following feedback from CREDU and conversations held during our Weekly coffee and chats about the need in the area and the lack of support carers of elderly residents are receiving and the lack of supportive wellbeing opportunities for our more vulnerable elderly. Meals will be provided by Meals on wheels – already operating from the centre. The project will include helping people with transport to attend the venue and will provide a warm meal and drinks.

 

Total Funded £340,000

Powys Social Value Forum Development Fund 2022/23

The Social Value Forum Development Fund 2022/23 saw £170k distributed as a grant scheme to meet identified gaps in provision aligned with the Powys Health and Care Strategy. The identified priorities for the year were:

  • The provision of good neighbour schemes offering low level, practical help to people. (Collaboration with Amser i Ni time banking initiative encouraged)

  • Strengthening the provision of community transport, with a particular focus on transport for young people and people that live with disabilities.

  • The provision of befriending services for young people.

  • The maximisation and encouragement of intergenerational provision where appropriate.

Projects that did not directly meet a priority but still met the criteria of the fund were also considered. Out of the fifteen projects initially funded, fourteen were carried to completion. One project unfortunately had to withdraw due to circumstances beyond their control. Overall the projects achieved significant outcomes for a large number of beneficiaries representing excellent value for money, and attracted volunteer support valued at over £40k. Details of the projects, outputs and outcomes can be found below.  

 

Aggregate fund outputs and outcomes

Number of people engaged in the initiative - 1712
Number of volunteers - 247
Total volunteer hours - 2938.5
People reporting initiative has helped to improve their health & well-being - 90.51%
People rating the initiative as good or excellent - 96.68%


The Projects
  • Tir Coed (Powys) - Pathway to Prosperity - £29,244.90

Funding paid trainee placements for socially and economically excluded individuals to teach construction based employability skills, and support their wellbeing,  that will result in an additional tangible community benefit of improved accessibility in the Elan Valley.

  • Kaleidoscope - Community Rehabilitation Activities Initiative - £23,000.00

The aim of this project is to prevent substance misuse relapse that can lead to further offending and damage communities through the use of a wide range of diversionary activities that will help improve physical/mental and social functioning.   By preventing relapse it reduces the burden on not only treatment services but that of NHS, Police and Social services

  • Brecon and District Mind - Community Listeners (Brecon & District)  £19,987.00

The Community Listeners programme is designed to build a network of people who are able to give skilled, strength-based, empowering listening support within their communities. 
‘When we are listened to, we feel better about ourselves and it helps us think more clearly to move forward.’

  • Accessibility Powys - Everyone Is Welcome/ Croeso I Bawb (a Social Model in Action) - £16,993.00

The project will identify and engage with people with disabilities, developing appropriate sessional facilitated opportunities. The project will reduce isolation and improve well-being, overcoming the barriers to participation, reducing the need for higher level intervention. and provide the experience of being welcomed into community settings, demonstrating how inclusion is possible.

  • Mess Up The Mess Theatre Company LTD - Young People’s Creative Wellbeing Project - £11,127.05

Bringing young people together to use creative techniques to investigate what supports their wellbeing and resilience locally and how it can be improved. They will come up with practical solutions they and the community can put into action for themselves, and will form friendships that will support them going forward.

  • Knighton and District Community Centre -  Services for young children and families  - £9,150.00

The project is to extend and develop children’s services to include outreach, social and cultural outings, joint work with the library, garden projects and work with other professionals. 

  • Helping our Homeless Wales - Riverside Cooking On A Budget - £7,305.00

A project that offers the free opportunity to learn culinary and kitchen craft skills with a focus on producing healthy food on a small budget, helping people to be able to live well without it being a heavy financial burden.

  • Shakespeare Link - Imagining The Real A Residential, Intergenerational, Participatory Experience of Story, Drama, Self Directed Play and Shared Presentation - £6,349.00

An intergenerational project that allows participants to explore real life personal and community issues from different perspectives through the medium of drama.

  • Arts Connection / Cyswllt Ceif - Llanfyllin Youth Arts Cafe - £8,767.00

The project will provide a space for young people to engage and participate in the arts. They will learn a range of skills, have fun and build friendships while being creative, leading to improved health and wellbeing and reducing the stressors that can have a negative impact on their mental health.

  • Wilderness Trust Ltd - Connect Llanidloes - £9,045.00

The aim of the project is to tackle isolation and loneliness as well as developing well-being among community members through 6 months of facilitated 3 hour weekly workshops, 15 podcasts and the launch of the time banking concept with a range of generations.

