COMMUNITY groups in mid Wales are celebrating after scooping funding from the Community Facilities Programme.

Groups in Aberystwyth and Devil’s Bridge will benefit from the funding, along with the Dyfi Osprey Project near Machynlleth after Welsh Government Cabinet secretary for local government and public services Alun Davies announced the grant funding.

Funding of £250,000 has been awarded to the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust to develop a permanent visitor centre at the Dyfi Osprey Project near Machynlleth to replace portable cabins currently used which are reaching the end of their life.

That will see improved facilities at the centre with a range of facilities under one roof instead of two portable cabins which have been in place for around 25 years.

There is also £150,000 for Menter Cymunedol Mynach in Devil’s Bridge with the grant being used to help pay for an extension to the former Capel Mynach to create a community facility.

Funding of £25,000 has been awarded to Aberystwyth’s Cwmni Theatr Arad Goch which will let the company carry out work to the front of the building to make it more noticeable and eyecatching.

Jeremy Turner, Arad Goch’s artistic director, said the scheme, which has also received funding from the Art Council’s Lottery Fund and Ceredigion Council’s Community Grants scheme, had used Machynlleth-based architects George + Tomos Cyf and local contractors LJV Construction.

He said: “I’m very pleased that local companies are involved in this work; supporting local businesses and developing local culture go hand-in-hand. The funding we have had to improve the centre will enable us to offer more opportunities and more activities for more people - especially for young people and families.”

Kath Davies, the Director of Investment and Funding Services for Arts Council Wales, which provided almost £134,000 funding toward the project, said: "This is a fantastic development for the arts in Ceredigion and Wales.

"Arad Goch has been inspiring young people for almost three decades and the Arts Council of Wales is proud to support this development which will continue this all-important work."

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