Community facilities in Aberporth and Cardigan are set to benefit from significant additional Welsh Government funding, which will enable them to complete refurbishment works.

Aberporth Village Hall and the New Life Church in Cardigan have each been awarded £50,000, having struggled to stay within their original budgets due to the rising costs of building supplies.

The Village Hall project will involve rebuilding one property and modernising and refurbishing an adjoining building to include the updating of the kitchen and toilets, improved disabled access, plus increased energy efficiency.

Sue Lewis, the leading project officer on Aberporth Village Hall, said they were hoping to be finished in time for Christmas next year.

“This funding has basically made the difference between the project happening or not,” she said.

“It’s going to completely transform our community. When it’s finished we will have this focal point in the village. It will be a warm and welcoming community hub that everyone can use.”

There will also be £50,000 going towards new windows to make the building more sustainable for energy costs at New Life Church in Cardigan.

The funding will also allow them to purchase the building and refurbish it to include a new kitchen, community meeting area and family activity centre.

The smaller projects include £13,000 towards making a woodland space at Bluegreen Cymru in Teifi Woods more accessible all year round.

The project will make physical adaptations and improve the infrastructure including new paths, building two log sheds, installing solar panels and providing a covered area for family use during bad weather. 

In total fifteen projects across Wales are receiving funding totalling £467,000 in this round of the Community Facilities Programme. This included £164,000 towards ten smaller projects, all receiving under £25,000 grants.

More than £303,000 will also go towards additional funding for five larger projects.

The programme funds the purchase and improvement of facilities which provide opportunities for local people to improve their day to day lives.

Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt said: “This additional funding is crucial to allow these larger projects to be completed so they can benefit communities across Wales.

“Due to rising costs for materials they have seen their budgets squeezed as they neared completion. They wouldn’t have been able to carry out essential works like roof repairs, new windows and energy saving improvements if it wasn’t for our Community Facilities Programme.

“I hope everyone gets to enjoy these community facilities once they are finished and look forward to hearing about their progress.”