MP_AnnualReport201415

2014/2015 

annual report 

Meadow Prospect Annual Report 2014/15

meadow prospect 

part of the rct homes group 

winner of the business in the community 

‘responsible large business of the year award’ 

in 2014 and reaccreditation in 2015 

‘highly commended for building stronger 

communities’ in 2014 and 2015 

Meadow Prospect Annual Report 2014/15 

3

meadow prospect 

transforming your community 

Meadow Prospect is the charitable arm 

of RCT Homes, Wales’ largest social 

landlord and winner of Business in the 

Community ‘Responsible Large Business 

of the Year’ 2014 Award, which received 

reaccreditation in 2015. 

Meadow Prospect delivers regeneration 

projects that complement the 

organisation’s community enhancing 

goals by working with partner 

organisations to deliver projects, which 

support three core objectives: 

• Community capacity building projects 

including youth work and supported 

employment programmes 

• Community-based renewable energy 

projects. 

• Social enterprise development. 

We seek to achieve these priorities 

through a mix of match funded grant 

programmes. We work collaboratively 

with our responsible business partners 

to help them achieve their RB targets. 

We have developed our own social 

enterprise Grow Enterprise Wales (GrEW), 

which has given valuable work experience 

and accredited training to over 1,600 

people to date. 

Meadow Prospect Board 

Don Snow (Chair) 

Lynda Sagona (Vice Chair) 

Neil Snowden 

Simon Harris 

Andrew Lycett 

Malcolm Wilson 

Funding 

Meadow Prospect is funded by donations 

from RCT Homes' bank and supply 

chain partners as part of the Planned 

Maintenance Programme. In 2014/15 

it received over £58,000 worth of 

donations from supply chain partners, 

which are predominantly local businesses 

and SMEs. They have agreed to contribute 

a proportion of the value of their materials 

supplied to Meadow Prospect. At the end 

of the financial year, Meadow Prospect 

also received a charitable donation of 

£150,000 from Homeforce, the Group's 

trading company. 

In using this money, Meadow Prospect 

has made a significant contribution to the 

social and economic regeneration of the 

Rhondda Cynon Taff area and this report 

outlines some of the projects it has been 

involved with over the past 12 months. 

Meadow Prospect also seeks matchfunding 

from Welsh and Central 

Government and other charitable 

institutions and the private sector. 

Meadow Prospect also manages the 

Tower Fund on the behalf of Tower 

Colliery. This fund was set up in 2011 to 

provide help to four communities in the 

north of Rhondda Cynon Taff, where 

Tower has traditionally drawn its labour 

from. It expects to provide in excess of 

£3 million to communities over a six year 

period. 

4 Meadow Prospect Annual Report 2014/15

accounts 

2014/15 

Income: 

£762k 

Expended: 

£709k 

Assets: 

£1,124m 

Employees: 

11 

Meadow Prospect Annual Report 2014/15 5

esponsible business 

our plan, your future 

We are living in an ever changing world; 

new technologies, social media and 

emerging markets – so it’s time for a new 

kind of business. 

Engaging with our employees, customers 

and supply chain partners can maximise 

our resources which will meet both 

business objectives and community 

needs. Responsible Business Practice 

is becoming just as important to 

consumers as it is to businesses. Media 

hype has played a big part in developing 

consumers’ responsible business needs 

and demands. 

Being a sustainable and responsible 

business has become integral to the 

day-to-day running of our business. This 

approach can achieve real behavioural 

change and measurable social results. 

The way we do business is changing and 

we must not only think about the short 

term returns but also about building 

longer term sustainable businesses that 

create economic, environmental and 

social value. 

Meadow Prospect is working with 

businesses such as M. Delacey & Sons, 

LCB Construction, SERS and GE Aviation 

to integrate responsible business practice 

into the day-to-day running of their 

business. This approach helps them to 

meet their business objectives whilst 

protecting, sustaining and enhancing the 

wider community. We aim to help our 

clients to integrate this approach into 

their core practices and filter it through 

to their supply chain so that the business 

can operate in a more connected way. 

It’s about working in partnership to 

combat climate change, reduce waste, 

trade ethically, use sustainable raw 

materials, and improve health & wellbeing 

just to name a few. 

We focus on the BITC model which 

targets 4 key areas: 

• Your Workplace 

Promote an inspiring, supportive and 

dynamic workplace where employees 

will develop and thrive. 

• Your Marketplace 

Deliver a high quality service through 

strategic partnerships that will add 

value to the business, the supply chain 

and the community. 

• Your Environment 

Reduce environmental impact across 

the business in order to support the 

climate change agenda. 

• Your Community 

Support local community engagement, 

develop partnerships and add value to 

wider community projects. 


esponsible business 

projects overview 

Meadow Prospect and the RCT Homes 

Group have undertaken a number of 

Responsible Business projects in the 

last year. The estimated total value 

of contributions from both Meadow 

Prospect and its partners exceeds 

£360,000, which can be broken down 

as follows: 

Total value 

of contributions 

£ 363,430 

Rebates 

£202,000 

Cash donations 

£120,490 

Materials, 

volunteering time 

and labour 

£40,940 


7

Penygraig Regeneration Project 

As a committed member of the Business 

in the Community (BITC) Responsible 

Business Network, RCT Homes Group 

participates in Give & Gain Day. This is an 

annual staff volunteering day that takes 

place across the UK and internationally, 

where employees are able to give 

something back to the communities in 

which they live and work. 

Each year key projects are identified with 

the aim of creating a tangible and lasting 

difference to our communities in just one 

day. 

Give and Gain Day is an opportunity to 

develop relationships between numerous 

stakeholders, including our employees, 

tenants, as well as with our responsible 

business partners and local businesses. 

In 2014, RCT Homes Group and its 

responsible business partners joined 

forces with local shop traders of 

Penygraig to transform its town centre. 

With a rich valleys history, Penygraig has 

had its fair share of community spirit in 

the past. This regeneration project set out 

to help create and sustain a thriving town 

centre. 

