Welsh villages to share success stories at show

20 Jul 2010

Three Welsh villages, which were recently awarded a share of £1.2 million Lottery funding to set up community-reviving enterprises, are gearing up to showcase their projects at The Royal Welsh Show next week.

Talgarth Mill Green Energy Project in Powys, Ashfield Community Enterprise Ltd in Powys and Tŷ Talcen in Carmarthenshire will be raising awareness of their projects and showing off herbal gifts, a copper wind chime, and a shaft for a water wheel at the show (July 19 – July 22).

They were each awarded £400,000 through the Big Lottery Fund’s and BBC’s Village SOS scheme which aims to inspire a rural revival across the UK. Village SOS is responding to the plight of rural villages across the UK, and is supporting new community-led business ventures that will breathe new life into their areas, create new jobs and improve the quality of life for local people.

Visitors to the show can talk to representatives from the projects and the Big Lottery Fund by going to the BBC stand near the main ring.

The Tŷ Talcen enterprise, which is drawing on the 13th century legend of the Physicians of Myddfai, who were well-known for their skills in homeopathy, will be launching their wares on a dedicated stand at the show in Builth Wells. These will include herbal, gift and craft products.

Tŷ Talcen Project Leader Hugh Davies said: "We’re very excited about having a Myddfai presence at the show as it has given us a wonderful opportunity to launch our products and generate some brand awareness. We will then gear ourselves up for the International Trade Fair at the NEC in Birmingham in September where we will also have a stand."

During the show, the villagers of Talgarth near Bronllys, will be carving a shaft out of a tree trunk which will be used to turn a water wheel for a flour mill. Their funding is being used to renovate the village's mill cottage to create a sustainable education and renewable technologies centre, with space for local enterprise and a gallery.

An eco-cafe will also be established in the education centre and the old mill will be reinstated as a working flour mill, where bakery products will be produced and then sold in the local area.

Talgarth’s Village Champion Ann Hillyer, who is using her experience to support the villagers in getting their community business up and running, said: "As well as making the shaft at the show, we will be explaining what we’re doing and answering any questions people have. They will be able to see how everything will come together for this exciting project."

Ashfield Community Enterprise Ltd will be inviting people to sign a visitors book and put their initials onto a copper wind chime which is being made during the event. The wind chime will become a feature of its project to re-develop a nursery to provide a growing area for the local community. The community’s produce will then be sold under an Ashfield brand through local food co-operatives, outlets and a mobile catering business.

Secretary Mag Richards said: "We’re very excited. It will be good to raise awareness about what we’re doing to local people and to people across Wales."

The Talgarth Mill Green Energy Project will have the journey of their business venture documented by the BBC for a major prime time TV series.

The two other Welsh projects, Ashfield Community Enterprise Ltd in Powys and the Made in Myddfai project run by Tŷ Talcen in Carmarthenshire, have become a key part of The Village SOS Learning Campaign, which will accompany the BBC One TV Series. The Campaign seeks to inspire enterprising villages across the UK to take the bold step towards starting their own community business.

Big Lottery Fund Wales Committee Member and Village SOS Committee Member, Mike Theodoulou, who will be attending the show, said: "The Village SOS funding is empowering these villages to help secure the future of their communities and protect them from decline and the loss of local amenities."

You can see films of all the successful Village SOS projects in Wales by visiting www.villagesos.org.uk

The Village SOS programme is one of a range of projects run by the Big Lottery Fund in Wales. For further information on all of our programmes visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk