£200K funding boost for Swansea’s rural communities backs storytelling, solar power and mental health support
The funding, delivered through Swansea Council’s Rural Anchor Project and supported by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, aims to strengthen community resilience and support innovative local initiatives.
Among the recipients is Bantani Cymru CIC, whose Human Library project has received £7,960 to connect school pupils with older adults in areas such as Pennard, Gower and Penclawdd. The initiative invites older volunteers to become “Living Books,” sharing personal stories and life experiences with children in structured sessions designed to foster empathy, emotional literacy and community heritage.
Hazel Israel, director of Bantani Cymru CIC, said: “These storytelling sessions serve as a bridge between generations, allowing older adults to reconnect and regain a sense of purpose, while offering pupils a rich learning experience rooted in real lives and voices from their own communities.”
Other funded projects include:
- The Old Mill Foundation – £21,148.80 to install solar panels and battery storage at a volunteer-led centre supporting adults with cancer and their families.
- Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales – £14,956.03 to replant woodland across 17 hectares between Fairwood and Pengwern commons in Gower.
- West Wales River Trust – £14,836.99 for an “Adopt a Tributary” scheme to help residents care for local rivers through training and collaboration.
- Anxiety Support Wales CIC – £14,009.35 to pilot a mental health outreach programme for adults in North Rural Swansea wards.
Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Investment and Tourism, said: “There is so much diversity and imagination among our rural communities. People are just looking for a little bit of help to realise an ambition that has real potential to transform community life.”
All applications were reviewed by a rural advisory group.
Cllr Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, added: “I live on Gower, so I have first-hand experience of the challenges our rural communities face. These small amounts of funding are going to have a lasting impact.”
#BantaniCymruCIC #CllrAndrewStevens #CllrRobertFrancisDavies #funding #HumanLibrary #ruralCommunities #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #UKSharedProsperityFund
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