CHAIR’S FOREWORD
Those of us involved in managing the Sustainable Development Fund here in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park count ourselves very fortunate. At every meeting, we read about the amazing and creative work done by volunteers and the difference it makes to their communities – sometimes we even get to meet them. They quietly get on with their work with great commitment, and rarely make the news – although they should! It’s a real tonic to know that people are working selflessly throughout the National Park (and beyond) just to make things better for their neighbours, visitors and the local environment. These are real changemakers and they improve quality of life for all of us.
We have continued to support a wide range of community and heritage projects as you’ll read below, and there has been a continuing strong focus on energy efficiency this year. We are all working to deliver the vision and actions set out in Y Bannau – The Future, the National Park Management Plan, with a key aim being to reduce energy use and emissions. We were delighted to be awarded a Shared Prosperity Fund grant funded by the UK Government through Powys County Council during the year to enhance the energy efficiency of community buildings. This will support energy audits, implementation support and installation – more on this next year!
Thanks are due to everyone involved in making this Fund the success it is – first and foremost the inspiring volunteers and leaders in our National Park communities. I am also grateful to my fellow National Park SDF Committee Members and the Grants Advisory Panel – their skills and expertise are invaluable. Our dedicated Officer team supports Fund applicants at every stage and their encouragement is appreciated as you’ll read below.
I hope you enjoy reading about the work undertaken by our National Park communities in 2023-24 – we are delighted to play a small part in supporting them.
Councillor Peter Baldwin
Sustainable Development Fund Chair