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The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) is delighted to announce the renewal of its strategic partnership with Cadw, the Welsh Government’s Historic Environment Division.
Thanks to a generous new one-year funding package of £500,000 from Cadw, the AHF will be able to continue the delivery of its grants programme in Wales in 2025/26. As part of the programme, early-stage Project Viability and Project Development Grants, as well as a small number of modest Capital Works Grants, will be available to support heritage-regeneration projects across the country.
In the last two years, thanks to the support of Cadw, the AHF was able to award 58 grants totalling £941,170. These included a Project Viability Grant to Capel Prion to develop plans to transform Prion Methodist Chapel into three affordable homes; a Project Development Grant to Hay Castle Trust to support plans to restore the coach house and outbuildings at Hay Castle as holiday accommodation and affordable retail/craft maker spaces; and a Capital Works Grant for Haverfordwest Heritage Ltd’s Temperance Hall project, which will see the building brought back into public use as a community printworks.
Images: Hay Castle Coach House, Hay-on-Wye and Temperance Hall, Haverfordwest.
With this new funding agreement for 2025/26, the AHF looks forward to continuing its successful partnership with Cadw over the next year and investing in more historic building reuse projects across Wales, making a difference in areas of need, both rural and urban.
Matthew Mckeague, Chief Executive of The Architectural Heritage Fund, said: “Recently I have been on a visit to Haverfordwest with Cadw and other partners to look at how projects are being supported through our partnership. So, we are very pleased to announce the extension of our valued strategic partnership, which will enable us to continue supporting charities and social enterprises across Wales, providing them with guidance and funding to help them reuse historic buildings for their communities.
“We would like to say a huge thank-you to Cadw for this renewed investment. We look forward to seeing what exciting new heritage and social impact projects we can support through this partnership over the next year.”
Welsh Government Culture Minister, Jack Sargeant, said: “I’m determined to ensure heritage is accessible to all and that everyone can benefit from our historic environment. So I’m proud that our partnership with the Architectural Heritage Fund means many community organisations will be able to access financial support to bring historic buildings back into use, helping them play a key role in the regeneration of cities, towns, and villages across Wales.
“The funded projects support a wide range of buildings and themes, including the restoration of listed buildings to be used for affordable housing and low-carbon education and enterprise facilities. Our historic environment in Wales is a vital part of our shared cultural landscape and has the power to transform lives for communities across Wales.”
Some projects are already benefitting from this support, including the New Star Hotel in Cwmgors, Neath Port Talbot. Awel Aman Tawe is a community energy charity committed to tackling the climate emergency. It has breathed new life into the former Cwmgors primary school to create Hwb y Gors – a pioneering low carbon arts, education and enterprise hub. For its next project, the charity now plans to reopen the vacant New Star Hotel, built around 1883, offering a community pub on the ground floor. The upper floors will be used as accommodation for students and tutors of sustainable development courses at Hwb y Gors, as well as tourists, schools and walking groups. The AHF has awarded Awel Aman Tawe a Cadw-funded Project Viability Grant to commission an architect to develop its plans to the end of RIBA Stage 2.
Meanwhile, the Bardsey Island Trust has been awarded a Capital Works Grant towards emergency roof repairs to Tŷ Nesaf and Tŷ Bach. Together, these buildings, which date back to circa 1870-75, form a Grade II-listed, semi-detached farmhouse. While Tŷ Bach is the property used by the resident Wardens, Tŷ Nesaf had once served as holiday rental for visitors to the island. Due to its poor condition, however, the building no longer allowed for this use. Tŷ Nesaf has been identified by the Trust as the key to unlocking the potential of future building restoration projects on the island. Once repaired, it will serve as the location for contractors to stay when undertaking major building works. When not being used for contractors, it will be available for holiday rentals once again.
More details about AHF support in Wales
Early-stage grants in Wales have proven useful in helping charities and social enterprises seeking to secure a future for buildings at risk to shape their projects. Funding can, for example, help groups to test the relevance of proposed uses to the local community; develop a business case; establish the building's condition and costs of repair; and carry out architectural feasibility studies. Applications for Project Viability Grants (up to £15,000) and Project Development Grants (up to £30,000) can be submitted throughout the year. See the deadlines page for the details.
A very small number of Capital Works Grants are also available to help projects in Wales cover the cost of repair, restoration and conservation work and associated fees. These might support emergency works to arrest deterioration to the historic fabric or develop temporary ‘meanwhile’ uses while long-term solutions are worked up or as part of a larger scale of capital works.
For more information and guidance about the AHF’s grants in Wales, please visit: https://ahfund.org.uk/grants/wales/
The AHF also provides tailored social investment loan finance with competitive terms to support not-for-profit organisations working on or based in historic buildings across the UK. This funding helps organisations bring heritage buildings back into sustainable use, supporting regeneration, community benefit and long-term resilience. For more details, visit: https://ahfund.org.uk/loans/our-loan-funds/
Mae’r Gronfa Treftadaeth Bensaernïol wrth ei bodd yn cyhoeddi ei bod yn adnewyddu ei phartneriaeth strategol â Cadw, is-adran yr amgylchedd hanesyddol Llywodraeth Cymru.
