Examples of Social Enterprises and Community Projects
Listed below are examples of projects and social enterprises on Anglesey and Gwynedd that agree with SAIL’s vision. If you are involved with a project or enterprise that you would like have included in our list then please contact post@sail.cymru
The community bought Y Pengwern hotel and pub in Llan Ffestiniog and the community enterprise has run the business succesfully for a decade so far. Y Pengwern has proved itself as a locally important social and cultural asset and also as a valuable economic asset which employs 11 workers, with a high proportion of the generated income circulating locally.
A Society for Community benefit which has succeeded in buying a building in the centre of the town of Nefyn with shares held by over 500 people. Building work has started with the intention of opening a cafe, bar and accommodation in the near future.
Menter y Plu has bought and runs Tafarn y Plu, Llanystumdwy as a community enterprise and provides community Services.
Caban Cysgu offers comfortable, purpose-built accommodation in Snowdonia at the foot of the Carneddau in the Welsh-speaking village of Gerlan. A warm welcome is guaranteed at this community run bunkhouse.
Llety arall provides accommodation in the heart of the community for tourists and fellow countrymen who wish to experience the heritage, cultural and unique linguistic nature of Caernarfon.. There are a variety of accommodation options within the building that can be adapted for groups of visitors, offering a simple feel but personal style and service at a reasonable price.
The norm in our society is to see dependence on public funds and introverted for-profit businesses. If we believe in creating an innovative and fair Wales, we believe that we have to turn this on its head and create a model that is independent of public funds and cooperative in the way we work. We use local products and labor in everything we do. The aim of all this is the development of Caernarfon town economically and culturally.
The community bought Siop Griffiths in 2016, after raising £53,000 to buy the empty building. Fast turning into a ruin, after three years of hard work, talking with the community, and applications, the first phase of the project - Caffi Yr Orsaf - has opened. With money from Europe and Cyngor Gwynedd, and with over 1,000 hours of volunteering to clear, clean, paint and prepare the building, the cafe opened in February. By the end of the year the Digital Centre and Accommodation will be open, joining the family of initiatives run by Siop Griffiths Cyf, a Community Benefit Society.
Antur 'Stiniog is not for profit a social enterprise. It was established in June 2007, having received pledges of support from more than 2000 local residents, each sharing the same vision: “To develop the potential of the Outdoor Sector in the Ffestiniog area in a sustainable and innovative way for the benefit of the local residents and economy”. Antur 'Stiniog aims to realise this vision through a number of exciting projects which vary from enjoyment and training in the sector to developing a series of Mountain bike trails in the area.
In the Ffestiniog area there is a community of vibrant and successful social enterprise and businesses, including Antur Stiniog, Trawsnewid, Seren, Pengwern Cymunedol, CellB, Gwallgofiaid, GISDA, Dref Werdd, Ysgol Y Moelwyn, Opra Cymru, Deudraeth cyf, Caban Bach Barnados, Cyfeillion Croesor and so on.
These enterprises offer countless opportunities. Many of them aim to tackle local issues head on while also contributing creatively and sustainably to the future of the area. They have come together in order to cooperate for the benefit of the whole area, under the parasol of a social enterprise company, called Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog to offer sustainable opportunities in the area. Opportunities ranging from the creative, care, environment, building and sustainable tourism sector. Real support, enjoyment, training and career opportunities closer to home.
The aims of Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog are to:
- Promote cooperation between community enterprises in the area.
- Improve cooperation between community enterprises, charities, voluntary bodies, and public and private agencies operating in the area.
- Support and promote the growth and development of existing enterprises.
- Increase the participation of the community and promote community activity and enterprise.
- Initiate, nurture and promote new ventures in the area.
- Contribute to the development of individuals as well as to the economic, environmental, social, cultural and educational development of the area.
Partneriaeth Ogwen is a social enterprise working for the benefit of the economy, environment and communities of Dyffryn Ogwen.
As a Social Enterprise we:
- Provide clerking services for the local Community Councils
- Develop community, economic and environmental regeneration projects
- Manage properties & develop community assest transfer projects
- Support projects that create a healthy, vibrant and sustainable community
Partneriaeth Ogwen was established in 2013, through innovative collaboration by Bethesda, Llanllechid and Llandygai Community Councils to provide a clerking service to the 3 councils and develop community projects.
Since it’s establishment, we have opened the Ogwen office and Siop Ogwen on Bethesda High Street. We also manage properties including flats, businesses and the Dyffryn Ogwen Community Library. We have also developed environmental projects and led on the development of the highly acclaimed Ynni Ogwen community hydro scheme.
Antur Aelhaearn is the oldest Community Industrial Providence Society in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1974. We are proud of this fact and that the company is rooted in the community that it serves. Since 1974 the Antur have been committed to delivering economic, social and environmental support for the community that it serves. The Antur has 170 members most of whom live in the village of Llanaelhaearn. Whilst each member has a voting right the venture is run by a Board of Trustees (y ‘Senedd’). The Antur is an Industrial Provident Society with charitable status and is formally constituted and represented by the Senedd.
Several ventures have been developed within the Antur’s building over the years. We continue to support local businesses by offering a convenient and economic location for them within the unit. Our hope is that, going forward towards Antur’s fiftieth birthday, Babell chapel will be developed in accordance with the wishes of the community, continue to support local services such as the playing fields and village hall, create a health and well-being village through developments such as the dementia garden, create opportunities for local businesses within the Antur’s building, and continue to look for opportunities to participate in the renewable energy revolution. If you would like to get in touch and have a chat about the units and the wider work of Antur please find the contact details below.
Llyr ap Rhisiart (chairman) moelfrefawr@gmail.com 01758 750 596
Lynda Cox (secretary) Lynda.cox@llanaelhaearn.com 01759 750 474
Dolan is a new partnership network that includes representation from the communities of Ffestiniog, Ogwen and Nantlle and is funded by the Welsh Government through the Foundational Economy Challenge fund. Leading the project are Partneriaeth Ogwen, Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog and Yr Orsaf, Penygroes. Our aim is to redirect the benefits of the foundational economy to serve our communities.
Ynni Ogwen Cyf is a community benefit company operating for the environmental and social benefit of Dyffryn Ogwen. The principal objective of the community benefit company Ynni Ogwen Cyf. is to produce electricity from a sustainable source, namely hydroelectric power from Afon Ogwen. The surplus income generated will be transferred to a community fund, which will be set up to fund other environmental and community projects within Dyffryn Ogwen.”
The former quarry village of Nant Gwrtheyrn is completely unique. This magical valley bursts with history and culture, where over 30,000 learners have attended Welsh language courses. Nant Gwrtheyrn offers one of the best views in Wales, coastal and forestry walks, where you will see nature at its best. In this special valley you really will get a taste of Welsh culture and history.
The Iorwerth Arms is a community owned and run pub that was saved from closure and demolition through community action in 2015. It is now a successful not for profit pub run by unpaid Directors as a community hub for the Bryngwran area. Since becoming a community owned pub – the last and only retail business in the village – the Iorwerth Arms has won a number of prestigious awards (Wales Start Up Award Finalist 2016 and Welsh and British Best Rural Pub winner, Countryside Alliance Awards 2019). The venture is now raising grant funding to convert the pub outbuildings into Business Units thereby providing jobs and services for the village and surrounds.