Welsh community spaces get funding boost

Six community assets in Wales like local pubs, music venues and football clubs will no longer close due to a boost in government funding.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities' Community has invested £3.1 million into the buildings, which they said will make sure the buildings are protected.

This funding will maintain more community spaces in an effort to bolster local economies.

Jacob Young, minister for Levelling Up, said: "We know how much these vital community assets mean to people across the country. They are an important lifeline for people young and old, and they’re the beating heart of our towns, cities and villages."

The Department has also announced £33.5 million to try and preserve more than 80 community projects.

Projects receiving funding in Wales include Rhyl FC, a community based football club that risked eviction before the government purchased their grounds. The group now operated all week.

Also, the Department bought the grounds of Le Pub which hosts of live music, standup comedy and wellbeing sessions in Newport.

This is the third announcement of funding from the third round of the Community Ownership Fund.

Welsh secretary David TC Davies said: "I’m delighted to see six more fantastic projects in Wales receive funding to protect these much-loved community assets for the future."

The next round of the Community Ownership Fund, Round 4, is the final round. There will be two bidding windows in Round 4 to allocate remaining funding. The next bidding window, Round 4 Window 1, will open on 25 March 2024 and close on 10 April 2024.