Diolch i becyn ariannu newydd hael o £500,000 am flwyddyn gan Cadw, bydd y Gronfa Treftadaeth Bensaernïol yn gallu parhau i gyflwyno ei rhaglen grantiau yng Nghymru yn 2025/26. Fel rhan o’r rhaglen, bydd grantiau Hyfywedd Prosiect a Datblygu Prosiect cyfnod cynnar, yn ogystal â nifer fach o grantiau Gwaith Cyfalaf cymharol fach, ar gael i gefnogi prosiectau adfywio treftadaeth ledled y wlad.
Yn ystod y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf, diolch i gefnogaeth Cadw, llwyddodd y Gronfa Treftadaeth Bensaernïol i ddyfarnu 58 o grantiau gwerth cyfanswm o £941,170. Roedd y rhain yn cynnwys Grant Hyfywedd Prosiect i Gapel Prion i ddatblygu cynlluniau i drawsnewid Capel Methodistaidd Prion yn dri cartref fforddiadwy; Grant Datblygu Prosiect i Ymddiriedolaeth Castell y Gelli i gefnogi cynlluniau i adfer y tŷ coets fel llety gwyliau fforddiadwy ac adeiladau eraill yng Nghastell y Gelli fel mannau manwerthu / crefftwyr; a Grant Gwaith Cyfalaf ar gyfer prosiect Neuadd Ddirwest gan Dreftadaeth Hwlffordd Cyf, a fydd yn gweld yr adeilad yn cael ei ddefnyddio gan y cyhoedd eto fel argraffdy cymunedol.
Delweddau: Tŷ Coets Castell y Gelli, Gelli’r Gandryll a Neuadd Ddirwest, Hwlffordd.
Gyda’r cytundeb ariannu newydd hwn ar gyfer 2025/26, mae’r Gronfa Treftadaeth Bensaernïol yn edrych ymlaen at barhau â’i phartneriaeth lwyddiannus â Cadw dros y flwyddyn nesaf a buddsoddi mewn mwy o brosiectau ailddefnyddio adeiladau hanesyddol ledled Cymru, gan wneud gwahaniaeth mewn ardaloedd gwledig a threfol sydd eu hangen.
Dywedodd Matthew Mckeague, Prif Weithredwr y Gronfa Treftadaeth Bensaernïol: “Yn diweddar rydw i wedi ymweld â Hwlffordd gyda Cadw a phartneriaid eraill i edrych ar sut mae prosiectau’n cael eu cefnogi drwy ein partneriaeth. Felly, rydym yn falch iawn o gyhoeddi estyniad ein partneriaeth strategol werthfawr, a fydd yn ein galluogi i barhau i gefnogi elusennau a mentrau cymdeithasol ledled Cymru, gan roi arweiniad a chyllid iddynt i’w helpu i ailddefnyddio adeiladau hanesyddol ar gyfer eu cymunedau.
“Hoffem ddiolch yn fawr iawn i Cadw am y fuddsoddiad o’r newydd yn y prosiect hwn. Edrychwn ymlaen at weld pa brosiectau treftadaeth ac effaith gymdeithasol newydd cyffrous y gallwn eu cefnogi drwy’r bartneriaeth hon dros y flwyddyn nesaf.”
Dywedodd Gweinidog Diwylliant Llywodraeth Cymru, Jack Sargeant: “Rwy’n benderfynol o sicrhau bod treftadaeth yn hygyrch i bawb a bod pawb yn gallu cael budd o’n hamgylchedd hanesyddol. Felly rwy’n falch bod ein partneriaeth â’r Gronfa Treftadaeth Bensaernïol yn golygu y bydd llawer o sefydliadau cymunedol yn gallu cael cymorth ariannol i adnewyddu adeiladau hanesyddol i’w defnyddio o’r newydd, gan eu helpu i chwarae rhan allweddol yn adfywio dinasoedd, trefi a phentrefi ledled Cymru.
“Mae’r prosiectau a ariennir yn cefnogi ystod eang o adeiladau a themâu, gan gynnwys gwaith adfer adeiladau rhestredig i’w defnyddio ar gyfer tai fforddiadwy a chyfleusterau addysg a menter carbon isel. Mae ein hamgylchedd hanesyddol yng Nghymru yn rhan hanfodol o’r dirwedd ddiwylliannol a rannwn ac mae ganddo’r pŵer i drawsnewid bywydau cymunedau ledled Cymru.”
