The fifth and final round of applications for the Strong Communities Grant Fund has taken place of which six Barry based proposals have been recommended for approval.

The purpose of the Strong Communities Fund according to the most recent report is to: ''enable community groups, the voluntary sector and town and community councils to apply for revenue and capital funding that promotes initiatives within the Vale of Glamorgan consistent with the Council's vision of Strong communities with a bright future".

In Barry and the surrounding villages, six projects have been recommended for approval. These have been listed below:

• £1,440.00 has been granted to Home Education Barry for equipment and education support.

• £1,931.98 has been granted to the Coastwatch Centre at Nells Point for Equipment.

• £19,021.00 for the refurbishment of Cadogs Corner centre.

• £24,485.00 for capital works, windows and heating of Romilly Bowls Club.
• £25,046 for new toilets and kitchen to hall for Cadoxton Methodist Church.
• £40,000 contribution for a new building for Wenvoe's Community Hall.

A total of 19 applications were received for this round of funding with 12 being recommended for approval overall. Grants totaling £565,391 have been allocated to 44 projects across the Vale of Glamorgan since the start of the funding programme in April 2017. Those approved in rounds 1-4 for funding had an contributed to projects that are in excess of £1.3 million in value. The successful applicants in Barry and the surrounding areas were: • Amelia Trust - Feasibility Study

• Barry Memo Arts Centre - Destination Memo

• Barry Uniting Church - The bridge between

• Gibby Green Fingers - Sensory garden plus education centre on sit

• Innovative Trust - Develop forest garden at Porthkerry Park

• Restorative Wales - Co-develop school and family focused restorative multi-agency partnership hub model for the Vale.

• Rhoose Community Cinema - Equipment for community cinema

• The Intersensory Club - Vale Adaptive cycling club

• YMCA - Replace boilers at YMCA

• Barry Athletic Football Club - New flooring to main pavilion

• Cadoxton Conservation Group - Website, bug hotel and tools

• Castleland Community Centre - Flexible booking system plus

• Pukka Productions - Design and build new website

• Rhoose Community Hall - Replacement of windows in community hall

• Motion Control - Pilot project

• Ty Cadoc Residents association - Community gardens

• Wenvoe Village Hall - Access Improvement

• Margaret Alexander - Centre Screen projector and audio equipment

• Rainbow Women's group - Mini 'GEM' exercise equipment All of the projects that were granted funding are stated to ''offer far reaching benefits to communities across the Vale''. The final decision on this round of funding will be decided by Cabinet on Monday 21st October. The report also goes onto discuss the future of funding. It states: There is a clear and demonstrable demand for financial support from community organisations across the Vale. ''The wide benefits this support brings to communities are already being realised as is the value of the Strong Communities Grant Fund in supporting the Council's Reshaping Services agenda. ''Discussions are now taking place with funding partners to explore options for extending the Fund for a further period of up to three years. ''It is suggested that surplus funds from the existing programme be held in reserve to 'kick start' a new programme. ''Recommendations following these discussions will be reported to Cabinet and it is anticipated that a report will be presented for

further consideration on the future of the fund before the end of December 2019.''