On Friday 16th May 2014, a large number 

of volunteers donated their time, skills 

and materials to substantially transform 

the project within one day. 205 staff 

volunteers were involved in improving 

the visual appearance of the area, with 

activities including: 

• Installation of new shop front signage 

• Painting shop fronts 

• Planting and hanging baskets 

• Displaying new street signage 

• Small repairs to some shops 

• Clearance of bushes and overgrown 

areas 

• Improvements to outdoor spaces at 

local infants and junior schools 

Give & Gain Day was the launching pad 

for this long term commitment to help 

reverse its economic and social decline. 

An integrated set of activities saw further 

work undertaken in this community. The 

partnership with Valley Kids was integral 

to the success of this project. Valleys 

Kids is a Community and Family Hub 

providing youth, play and community 

development activities. They helped 

generate further ownership, responsibility 

and commitment to the project from 

the outset. Shop traders have since met 

on a regular basis to make collective 

decisions that benefit their community. 

The Penygraig Regeneration Group was 

formed with 12 local members and helps 

establish the priorities for the town centre 

and regeneration work. 

This group along with other shop traders 

has organised the town's first carnival to 

celebrate the success of this project. It 

has received community wide recognition 

with over 2,000 people attending the 

event. 

During Give & Gain Day 2014, an unused 

RCT Homes office was renovated to 

create a new drop-in centre and training 

facility. ‘The Exchange @ Penygraig’ is in 

the heart of the town centre and offers 

a range of services to the community. In 

particular, our digital inclusion project, 

The DO IT Project, has developed strong 

relationships with many shop traders. 

The team assists with various technology 

issues, as well as the administration the 

town centre’s social media page. RCT 

Homes continues to support and engage 

with shop traders and the Penygraig 

Regeneration Group to help sustain the 

project and assist with future plans. 


The key successes of the Penygraig 

Regeneration Project: 

• Approximately £85,000 invested 

through donations, materials and 

volunteering time 

• Strengthened relationships with 

strong network of businesses and RB 

partners 

• Supported RB partners in achieving 

their own RB agendas 

• Developed relationships with and 

between shop traders and community 

groups in Penygraig 

• Raised aspirations and confidence of 

shop traders and community 

• Improved appearance and 

perceptions of town centre 

• Changing attitudes towards local 

shopping 

• Volunteering opportunities for staff 

• Increase in staff morale and improves 

retention 

• Sustaining deliverable changes for 

the town centre – formulisation of 

Penygraig Regeneration Group. 

Key outcomes of Give and Gain Day 2014: 

• 96% said Give & Gain Day was either 

good, excellent or exceeded their 

expectations 

• 96% said they would be interested 

in volunteering through their company 

again 

• 96% said they feel the time required 

to participate as a volunteer was 

rewarded by the benefits of the 

experience 

• 77% said they developed skills 

through participating 

• 98% said it was important to them 

that their employer supported 

volunteering 

• 80% said their perception of the 

company they work for had improved 

as a result of employee volunteering 

• 80% said they feel more committed to 

their employer as a result of taking part 

• 69% of employees said the project 

improved the physical space 

• 32% of employees said the project 

will raise the aspirations of the 

beneficiaries. 

"This project is literally at the heart of the community of 

Penygraig. It has had a transformative effect on trading 

environment in Penygraig. The local schools have been inspired 

to get involved in the on-going regeneration of their own 

environment and the wider community and Valleys Kids has seen 

a significant upturn in community volunteering 

in our facilities." 

Richard Morgan 

Funding Director 

Valley Kids 


9

Partners Support Number of 

Volunteers 

Volunteering 

Hours 

Contribution 

Partners Support Number of 

Volunteers 

Volunteering 

Hours 

Contribution 

RCTCBC Social Services 

Department 

Time 10 48 £2,000 

EnviroVent 

Time, skill 

materials 

2 30 £2,000 

RCTCBC Communities 

First 

Time 10 15 £3,000 

GATC 

Time, skill, 

materials 

8 48 £1,960 

Quicksons 

Gerald Davies 

Time, skill 

materials 

Materials 

Time, skills 

10 60 £16,250 

- 

10 

- 

60 

£8,390 

£10,000 

RCT Homes 

Materials, skill 50 300 £21,800 

time & grant 

to Valleys Kids 

Costain Time, skill 2 60 £1,500 

M Delacey & Sons 

(Holdings) Ltd 

Time, skill 

materials 

8 226 £6,257 

The Co-operative 

Refreshments, 

time 

2 8 £500 

GE Aviation Wales 

Grant 

Time, skill 

- 

75 

- 

450 

£7,500 

£10,000 

Business Wales 

Time, 

knowledge 

2 2 

Jones Battye Time 2 8 £1,600 

4Matix Time 3 24 £334 

Welsh Government Time 10 10 £2,000 

Jasonic Ltd 

Materials, 

time, skill 

8 20 £1,250 

Santia Time 10 60 £2,000 

Labclass Time, skill 2 20 £500 

Monwel Signs 

Time, skill 

materials 

6 36 £3,500 

Cynon Taf Housing 

Group 

Time, skill, 

materials 

15 147 £2,735 

Watts Van and Truck 

Hire 

Vehicle, 

time, skill 

2 10 £350 

Forrest Traffic 

Management 

Time, skill, 

materials 

2 10 £1,000 

Total 249 1,652 £106,426 


Meadow Prospect Charity 

Golf Day 2014 

The Meadow Prospect Charity Golf Day 

2014 helped raise thousands of pounds, 

thanks to the generous contributions of 

twenty-seven local businesses. 

Our annual charity event, this year 

sponsored by Jasonic, was held at the 

Celtic Manor, July 7th, on the prestigious 

Twenty-Ten course. 

As well as each organisation sponsoring a 

hole on the 18 – hole course, the daylong 

event included a charity auction helping 

to boost the total amount raised to over 

£7,000. 

Seventeen businesses participated in the 

golf tournament and evening event, whilst 

a further ten businesses made generous 

donations to Meadow Prospect. 

Those that attended included RCT 

Homes’ supply chain contractors Jasonic, 

M Delacey & Sons, LCB Construction, 

Jefferies Decorating Services and 

EnviroVent. These businesses work 

closely with Meadow Prospect on a 

number of its projects. Meadow Prospect 

also assists with the development of their 

own responsible business agendas. 