Mae rhai prosiectau eisoes yn elwa o’r gefnogaeth hon, gan gynnwys Gwesty’r Seren Newydd yng Nghwm-gors, Castell-nedd Port Talbot. Mae Awel Aman Tawe yn elusen ynni gymunedol sydd wedi ymrwymo i fynd i’r afael â’r argyfwng hinsawdd. Mae wedi rhoi bywyd newydd i hen ysgol gynradd Cwm-gors i greu Hwb y Gors – canolfan arloesol ar gyfer y celfyddydau, addysg a menter carbon isel. Ar gyfer ei phrosiect nesaf, mae’r elusen bellach yn bwriadu ailagor gwesty gwag y Seren Newydd, a adeiladwyd tua 1883, gan gynnig tafarn gymunedol ar y llawr daear. Bydd y lloriau uchaf yn cael eu defnyddio fel llety i fyfyrwyr a thiwtoriaid cyrsiau datblygu cynaliadwy yn Hwb y Gors, yn ogystal â thwristiaid, ysgolion a grwpiau cerdded. Mae’r Gronfa Treftadaeth Bensaernïol wedi dyfarnu Grant Hyfywedd Prosiect a ariennir gan Cadw i Awel Aman Tawe i gomisiynu pensaer i ddatblygu ei gynlluniau hyd at ddiwedd Cam 2 Sefydliad Brenhinol Penseiri Prydain.
Yn y cyfamser, dyfarnwyd Grant Gwaith Cyfalaf i Ymddiriedolaeth Ynys Enlli i gyfrannu tuag at atgyweiriadau brys i doeau Tŷ Nesaf a Tŷ Bach. Gyda’i gilydd, mae’r adeiladau hyn, sy’n dyddio’n ôl i tua 1870-1875, yn ffurfio ffermdy pâr dan yr unto rhestredig gradd II. Er mai Tŷ Bach yw’r eiddo a ddefnyddir gan y wardeiniaid preswyl, roedd Tŷ Nesaf ar un adeg yn llety gwyliau i ymwelwyr â'r ynys. Fodd bynnag, oherwydd ei gyflwr gwael, nid oedd yr adeilad yn caniatáu cael ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer hyn mwyach. Mae Tŷ Nesaf wedi cael ei nodi gan yr ymddiriedolaeth fel yr allwedd i ryddhau potensial o brosiectau gwaith adfer adeiladau yn y dyfodol ar yr ynys. Ar ôl ei atgyweirio, bydd yn lleoliad i gontractwyr aros ynddo wrth iddynt ymgymryd â gwaith adeiladu mawr. Pan na fydd yn cael ei ddefnyddio gan gontractwyr, bydd ar gael i’w rhentu ar gyfer gwyliau unwaith eto.
Mwy o fanylion am gefnogaeth y Gronfa Treftadaeth Bensaernïol yng Nghymru
Mae grantiau cyfnod cynnar yng Nghymru wedi profi’n ddefnyddiol wrth helpu elusennau a mentrau cymdeithasol i lunio eu prosiectau sy’n ceisio sicrhau dyfodol i adeiladau sydd mewn perygl. Gall cyllid, er enghraifft, helpu grwpiau i brofi pa mor berthnasol yw’r defnydd arfaethedig i’r gymuned leol; datblygu achos busnes; sefydlu cyflwr yr adeilad a chostau atgyweirio; a chynnal astudiaethau dichonoldeb pensaernïol. Gellir cyflwyno ceisiadau am Grantiau Hyfywedd Prosiect (hyd at £15,000) a Grantiau Datblygu Prosiect (hyd at £30,000) drwy gydol y flwyddyn. Gweler y dudalen dyddiadau cau am y manylion.
Mae nifer fach iawn o Grantiau Gwaith Cyfalaf hefyd ar gael i helpu prosiectau yng Nghymru i dalu cost gwaith atgyweirio, gwaith adfer a chadwraeth a’r ffioedd cysylltiedig. Gallai’r rhain gefnogi gwaith brys i atal dirywiad i’r adeiladwaith hanesyddol neu ddatblygu defnydd dros dro ‘yn y cyfamser’ tra bod atebion hirdymor yn cael eu datblygu neu fel rhan o waith cyfalaf ar raddfa fwy.
Am ragor o wybodaeth ac arweiniad ynghylch grantiau’r Gronfa Treftadaeth Bensaernïol yng Nghymru, ewch i: https://ahfund.org.uk/grants/wales/
Mae’r Gronfa Treftadaeth Bensaernïol hefyd yn darparu cyllid benthyciadau buddsoddi cymdeithasol wedi’i deilwra gyda thelerau cystadleuol i gefnogi sefydliadau nid-er-elw sy’n gweithio ar adeiladau hanesyddol ledled y DU neu mewn adeiladau o’r fath. Mae’r cyllid hwn yn helpu sefydliadau i ddefnyddio adeiladau treftadaeth o’r newydd yn gynaliadwy, gan gefnogi adfywio, budd cymunedol a chydnerthedd hirdymor. Am fwy o fanylion, ewch i: https://ahfund.org.uk/loans/our-loan-funds/