  • Hay & District Branch Royal British Legion - Recording Personal Memories of Hay on Wye - £800.54

An opportunity, in a supportive setting, for the older generation to record their memories of growing up in Hay, for self-satisfaction and to preserve local history for the benefit of future generations.

  • Clatter Community Centre Ltd - Clatter Centre Matters - A Plan for Growth - £700.00

An activity-based consultation including a centre based inspirational event supported by a skilled facilitator to develop a community supported plan to ensure the sustainability of the Clatter Community Centre. The project will provide a business plan and road map, inspired by the community, for a sustainable future with an increase in involvement and diversity of trustees. It aims to inspire and engage the community in the opportunities for the centre as the heart of community life. (Part funding)

  • Eginiad Cymru Cyf - Bwrsaro Therapi Eginiad Therapeutic Bursary - £10,080.00

A redesign of our therapeutic bursary, piloting a new, sustainable financial model. This early intervention program supports those on low incomes, with chronic conditions, who don’t currently receive sufficient health and wellbeing provision. As such it reduces the need for higher level interventions such as GP appointments and hospital admissions.

  • Dementia Matters in Powys (DMIP) - Inter-Links - £10,437.98

Inter-Links will enhance and expand the support services already provided by DMiP in Meeting Centres accessed by people living with dementia/memory loss and their wider family/carers. This will be done through planned activities with primary school pupils, including those living with disabilities, and young people in secondary schools undertaking Social Studies and/or DofE Awards.

Connected Communities: Loneliness and Isolation Fund 2021-2024

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of community-based support and the role of communities in tackling loneliness and social isolation. This fund aims to build capability and sustainability of grassroots voluntary and community organisations that bring people of all ages together.

Funding came from the Welsh Government and grants of between £250 and £2,500 per year were available for up to three years. We received 29 applications, and funded ten projects. 

Ennyn CIC

Circles of Connection: The project will deliver in-person wellbeing sessions to young females across the age span of 9-16, with the aim of supporting them in their transition into and
through adolescence.

Community Arts Rhayader and District

Connect and Engage: Employment of an engagement officer which will create opportunities for people who are isolated in volunteering at the museum. They will also co-design and promote projects which promote real-life volunteering opportunities. 

Gerddi Bro Ddyfi Gardens (GBDG)

Come to your Senses: To engage with young people, in partnership with Ysgol Bro Hyddgen, Ennyn Cymru, Elin Chick - Youth Worker and Julie Evans Cub leader to reduce vandalism, alcohol and drug use and promote constructive engagement with each other and the wider community. 

Macular Society 

Supporting people with sight loss in Powys: The project will deliver practical and emotional support for people with sight loss in Powys, including eight local peer support groups, telephone befriending and support with technology, enabling them to regain their independence, reconnect with their communities, increase their ability to perform everyday activities and improve their general wellbeing and quality of life.

The Wilderness Trust 

New Parents creative peer support group: A weekly group for new parents to come together, support one another and share experiences of early parenting whilst also partaking in creative activities (writing, crafts, music etc)

Brecknock Play Network

Pop up Play’ sessions: Will deliver open access play sessions to areas where there is rural isolation. These will be aimed primarily at 8-12 year olds but younger children will be able to attend if accompanied by a responsible adult/carer. Older children will also be able to access these sessions.

Mid and North Powys Mind 

Community outreach: Continue to run the weekly outreach groups. Mid & North Powys Minds’ Friday Group (in Knighton) and Builth Group are activity based support groups run weekly and are essential in enabling people who live outside of Llandrindod Wells to access support.

Llanfyllin Men’s Shed

Llanfyllin Men’s Shed Development Project: Plans to expand the existing Men’s Shed into a new Llanfyllin Shed that is open to all, and create a community hub which provides space for other groups to host activities and even for bands to practice. 

Credu

Thursday Club (Ystradgynlais): Funding to continue an existing support group in the area which supports local people to come together at least once a week in a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. The club provides light refreshments, companionship, and a base for group activities, gentle walks, and lunches.

Menter Maldwyn (Welsh Language) 

Prosiect Peilot Ieuenctid a’r Hinsawdd / Youth and Climate Pilot Project: This pilot project aims to support a group of young people aged 13-18 who have missed out on a range of opportunities to socialize and mix during the Covid period, to meet regularly through a project on the theme of Climate.
 

Where to find us

Llandrindod Wells Office

Unit 30
Ddole Road Industrial Estate
Llandrindod Wells
Powys
LD1 6DF

01597 822 191

Newtown Office

Plas Dolerw
Milford Road
Newtown
Powys
SY16 2EH

01686 626 220

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