During the evening event, Neil Evans from 

Ely Valley Miners Welfare Football Club, 

was able to explain first-hand the benefits 

of receiving a Meadow Prospect grant. 

Neil explained, “Meadow Prospect has 

provided not only grant assistance but 

has been invaluable in introducing further 

contacts to make the development of the 

Ely Valley Sports Park a reality”. 


11

These are the three steps that 

tenants are being support with 

Opening a bank account 

(Financial Inclusion) 

Getting online 

(Digital Inclusion) 

Budgeting a monthly 

payment (Financial 

Capability) 

Money Savers 

Meadow Prospect employs two money 

advisors, funded by RCT Homes, to 

provide money advice to those in need. 

From June 2011 to March 2015, Money 

Savers has supported 1,976 households 

and delivered financial outcomes 

totalling £1.342m. This equates to over 

£650 worth of savings per household. 

Money Savers has supported the delivery 

of RCT Homes ‘1, 2, 3…Ready! ‘Campaign, 

which is the second phase of the ‘Your 

Benefits Are Changing’ campaign in 

preparation of Universal Credit. 

In January 2015, Money Savers joined 

RCT Homes’ Tenancy Sustainability 

Services (STEPS) team. The two money 

advisors will work with tenants to help 

them manage their money and ultimately 

sustain their tenancies. 


Money Savers 

Sue Hoskins 

Clare Williams 


13

“I started from scratch and 

within a month or so I have 

now ordered my own laptop, 

having broadband installed and 

I’ve saved over £100 on my 

bills.” 

Reg Carey 

Penygraig 

DO IT Project 

The DO IT Project aims to help people 

learn how to get the best out of 

modern technology, build confidence 

and make technology help them in 

their everyday lives. To date it has 

assisted over 2,000 individuals to 

either get online or improve their 

digital skills. 

The project provides a range of services 

within our communities at local libraries, 

day centres and sheltered homes. 

Its services to RCT Homes’ sheltered 

homes in particular have helped combat 

social exclusion by extending the ways 

in which people can communicate with 

each other, using Skype, email and 

tablets for example. 

Its services include drop in sessions, 

1-to-1 sessions and CV workshops, which 

aim to meet the wide ranging needs 

of individuals. In particular, it has been 

able to help people save money when 

shopping online, with average savings 

of approximately £250 a year. 

With the support of computer recycling 

partners, the project has provided 

over 100 individuals with refurbished 

computers at affordable prices. It also 

provides support with minor repairs, 

technical problems and connectivity 

issues. 

Over the past 12 months, the project 

has secured funding from the Jobcentre 

to deliver Universal Credit sessions 

in preparation for its introduction in 

Wales. The DO IT Project and its Digital 

Inclusion Officers help deliver 11 sessions 

each month in job centres across 

Rhondda Cynon Taff. In one particular 

session, 15 individuals successfully 

opened a bank account, which is the 

first of three simple steps as part of 

the ‘1, 2, 3 Ready!’ campaign to prepare 

individuals for the benefit changes. 

In January 2015, the DO IT Project 

moved into RCT Homes’ Learning and 

Development team. Whilst the project 

will continue to deliver its existing 

community based activities and 

sessions, its internal focus is to offer 

digital training to staff that work out of 

the office within the community using 

mobile devices and tablets. This support 

intends to reduce the need for staff to 

return to the office, allowing them to 

more efficiently support our tenants. 

The Exchange @ Penygraig 

The DO IT Project is based in the 

heart of Penygraig town centre at 

‘The Exchange @ Penygraig’. In what 

was previously an unused RCT Homes 

office, The Exchange opened in May 

2014 during Give & Gain Day. 

It not only acts as drop in centre for 

the DO IT Project, but is also home to a 

host of other services including Meadow 

Prospect’s Energy & Renewables Advisor 

and social regeneration programmes 

including Ziggies and Go4it!, which offer 

the following services: 

• Computer help and training 

• Computer repairs and updates 

• Benefit and debt advice 

• Budgeting assistance 

• Help applying for grants 

• Energy saving advice 

• Energy supplier switching advice 

• Go4it! active family advice 

The Exchange has also held a number of 

other events including the Communities 

First Weekly Job Club and training 

workshops for frontline support staff at 

Rhondda Cynon Taff CBC. 

Since Give & Gain Day 2014, which was 

the launch of the Penygraig Regeneration 

Project, The Exchange and the DO IT 

Project have worked closely with the 

Penygraig Regeneration Group to help 

raise the profile and awareness of the 

high street through social media and 

local communications. Our Digital 

Inclusion Officers attend regular 

meetings with the group and also 

support shop traders with various digital 

and computer matters. 


The Exchange 

@ Penygraig 

Andrew Roberts 

Lauren Tait & 

Clare Williams 

Meadow Prospect Annual Report 2014/15 15

The key successes of this project 

to date include: 

Ziggies 

Ziggies is an after school club and proven 

family engagement tool benefitting 

children between the ages of 3 and 8. 

It seeks to provide parents with the 

confidence to encourage and support 

their children’s love of stories and 

physical literacy, irrespective of their own 

abilities or confidence levels. 

Ziggies recognises the need for a 

whole family approach and uses a peer 

mentoring programme delivered ‘by 

parents, to parents’. Parent-volunteers 

receive training, support and resources 

from the centrally employed Project Coordinators. 

This team continually develops 

templates of activities for weekly sessions, 

which equips parent volunteers with the 

ideas and tools needed to deliver to the 

other Ziggies families. 

The programme incorporates the Play 

to Learn concept in its activities and 

sessions to ensure that children have the 

opportunity to develop their physical 

literacy along with their literacy skills. 

Ziggies staff, along with officers from 

Sport Wales and Sport RCT, recognised 

its unique potential to help deliver Sport 

Wales’ aspirations for improving physical 

literacy. By adopting a similar approach 

towards developing its sessions, physical 

literacy has been incorporated through 

enjoyable and engaging physical games 

for both parents and children. 

