Charitable Trust Provides Significant Funding Boost

The Welsh language, culture, arts and plans for an urban sports park are to benefit from funding awarded by the Isle of Anglesey Charitable Trust. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Trustees recently agreed that grants totalling £170,000 should be shared between Menter Iaith Môn; Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru; Cwmni Frân Wen and Llangefni Social Enterprise. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Isle of Anglesey Charitable Trust was founded in 1990 to manage a capital fund, which had been negotiated with Shell (UK) after it ended operating an oil terminal at Amlwch and the associated tank farm at Rhosgoch. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Over the past 26 years, it has funded an annual grants programme, for voluntary and community groups, and regeneration projects. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The sale of the former Shell site last year boosted the Trust fund by £3m, allowing it to invite new applications for larger grants. The Regeneration Committee reviewed the applications and the Trust agreed the following: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Menter Iaith Môn – £50,000 to fund on going work to encourage and promote the use of the Welsh language.
• Cwmni Frân Wen – £45,000 as a contribution towards its running costs and funding work to promote the arts, culture, creative education and economic growth on Anglesey.
• Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru – £37,500 as a contribution towards the 2017 National Eisteddfod to be held on Anglesey.
• Llangefni Social Enterprise – £37,500 as a contribution towards the cost of building an urban sports park in the town.

Chair of the Isle of Anglesey Charitable Trust, Victor Hughes, said, “Since its formation in 1990, the Trust has provided substantial grant funding to voluntary and other organisations. The sale of the Rhosgoch site will ensure that our capital fund receives a significant annual boost.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This has allowed us to provide a number of worthy causes with substantial financial support and the positive effects of these latest grants will be felt in local communities across the Island.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He added, “Our aim now will be to ensure the Trust’s investments continue to perform well, so that we’re in a position to award similar grants in the future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​