DRYSLWYN COMMUNITY SHOP AGM – Notes on SiopNEWydd Project - 26.11.2023

We know everyone will be keen to hear about the progress with our new shop ambition and because it has seemed quiet some might think that little is being done to reach our goal of building a new and exciting shop/PO/café with on site parking. 

Whilst outwardly quiet, in reality a great deal is going on, so this is a short update on where we stand in our endeavours at present.

1. It’s always good to start with some positive news so I am pleased to say we have been successful with our initial ‘Expression of Interest’ first round application to the Welsh Government ‘Community Fund Project’ (CFP) grant for £300,000.   Though this is great news and very encouraging it means we need to be successful at the more challenging Round Two stage as well. This needs  very much more complex information and detail to be submitted within a strict time limit (mid Feb).  That will then be re-assessed and must meet the required standards.   SO…we are on the way but don’t fully have this fish in the net yet.   

2. In the meantime we are preparing our next major bid which will be an Expression of Interest to The National Lottery (TNL).  This is also a two-stage process so the same principles will apply, with consecutive hurdles to get through. Please note that even after submission the assessment of these bids by the funder takes time!

3. In parallel we have been working on our Business Plan for the new shop with Lansker our consultants which was funded by our successful Perthyn Grant back in the summer.  This is a big piece of work that will form a foundation for our second stage applications to CFP & TNL bids mentioned above.

4. And we already have a plan of other smaller applications we will make once these big ones are further progressed.

I hope you find this update of interest and of hopefully of some reassurance.  Much work has been undertaken already and still needs to be done before we can get machines on the ground and lay the first slab! We believe we have a great story to tell and a future to project that should resonate with the grant funders! Time of course will tell!!

We will continue to update you as things go along, but in the meantime may I take this opportunity, on behalf of the project team,  to wish you and those near and dear to you the compliments of the season.