Over the past 12 months, Ziggies has 

developed its strategy to expand 

the programme across Cardiff, RCT, 

Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot and 

Swansea. A number of delivery partners 

have been identified and a consortium 

proposal has been accepted by Sport 

Wales. A grant of £500,000 will allow 

Ziggies to employ a central delivery 

team, which in turn will support partners 

to deliver the Ziggies Programme in a 

number of schools within each of their 

geographical areas of interest. 

Delivery partners include: 

• RCT Homes (Lead organisation) 

• Cardiff City Foundation 

• Swansea City Community Trust 

• Monmouthshire housing 

• NPT Homes. 

As owners of the Ziggies trademark, RCT 

Homes will be responsible for developing 

the Ziggies product, supporting all 

delivery partners and expanding the 

programme. Its central delivery team will 

be responsible for all central programme 

administration and quality control, 

monitoring and reporting on information 

and producing evaluations based on 

feedback from delivery partners. 

• Recognised as ‘good practice’ by 

Estyn, Her Majesty's Inspectorate 

for Education and Training in 

Wales. 

• Increased parental engagement 

at the school in which Ziggies 

sessions are held. 

• Over 50 trained parent-volunteers. 

• Over 1000 people engaged 

through the project. 

• Over 100 families attended 

Ziggies Camp. 

• Over 25% of ‘grown ups’ attending 

are male. 

• 70% increase in families enjoying 

stories in the home. 

• Over 30 different sessions and 

activity templates available. 

• All trained volunteers have online 

access to Ziggies resources. 

“Ziggies is the best after 

school club we have ever 

run. Both parents and their 

children love it. Personally I 

love working with the team and 

the way Ziggies has increased 

parental involvement in my 

school.” 

Sue Belcher 

Head Teacher 

Maerdy Community Primary school 


Ziggies 

Pontygwaith 

Primary School 


17

Go4it! 

Go4it! joined Meadow Prospect in late 

2013, and has since worked in partnership 

with Grow Enterprise Wales and Ziggies 

to deliver a range of opportunities for 

families to access and participate in 

physical activity. The project seeks 

to identify and overcome the barriers 

that families face in completing regular 

exercise and accessing local physical 

activity sessions. 

In the past 12 months, its delivery team 

has expanded to include two event and 

activity coordinators, a dietitian and an 

advisory food trainer. The funding it has 

received from Sports Wales and Families 

First has enabled the project to offer a 

wider range of services that can support 

varying needs of families. 

Go4it! is able to help families in the 

following ways: 

• Help to pay for sports equipment and 

kit 

• Provide free taster sessions for families 

to try new activities in their locality 

• Provide free family cooking sessions 

• Provide in house coaching to give 

parents the confidence and knowledge 

to make lasting lifestyle changes. 

In early 2015, the project expanded its 

delivery to the community of Cae Fardre 

in Church Village. Jehu Group is the 

appointed contractor for RCT Homes’ 

multi-million pound development scheme 

in the area on the former Springfield 

Court site. As part of their responsible 

business commitments, they have 

funded the salary of the Go4it! Activity 

Coordinator for the development period. 

Go4it! has also developed a strong 

partnership with Cook Box Cymru to 

help deliver its healthy eating awareness 

programme. The aim of this programme is 

to educate families about the importance 

of healthy eating, as well as providing 

them with cooking skills to make 

healthier eating choices. To date, over 

100 families have been provided with a 

cook box containing the recipe and fresh 

ingredients required to produce a healthy 

meal that serves a family. 

The key successes of this project 

to date include: 

• 416 families signed up to Go4it! 

in the communities of Maerdy, 

Aberdare and Cae Fardre. 

• 40 families supported through 

‘sofa coaching’ at home. 

• 20 families engaged with its 

dietitian. 

• 234 families attended community 

cooking sessions. 

• 100% in confidence, motivation, 

physical activity and use of local 

facilities as a result of participation 

in free taster sessions. 

• Over 150 people signed to free 

mobile download to access 

information about local physical 

activity sessions. 

• Over 1,500 people have ‘tried 

something new’ as a result of 

Go4it! support. 


Go4It 

New caption?? 

Go4it! taster session 

in Church Village 

Laura Perry 

Go4it! Co-ordinator 


19

Action Camp 

Action Camps are designed for young 

people and families in deprived areas 

within RCT. With the support of 

our social enterprise, these events 

are delivered to promote aspects 

of education relating to sustainable 

development, global citizenship, health 

and wellbeing and skills development. 

In the last 12 months, Meadow Prospect 

has match funded the programme with 

£15,000. Action camps have been held at 

various locations across Wales, enabling 

families and individuals to benefit from 

tailored experiences. Each event and its 

activities are orientated towards meeting 

the specific needs of participants, 

including healthy eating, family 

engagement and physical activity. 

In 2014/15, over 80 individuals were 

engaged through action camps, whilst 

there are several events planned from 

April 2015. 

Community Enterprise 

Network 

From August 2013, Meadow Prospect 

delivered an 18-month enterprise support 

project designed for both individuals 

and groups. It identified and supported 

participants that were interested in 

learning more about how they could 

improve their community and develop 

their entrepreneurial interests. 

The Community Enterprise Network 

was funded by the European Regional 

Development Fund and supported by 

Welsh Government. Meadow Prospect 

employed Bernadette Jones (Business 

Mentor) and Rebekah Hewett (Network 

Development Worker) to deliver the 

project. 

They provided support by using coaching 

and mentoring methodologies that aid 

the development of each participant’s 

ambitions and goals, whilst encouraging 

them to become more entrepreneurial 

and economically active. The team would 

also refer individuals to organisations that 

could offer further or specialist support 

and advice. 

Work Placement Programme 

In February 2015, Meadow Prospect 

secured a £50,000 grant from The 

Department for Work and Pensions 

to deliver a 16-week employment 

support programme. Jobcentres from 

across Rhondda Cynon Taff referred its 

customers that had little or no workplace 

experiences, which had become their 

primary barrier to employment. 

Meadow Prospect offered these 

individuals a valuable period of experience 

in a work-based learning environment, 

enabling them to develop disciplines 

and skills associated with sustained 

employment. Work placements were 

sourced with the RCT Homes Group as 

well as with a number of local businesses 

including Edmundson Electrical, M 

Delacey and Sons (Holdings) Ltd, 

Cwmparc Community Association, Adref 

charity shop, Llanharan Community 

Centre and Age Cymru. 

