Applications sought for government's Cultural Recovery Fund

From today, organisations in the culture and heritage sector can find out if they are eligible to apply for financial support from the Welsh Government’s £53m Cultural Recovery Fund.

The new fund will see music venues, recording and rehearsal studios, heritage organisations and historic attractions, accredited museums and archive services, libraries, events and their technical support suppliers, independent cinemas and the publishing sector being able to bid for a share of £18.5m. 

A number of organisations in Llangollen could qualify for help.
The latest funding is part of the Welsh Government’s £53m package to support the culture and arts sectors which are coping with a dramatic loss of revenue as a result of the pandemic.

A separate element of the Cultural Recovery Fund, worth £27.5m, is being delivered through the Arts Council of Wales to support theatres and galleries. This fund was launched 17 August with details available on the Arts Council’s website. 

The online eligibility checker opens today (Tuesday, 1 September) from 10am and organisations will be able to make applications for support from the fund from 14 September. The closing date for applications is 30 September.

Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Elis-Thomas, said:“We have listened to, and worked with our partners across the cultural and creative sectors to put this second package of support together. We recognise the massive and unprecedented challenges the pandemic is having on the very fabric of Welsh life and we applaud the resilience and creativity on show.

“We are today opening our eligibility checker for the funding. This will allow companies to find out if they will be eligible to apply and then give them time to prepare their applications, ahead of the fund opening for applications later this month.”

A non-repayable grant of up to £150,000 (up to 100% of eligible costs) per organisation will be available via two application entry points:

• Under £10k: quick process for smaller organisations based on eligible costs
• Between £10k - £150k: more detailed process based on eligible costs.

The triage system will indicate the appropriate route for organisations to follow.

The Eligibility Checker for the  Cultural Recovery Fund will be live on Tuesday 1 September from 10am - - https://fundchecker.businesswales.gov.wales/culture

There will also be a £7m fund for freelancers to support individuals in the sector who have been impacted by the pandemic. Please visit the eligibility checker to find more detail for this fund.

MP welcomes government cash aid to local businesses

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has welcomed the announcement that the UK Government-owned British Business Bank has issued its 75,000^th loan through its Start Up Loans programme, marking more than £623 million invested in small businesses across the UK since its launch in 2012.

Across Wales, 3,443 loans have been made so far to small businesses and entrepreneurs, totalling £32,226,155 with the average loan being £9,360. 

Self-employed people in Clwyd South have accessed £7,500,000 worth of Government grants, which do not need to be paid back, to cover lost earnings. 

And £20,514,589 has been paid out to local businesses in the form of Bounce Back Loans, which provides loans of up to £50,000 within days of an application.

Mr Baynes said: “Small businesses in Clwyd South are the backbone of our local economy, and this Conservative UK Government has long been committed to giving them all the support they need to flourish and thrive.

“Our Start Up Loans scheme has now provided £32,226,155 worth of investment and support to thousands of small businesses and entrepreneurs across Wales, including for those who may otherwise have struggled to access it, helping to drive investment here and boost our local economy.

“As we build Clwyd South, Wales and Britain back in the months ahead, I will continue to work to give our local entrepreneurs and innovators all the support they need to keep them in business so they can create and protect jobs.”

Local roadworks alert

Latest roadworks alert from one.network is:

Church Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 31 August — 04 September Delays likely - Road closure Works location: 7 Works description: EXCAVATE IN FOOTWAY FOR REMOVAL OF FAULTY LINK BOX AND REPLACEMENT WITH NEW.... Responsibility for works: MANWEB Current status: Advanced planning Works reference: GY03011181356

St Collen's welcomes its congregation for the first time in 22 weeks

* Father Lee gives the blessing to parishioners outside the church.

* The socially-distanced congregation.

* Father Lee leads worship inside the church for the first time in 22 weeks. 

After 22 weeks in lockdown St Collen's Church finally opened for worship with a congregation this morning (Sunday).

Vicar, Father Lee Taylor, began with a blessing ceremony outside the building before over 50 worshippers, who were requested to wear masks, filed inside the church which had been specially prepared with extra space between the pews to allow proper distancing and hand sanitization.    

Before going inside people had their temperature taken. 

No hymns were allowed but there was a full service including the celebration of Holy Communion.

Later everyone was invited to a barbecue in the car park  prepared by Fabiano Silva. 

In his address, Father Lee spoke of how challenging lockdown had been including the cancellation of 21 weddings due to have been held in church.

It was revealed that during the period from June when only private worship had been allowed 773 people had visited St Collen's.  

Life returns to normal along the railway line

* Foxcote Manor steaming through Berwyn station. 

Llangollen Railway photographer George Jones was out and about along the line yesterday to capture a couple of stunning images of life gradually returning to normal following lockdown.

First he shot the railway's flagship engine Foxcote Manor - complete with its "Thunderbirds are Go" slogan on its headboard - passing Berwyn hauling the first passenger train of the day.  

Near the Chain Bridge later he snapped people watching the progress of a group of whitewater rafters through the River Dee gorge.

 * Rafters testing their skill near the Chain Bridge.

Steve completes his high-wire challenge and raises over £200

* Steve flies like a bird on the zipwire over Bethesda.

A long-standing volunteer with Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has successfully completed a hair-raising challenge in aid of overseas competitors – despite being as old as the festival itself.

Steve Price, who lives in Johnstown, has been helping out at the eisteddfod for the past quarter of a century.

And after identifying a growing problem with attracting competitors from overseas he decided to take the heart-stopping high ride at Zipworld in Bethesda on Thursday afternoon.

He accomplished his high speed challenge and raised over £200 into the bargain.

Steve, who is manager at Sharps Bedrooms at Island Green in Wrexham, said: “I am the same age as the eisteddfod, 73 this year.

“I have been a volunteer with them for the past 25 years.

* Steve said he was "absolutely terrified" of heights.

“Over that time it has become increasingly difficult for overseas and UK competitors to take part in this fantastic event due to the ever-increasing costs of travel, accommodation and visa applications.

“The money I raised from my Zipworld challenge will go to support all competitors and the continued success of the eisteddfod.”

Before taking to the high wire, he explained that he was “absolutely terrified” of heights.

Afterwards he said: “I am not a thrill-seeker and the thought of jumping off a mountaintop some 500ft in the air and travelling at speeds approaching 100mph above a quarry and a lake was not something that I would under normal circumstances consider. But this was my challenge.”

Apart from the eisteddfod, Steve was also doing the challenge in aid of Hope House Hospice.

* He says donations to the eisteddfod are still welcome on his JustGiving page at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/steve-price24?fbclid=IwAR1i4rRJR9Vvlo7m_Ba3uEUUM9xZBD3jYEWb8gH9rEvnKpwuDTKyP3EnFQU&utm_campaign=pfp-share&utm_content=Steve-Price24&utm_medium=fundraisingpage&utm_source=Facebook&utm_term=w5XeEajZJ

If anyone wishes to donate to Hope House they should go direct to the hospice’s website and follow the links there.

Free school meal information in Denbighshire

Parents and guardians in receipt of direct payments for free school meals will continue to receive the payment for the first two weeks of term, says the county council.

Those receiving the payment will be required to use the funds to pay for their child’s meal while at school up until Friday, September 11.

The last direct payments are being made on Monday, September 14 (for the week of September 7th – 11th) after which children eligible for free school meals will receive them in school free of charge.

During school closures the Council has been providing direct payments to those eligible for free school meals with money provided to parents or guardians instead of a school meal.

More than 3,500 children (1,900 families) were eligible for this scheme.