Carmarthenshire Event Organisers Circle

A scheme to support event organisers in Carmarthenshire has been launched this week by Carmarthenshire County Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Carmarthenshire Event Organisers Circle aims to establish a network of people responsible for running all types of events in the county, from cultural to sporting; community to commercial, with the aim of helping them to connect and collaborate. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Activities such as seminars, training workshops and one to one surgeries will be on offer to all who sign up to the scheme, as well a designated web portal offering information and guidance. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A second element to the initiative will also look to establish a forum in three pilot towns, made up of local businesses and community groups to encourage greater communal involvement. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr. Meryl Gravell, Executive Board Member for Regeneration, said “With an estimated £48 billion value to the UK by 2020, events are hugely significant. Last year in Carmarthenshire, event visitors brought an estimated £1.5 million to the local economy, making events a key growth area for our county.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The pilot scheme, which will be running for 18 months, has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 (RDP), which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. This particular project supports key priorities under the Welsh Government Strategy for Tourism 2013 – 2020 “Partnership for Growth”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In addition to the event organisers circle activities, funds will also be made available to support certain events that meet specific criteria. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The first seminar is scheduled to take place on January 31. Those wishing to attend must be signed up to the network. More information is available on www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/home/business-support/organising-events/ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Picture: Cllr. Gravell and event organiser Carl Willett of the Festival of the Senses, launch the Leader funded event organisers Circle. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​