The programme will continue through 

to May 2015. To date, it has signed up 

48 individuals, 18 of which are RCT 

Homes tenants. 

Game On 

The Game On programme is designed to 

use the power of football to encourage 

the regeneration of lives, communities 

and facilities in the former Coalfields 

areas. It not only encourages young 

people to take part in football but 

also motivates them to change their 

lives for the better, and increases their 

commitment and involvement in their 

communities. 

Meadow Prospect sponsors and funds 

the programme with £3,000 during 

2014/15; whilst the programme is 

supported by Comic Relief & Coalfields 

Regeneration Trust. Meadow Prospect 

is the main sponsor for its Annual Home 

Internationals event, which brings 

together young people from England, 

Scotland and Wales from former mining 

communities to participate in a friendly 

and competitive tournament. 

Following its completion in December 

2014, the project had engaged with 

almost 350 individuals and 

21 organisations through a variety of 

tailored workshops and personal sessions. 

This also resulted in the creation of 2 

social enterprises and improvements to 

the strategies and monitoring systems of 

7 established organisations. 


Cambrian & Clydach Vale 

Football Academy 

Cambrian & Clydach Vale Academy achievements: 

Since its formation in 2008, Cambrian & 

Clydach Vale Academy has established 

itself as a leading organisation in 

Rhondda Cynon Taff for personal 

development through football. 

The football academy provides positive 

learning environment and elite football 

training to young people. It develops and 

delivers the highest standard of coaching 

in RCT and as a result they produce 

players capable of reaching National 

honours. 

Meadow Prospect has supported the 

Cambrian & Clydach Vale Football 

Academy for the past 5 years with 

donations totalling £42,500, including 

£10,000 during 2014/15. This enables its 

coaches to obtain the UEFA coaching 

licenses and maintain its high standards 

of coaching throughout its growing 

number of teams. In fact, the academy 

has increased the number of qualified 

coaches by 21 individuals since 2013 to 

help run its 15 teams ranging from under 

7s to under 19s. 

• Elite Football Provision for young 

players in RCT. 

• A uniquely developed coaching and 

playing philosophy. 

• Opportunities for young players to 

further develop their talents with 

links to professional clubs. 

• Opportunities for young people 

to play football across Wales and 

experience international football. 

• Number of young people accessing 

trial process to engage with the 

programme has trebled since its 

formation. Over 400 boys trialled 

for the 7 competitive age groups 

and 84 girls in its two competitive 

age groups. 

• Academy has played over 200 

games across Wales and South 

West of England; increasing its 

opportunities and profile at both 

national and international levels. 

• Formed positive partnership 

with RCT Tigers who run football 

activities for disabled young 

learners. 

• Supported 5 work experience 

placements for aspiring coaches 

with local schools. 

• Delivered 2 Continuous Professional 

Development workshops for its 

coaches. 

• Maintained its 96% audit score in 

2014, demonstrating its strategy 

meets UEFA / FAW standards for 

‘growing the game’ in Wales. 

• The only academy in Wales to 

qualify each of its age groups to 

compete at the knockout stages of 

the FAW Academy Cup. 

• 10 teams reached the semi-finals 

of various national tournaments. 

5 teams were winners in their 

respective competitions. 

• Semi-finalists in 4 competitions. 

finalists in 2 competitions, winners in 

5 competitions. 

• Investment in a new state of the 

art 3G facility has supported 

the academy’s commercial 

opportunities, providing an all-yearround 

community facility. 


21

Energy & Renewables 

Our Group Renewables and Energy 

Advisor provides support across the 

RCT Homes Group developing and coordinating 

energy-saving and renewable 

energy initiatives. 

Solar PV Programme 

In 2013, 457 Solar PV systems were 

successfully installed across RCT Homes’ 

stock as part of the first phase of the 

programme. 

The second phase will commence in 

August 2015, which will see a further 

2,500-3,000 properties benefit from 

this form of renewable energy, achieving 

potential savings of up to £375 each 

year per property. This phase will 

operate an improved tenant liaison 

and communication strategy based 

on feedback from the first phrase of 

installations. 

Capco Energy is the appointed installer 

and will source labourers from Grow 

Enterprise Wales in order to up-skill 

and provide work experience for local 

people. A training programme is set to 

be established, which will see individuals 

trained and suitably qualified to install 

and maintain the systems. 

New Builds 

RCT Homes completed 4 pilot new builds 

in August 2013 complete with air source 

heat pumps and built to Sustainable 

Homes Code 4, with EPC rating B. 

Our new tenants have identified 

significant decreases in fuel costs, 

compared to both UK household averages 

and the homes they previously occupied. 

All three tenants reported that they are 

delighted with the level of comfort in their 

new homes and are particularly relieved 

at the notable decrease in energy costs. 

On average, their energy bills are 44% 

cheaper than the UK average. 

A further 37 units are currently being 

built in the area; all of which will be built 

to Sustainable Homes Code 4 with Air 

Source Heat Pumps. 

Additionally, Solar PV systems will 

be incorporated into RCT Homes’ 

developments at the International Sports 

Village Site in Cardiff Bay. Renewable 

energy will be used to power the 

communal areas of its apartments. 

A summary of our renewable installations 

to date: 

• 523 solar PV systems across the stock; 

• 210 solar thermal home installations 

across the stock; 

• 1 commercial solar thermal systems 

(sheltered complexes); 

• 5 commercial solar PV systems 

(sheltered complexes); 

• 5 air source heat pumps. 

Energy Behaviour in the community 

Meadow Prospect secured £10,000 

for the second year running from the 

Department of Energy and Climate 

Change. This funding helped deliver an 

extensive programme of outreach to help 

vulnerable members of the community 

to reduce their energy costs. Over 200 

people benefitted from the programme 

saving up to £24,000. The largest saving 

identified for one household was £556. 

Meadow Prospect also hosted a frontline 

worker energy trainer event, which 

engaged over 30 frontline workers 

across various sectors, ensuring they 

were equipped with the knowledge when 

engaging with tenants and people in our 

communities. 


