EU and Welsh Assembly Government funding continues to develop rural Wales

The Rural Affairs Minister visited the Tywi valley on 18 November to open one of the many Welsh projects that has benefitted from Rural Development Plan (RDP) funding.

The Minister opened the Tywi Afon yr Oesoedd Traditional Building centre which has been supported by over £500,000 of RDP funding. The centre will offer students and members of the public training in the fast disappearing skills of:

• stonemasonry
• and woodwork - skills which are needed to maintain the traditional buildings prevalent in this rural valley.

Speaking at the launch the Minister said:

"The Rural Development Plan is a very important mechanism for developing rural communities. Between 2007 and 2013 it will bring an impressive £795m of funding to rural Wales.

"Through this traditional building project we can see what can happen when communities realise that traditional skills have a place in the future, and are prepared to invest in that future. This centre will enable dying skills to be renewed and will ensure that the changes we make now will preserve our past and secure our future.

"I am also pleased to announce over £300,000 of RDP funding which has been awarded to the Community Enterprise Monmouthshire and the Marches project to develop collaboration opportunities between the social enterprise sectors in Monmouthshire and Wrexham. The project will focus on sharing best practice and transferring skills between the two regions.

"A further £8000 has been awarded to a sister project which will deliver an enterprise programme aimed at young people. The programme will include training and support to young people interested in starting their own social enterprises."

RDP funding is still available for Co-operation projects that are submitted via the 18 Local Action Groups across Wales. For more information, please contact ruralprogrammes@wales.gsi.gov.uk.

The Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.