A PROJECT in Gwynedd has received a cash boost of £50,000.

Tabernacl Bethesda will use the money to improve sound insulation and renovate an outbuilding into a flexible space for music, dance and arts workshops.

The community facility is just one of the projects in North Wales which has benefited from crucial additional funds from the Welsh Government in order to meet rising costs.

Brighter Futures, Rhyl, received £17,870 to help build an extension to their workshop and make energy saving improvements such as insulation, new windows, underfloor heating and add solar panels to their existing system.

Prestatyn Men’s Shed were presented with £9,836. The money will go towards installing solar panels and insulating their conservatory.

In total, 15 projects across Wales received funding totalling £467,000 from this round of the Community Facilities Programme. This included £164,000 towards 10 smaller projects, all securing under £25,000 grants.

More than £303,000 also went towards additional funding for five larger projects.

Stephen Johnson, sustainability co-ordinator at Brighter Futures in Rhyl, said the funding had made a massive difference to them.

“Thanks to this funding we have been able to extend the workshop and can get more people into it.

“We have been planning this for a long time, but now we are able to do it. It’s perfect timing as the numbers of people wanting to come are getting higher and higher.

“The energy saving improvements have also saved us so much money with our bills. People don’t want to stay in their houses, so they are able to come here and keep warm. We have started staying open six days a week now.”

The programme funds the purchase and improvement of facilities which provide opportunities for people to improve their day to day lives.

Jane Hutt, Minister for Social Justice, said: “This additional funding is crucial to allow these larger projects to be completed so they can benefit communities across Wales.

“Due to rising costs for materials they have seen their budgets squeezed as they neared completion. They wouldn’t have been able to carry out essential works like roof repairs, new windows and energy saving improvements if it wasn’t for our Community Facilities Programme.

“I hope everyone gets to enjoy these community facilities once they are finished and look forward to hearing about their progress.”