Green Team 

The Green Team consists of a group of 

individuals from across the RCT Homes 

Group that come together to plan and 

work on initiatives that improve the 

business’ environmental performance. 

The Green Team has continued its success 

in tackling green business activities since 

2012. 

The achievements so far include: 

• Power Down initiative: 

Encourages energy saving in the office 

and around the home. 

• Binless Office: 

Our office recycling campaign aims 

to reduce the amount of waste sent 

to landfill. Central recycling points 

have been established throughout 

the business and regular 

communications are sent to staff 

to offer recycling guidance and 

to promote the environmental 

importance of recycling. 

• Cycle facilities and activities: 

The established storage and changing 

facilities in Ty Pennant allow numerous 

employees to cycle to work and 

participate in group social activities. 

Environmental Management 

We are currently developing an 

Environmental Management Strategy, 

which will help us to assess our 

strengths and weaknesses. It will also 

help us identify and manage significant 

impacts, secure cost savings and internal 

efficiencies, provide benchmarks for 

improvements and intended benefits and 

helps to keep track of progress. 

Meadow Prospect will continue to 

investigate the opportunities to establish 

new energy-related ventures cross the 

communities within RCT. 

"A well organised and informative day, 

with excellent interaction with attendees. 

The trainers where very informative and 

had a wide range of knowledge.” 

Lyn Williams 

RCT CBC – Housing Energy Officer 

Attendee at the Frontline Worker Energy Training Event 


23

“I wouldn’t have been offered the job as a catering 

assistant in schools across Rhondda Cynon Taff 

without having my driving licence, and I thank Barrie 

from the GrEW Driving School for all his patience and 

professionalism.” 

The key successes of the 

project are: 

Melissa Hooper, 

Tower Fund Volunteer 

GrEW Driving School 

At the start of 2013, Meadow Prospect 

and its social enterprise Grow Enterprise 

Wales (GrEW) teamed up with Griffin 

Mill Garages to form a driving school that 

provides volunteers and trainees with 

the opportunity to learn to drive, and 

obtain a driving license. In its first year, 

43 individuals benefitted from free 

lessons, with 5 successfully passing their 

driving test. 

The GrEW driving school has continued 

to clock up the miles, now totalling over 

45,000 miles, by delivering around 20 

driving lessons each week. In the last 12 

months the school has helped 21 GrEW 

trainees and volunteers pass their test, 

with another 40 individuals receiving 

lessons or awaiting to take their test. 

• Provided 68 individuals with free 

driving lessons since January 

2014; a total of 116 individuals 

since its launch in 2013. 

• 95% of GrEW volunteers or 

trainees that have received 

driving lessons and successfully 

passed their driving test have 

subsequently found employment, 

further education or volunteering 

opportunity. 

• 13 individuals that have 

successfully passed their test 

have gained full time employment 

with Grow Enterprise Wales; 

either as office staff, apprentices 

or operatives that work on 

commercial contracts for RCT 

Homes and external partners. 

• Improve the employability of 

younger people in the community. 

• Increasing the prospects for more 

young people to find and sustain 

employment throughout RCT and 

other areas in South Wales. 

• Higher average placement 

duration for volunteers that 

receive driving lessons. 

• Developed strong relationship 

with local business and car 

dealership, Griffin Mill Garages. 


Melissa Hooper, 

Tower Fund Volunteer 


25

grants 

Meadow Prospect and Tower Fund offer 

community grants to support the regeneration 

of disadvantaged communities. As part of the 

submissions process, applicants are encouraged to 

seek matched funding. 

The following tables give a complete list of the community projects 

Meadow Prospect and Tower Fund have supported through their 

respective grant programmes in 2014/15. 


Meadow Prospect Grant 

Meadow Prospect grants are awarded to 

initiatives that: 

• Make a difference in the community 

• Support learning and development 

projects, improving employment 

• Offer sporting opportunities to 

young people and other groups in 

disadvantaged areas 

• Tackle health and wellbeing projects 

such as healthy eating, substance 

misuse etc 

• Tackle renewable energy and/or 

address fuel poverty 

• Assist new social enterprises to 

become established and offer 

employment opportunities. 

Applicant 

Amount 

Requested 

Match 

Funding 

Amount 

Awarded 

Ramoth Christian Centre £4,126.00 £14,100.26 £4,126.00 

Llanharan Recreation Ground £7,000.00 £50,000 £5,000.00 

Glyncoch Community 

Regeneration Ltd 

£17,179.00 £17,179.00 £10,000.00 

Mountain Ash YMCA £3,911.00 £500.00 £7,081.79 

Tylorstown Welfare Hall 

Association 

£2,700 £0.00 £6,750.00 

Breezes Gym £8,000 £8,000 £8,000 

Total £42,916 £89,779.26 £40,957.79 

Penderyn 

Applicant 

Amount 

Requested 

Match 

Funding 

Amount 

Awarded 

Penderyn Historical Society £1,800.00 £828.00 £828.00 

Penderyn Community Centre £500.00 £500.00 £500.00 

Clochdar £4,000.00 £1,700.00 £4,000.00 

Tower Fund Grants 

The Tower Fund is a pot of money 

available to the communities of Hirwaun, 

Penderyn, Rhigos and Penywaun in 

the Cynon valley. The fund supports 

community projects – from social 

enterprises, ‘green’ energy schemes and 

training opportunities to youth projects. 

As part of it’s commitment to support 

other former mining communities in South 

Wales, there is also the ‘Common Fund’. 

