Work would include supporting Community Groups to open up (adhering to current guidance); the development of online events, resource materials or other initiatives which improve relations within our communities. Teams within the Council working to support community groups can apply and can support community led groups with applications.

Community Cohesion is about all communities. Segregation, misunderstanding and tension can occur between all sorts of communities, for example communities of younger and older people, different ethnicity, religious beliefs, cultural differences or different neighbourhoods.

The purpose of the Community Cohesion Fund is to help us to achieve the following outcomes:

• Different communities get on well together - Bringing different communities together to develop understanding and respect through meaningful engagement.
• Everyone feels they belong - Helping people to feel at home and to see diversity as strength to be enjoyed.
• Young people understand and respect different communities, and adults and young people get on well together - Supporting children and young people to develop understanding and respect for different communities, and helping to build good relationships between young people and adults in the county.
• There is freedom from tension - Addressing tensions and the causes of tension between and within communities.
• Communities in our region stand against Hate Crime, will not tolerate it. People understand what hate crime is and how to report it.

We would like to encourage applications to carry out activities to bring together communities who may otherwise never get to meet online or (if appropriate) in person – for example new arrivals in neighbourhoods getting to know people who have lived in the area for a long time, twinning projects with other communities in different parts of Wales where areas have a different diversity profile, or intergenerational work. Often this can be done though arranging social, cultural or sporting activities. But these activities must also include some additional ‘meaningful activity’ such as conversations, sharing life experiences, getting to know each other, or finding out what they have in common. We would like to encourage projects that can help people to enjoy and celebrate living in their communities and strengthen their sense of belonging. This could mean helping people to understand and enjoy each other’s cultures and traditions. It could involve new ways of working, developing materials which help bring people together and promote diversity and inclusion.

Specific focus could be given to the following areas:

• Hate Crime Awareness
• Overcoming Community Tensions
• Supporting EU citizens through the EU Settlement Scheme

This funding will need to be spent by the 31^st March 2021.

To apply to the fund, please request an application form by emailing slbowen(at)carmarthenshire,gov.uk and return it completed by 5^th on Friday 20^th November 2020. We will let all successful applicants know by the end of November.