Penderyn Primary School £0.00 Donation £200.00 

Penderyn Sports and Social 

Association 

£5,400.00 £0.00 £5,400.00 

Penderyn Community Centre £0.00 Donation £500.00 

Penderyn Primary School £0.00 Donation £200.00 

Penderyn Sports Association £4,848.00 £0.00 £1,000.00 

Total £16,548.00 £3,028.00 £12,628.00 


27

Hirwaun 

Penywaun 

Applicant 

Amount 

Requested 

Match 

Funding 

Amount 

Awarded 

Hirwaun YMCA £1,778.00 £1,778.00 £1,778.00 

Cefn Don Allotments Society £8,000.00 £5,500.00 £2,500.00 

Hirwaun and Mackworth FC £9,577.90 £0.00 £9,577.90 

Hirwaun Scout Group £1,450.00 £1,423.00 £1,450.00 

Action for Hirwaun £3,000.00 £5,000.00 £3,000.00 

Pippa's Dance Group £250.00 £250.00 £250.00 

Hirwaun RFC £11,500.00 £0.00 £9,584.93 

HIRWAUN Primary School £0.00 Donation £200.00 

Hirwaun Drum Majors £14,948.00 £0.00 £8,000.00 

Hirwaun Short Mat Bowls £2,630.00 £0.00 £2,630.00 

Hirwaun Medical Centre £540.00 £0.00 £540.00 

Hirwaun Sports FC £500.00 £0.00 £100.00 

Hirwaun Football Club £1,349.70 £0.00 £100.00 

Pippa's Dance Crew £480.00 £0.00 £480.00 

Mountain Ash Fly-fishing Club £9,000.00 £9,000.00 £9,000.00 

Hirwaun Bowls Club £959.93 £1,300.00 ££735.60 

Hirwaun Sports Associatio £60,000.00 £25,000.00 £60,000.00 

Ramoth Chapel £4,100.00 £22,352.00 £4,100.00 

Hirwaun Allotment Society £9,624.50 £0.00 £9,624.50 

Hirwaun Scout Group £357.75 £0.00 £357.75 

Hirwaun Sports Association £960.00 £0.00 £960.00 

Hirwaun Scouts Group £357.75 Donation £357.75 

Hirwaun Primary School £0.00 Donation £200.00 

Pippa's dance Crew £550.00 £0.00 £550.00 

Mountain Ash Fly Fishers Association 

£6,500.00 £10,134.52 £6,500.00 

Alun Lewis Ltd £960.00 £0.00 £960.00 

Hirwaun Bowls Club £960.00 £0.00 £960.00 

Total £152,118.11 £82,684.82 £136,281.01 

Applicant 

Amount 

Requested 

Match 

Funding 

Amount 

Awarded 

Dapper FM Radio £299.98 £0.00 £299.98 

FADS Family Service £10,252.00 £90,600.00 £2,000.00 

Sian Jones ( Individual) £550.00 £340.00 £550.00 

Friends of Penywaun £2,010.00 £280 Donations £2,010.00 

Penywaun Old Age £840.00 £0.00 £840.00 

Ysgol Gyfyn Rhydywaun £10,250.00 £0.00 £500.00 

Penywaun Recreation Group £7,825.00 £1000 

Donations 

£5,300.00 

Penywaun Junior Football club £750.00 £0.00 £750.00 

Jayne Sly £300.00 £0.00 £300.00 

Penywaun Flying Start £400.00 £0.00 £400.00 

David Richard Morgan £300.00 £1,700.00 £300.00 

Sian jones (Individual) £400.00 £0.00 £550.00 

Penywaun Primary School £0.00 Donation £200.00 

Penywaun Community Centre £10,526.40 £0.00 £10,526.40 

Gareth Hitchings St Johns 

Ambulance 

Hammerstrike band paid to Com 

cntr 

£0.00 Donation £250.00 

£180.00 £0.00 £180.00 

Penywaun Oap £600.00 £0.00 £600.00 

FADS Family Service £9,224.18 £6,474.00 £1,500.00 

Penywaun Primary PTA £2,504.22 £673.25 £2,504.22 

Tang Soo Doo Karate Club £2,596.20 £5,000.00 £2,596.20 

Brandon Lewis £360.00 £0.00 £360.00 

Penywaun Paraders £5,000.00 £0.00 £2,500.00 

Penywun Primary School £0.00 Donation £200.00 

Penywaun Primary PTA £6,821.26 6370.00 £6,821.26 

Total £71,989.24 £104,787.25 £42,038.06 


Rhigos 

Applicant 

Amount 

Requested 

Match 

Funding 

Amount 

Awarded 

Rhigos OAP Group £400.00 £0.00 £400.00 

Rhigos Mini/Jnr RFC £825.00 £0.00 £825.00 

Rhigos Carnival Society £1,000.00 £0.00 £2,000.00 

Rhigos Sports Hall £325.00 £0.00 £700.00 

Rhigos School Fundraising £300.00 £0.00 £300.00 

Rhigos Youth Club £500.00 £0.00 £500.00 

Ian Dennis £500.00 £2,000.00 £500.00 

Rhigos Community School Fundraising £500.00 £0.00 £500.00 

Rhigos OAP Group £1,600.00 £0.00 £1,600.00 

Bethel Chapel Rhigos £3,750.00 Ongoing £3,750.00 

Rhigos Primary School £0.00 Donation £200.00 

Rhigos RFC £2,990.00 £0.00 £2,990.00 

Rhigos SH inc RKB Funraising group £915.00 £1,215.00 £915.00 

Rhigos Sports Hall £20,000.00 £50,000.00 £25,000.00 

Rhigos RFC £3,120.00 £0.00 £3,120.00 

Bethel Chapel £100.00 £0.00 £100.00 


Rhigos Community Sports Association £1,500.00 £0.00 £1,500.00 

Rhigos Primary School £1,000.00 £0.00 £1,000.00 

Rhigos School Fundraising Committee £1,000.00 £0.00 £1,000.00 

Rhigos OAP Association £1,565.00 £0.00 £1,565.00 

Rhigos RFC £2,402.00 £0.00 £2,402.00 


Rhigos RFC £16,850.00 £8,400.00 £8,450.00 

Rhigos PTA £1,279.50 £4,687.20 £1,279.50 

Total £62,421.50 £66,302.20 £61,296.50 

Common Fund 

Applicant 

Amount 

Requested 

Match 

Funding 

Amount 

Awarded 

Ynysdawley Playing Fields Association £2,500.00 £0.00 £1,250.00 

Aberaman Athletic AFC £2,500.00 £0.00 £1,250.00 

Aberdare Valley Assoc Football 

League 

£3,159.00 £0.00 £500.00 

Cwmtwrch RFC £850.00 £0.00 £850.00 

Trecynon Free Library and Institute £8,225.00 £89,000.00 £4,000.00 

Valleys Golf Enterprise £6,000.00 £0.00 £6,000.00 

Ysgol Gynradd Cymraeg Castellau 

PTA 

£1,000.00 £0.00 £1,000.00 

Merthyr Aloud £821.60 £120.00 £500.00 

Rhondda Hard Of Hearing Club £1,000.00 Unknown £500.00 

Tylorstown Welfare Hall £2,400.00 Unknown £1,000.00 

Rct tigers Disability FC £1,712.45 Unknown £1,000.00 

Nexus Valley Swimming Club £4,569.00 Unknown £1,000.00 

Heol Y Cyw workingmens Club £2,500.00 Unknown £1,000.00 

Crynant RFC Juniors £1,636.00 Unknown £800.00 

Llwydcoed AFC £1,090.00 £100.00 £545.00 

Banwen And District Pony Club £1,132.17 £500.00 £1,132.17 

Park Lane Allotment Society £2,500.00 £8,787.00 £2,500.00 

Fernhill Youth Project £1,034.80 £36,833.33 £518.00 

Ynysllwyd allotment Society £2,000.00 £0.00 £200.00 

Llwydcoed OAP £1,670.00 £0.00 £835.00 

Comin Allotment Society £1,000.00 £0.00 £500.00 

Nelson RFC £10,000.00 £12,000.00 £1,000.00 

Llwydcoed After School Club £1,000.00 Unknown £200.00 


29

Common Fund cont… 

Applicant 

Amount 

Requested 

Match 

Funding 

Amount 

Awarded 

Tylorstown RFC Community Group £2,500.00 £127,200.00 £1,250.00 

Llanharan Recreation Ground Trust £1,500.00 £1,700.00 £1,000.00 

Lower Trealaw OAP Association £1,022.00 £0.00 £1,022.00 

Showcase Sioe Gerdd £1,138.00 £0.00 £1,000.00 

Gower Davies Residents Association £2,273.00 £2,273.00 £2,273.00 

Tre-Telynog Environmental Group £736.00 £7,448.00 £736.00 

254 Squadron Air Cadets (Aberdare) £2,500.00 £0.00 £2,000.00 

Cyfartha Bowls Club £1,094.00 £1,224.00 £1,094.00 

Stroke Friends £2,000.00 Unknown £1,000.00 

Splash Out £425.00 £1,000.00 £1,425.00 

Aberdare Town FC Jnrs. £1,246.00 £200.00 £1,246.00 

Cwmgwrach OAP Association £2,000.00 £2,925.00 £1,000.00 

Aberdare Parent and Children Centre £1,674.00 £1,674.00 £300.00 

Theatr Fforwm Cymru £2,380.00 £0.00 £1,000.00 

Cylch Cymraeg £2,500.00 £11,775.00 £540.40 

Cefn Hengoed Majestics £2,500.00 £0.00 £1,000.00 

Cwmwrch under 8's RFC £1,638.00 £0.00 £800.00 

The Luminaires Jazz Band £2,500.00 £0.00 £1,000.00 

The Solitaires Jazz Band £2,000.00 £0.00 £1,000.00 

Viva Wales £500.00 £0.00 £500.00 

Canolfan Cymunedol Ystradowen £2,000.00 £10,620.00 £1,000.00 

Ysgol Gynradd Cymraeg Castellau 

PTA 

£2,000.00 £23,000.00 £1,000.00 

Cwmdare Voices £2,500.00 £2,000.00 £2,500.00 

Cyfartha Castle Bowls Club £2,302.00 £0.00 £1,000.00 

Applicant 

Amount 

Requested 

Match 

Funding 

Amount 

Awarded 

Josef Herman art Foundation £1,270.00 £2,598.00 £1,270.00 

Llantwit Fardre Salvation army 

Outreach 

£2,500.00 £3,112.00 £2,500.00 

Aberdare Swimming Club £2,116.00 Voluntary Hours £2,116.00 

South Wales Miners Museum £2,000.00 £12,136.00 £2,000.00 

Cruse Bereavement care £2,400.00 £6,000.00 £1,200.00 

Aberdare Town AFC £2,500.00 £500.00 £2,500.00 

Total £116,014.02 £364,725.33 £66,352.57 


Future Developments 

Meadow Prospect’s future plans are 

aligned to its 2015-18 strategy, which is 

designed to set the framework that the 

Board of Meadow Prospect will work 

within over the next three years. 

Meadow Prospect’s vision statement is 

‘Leading regeneration by investing in 

opportunities that raise the aspiration 

of people and communities, supporting 

them to reach their potential’. Over the 

next three years Meadow Prospect seeks 

to realise this vision through three clear 

aims: 

• Invest in renewable energy to 

provide support and investment to 

individuals and groups in renewable 

energy projects, helping create a 

sustainable funding base to reinvest in 

communities; 

• Tackle poverty through projects that 

target improvement to individual’s 

financial position, identify and offer 

employment opportunities for 

individuals and supporting enterprise. 

• Digital inclusion by targeting social 

housing tenants and wider deprived 

communities and offering specific 

technology products and services. 

This is to be delivered through direct 

support to groups and communities 

working with commercial education 

establishments and third sector partners 

to deliver sustainable environments and 

communities. 

We will principally operate in those areas 

in which its parent company, RCT Homes, 

and GrEW operate i.e that is Rhondda 

Cynon Taff and adjoining boroughs, 

supporting both individuals and 

enterprises to achieve their goals against 

our aims. 

The vision and aims of this strategy will 

require us to help ‘build capacity’ of the 

targeted individuals and enterprises. This 

will mean concentrating on those who 

are in need of support in the target area, 

recognising as it is, the most deprived 

areas of the UK. 

In developing this strategy Meadow 

Prospect remains committed to working 

with a wide range of partners to deliver 

interventions that really make a difference 

to RCT Homes tenants and the wider 

communities in which they live and work. 


31

Published by Meadow Prospect 

part of the RCT Homes Group 

Meadow Prospect 

Tŷ Pennant, Mill Street, 

Pontypridd, CF37 2SW 

talk2us@meadowprospect.co.uk 

www.meadowprospect.co.uk

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