Simon Baynes MP takes virtual tour of Plas Madoc

Mr Baynes was recently given the opportunity to make a virtual visit to Plas Madoc to see first-hand the work being undertaken by residents thanks to the ‘Invest Local’ programme funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, and to hear the experiences of the wider community.

He met with community members and spoke about the overall project development and the various community activities held to date, including, The Land, Kettle Club, Sensory Garden, Little Sunflowers, PlassyLanders Drama Club and Youth Club, as well as future plans such as the development of the tenants’ and residents’ association, having a central Christmas tree on the estate during the festive season and the establishment of food projects and a community hub in collaboration with the Leisure Centre.

Previous Graffiti workshop at the Land, facilitated by Dime One North Wales Graffiti Art.

In 2015, The National Lottery Community Fund endowed the Building Communities Trust (BCT), with £16.5m to deliver the ‘Invest Local’ programme, which is a 10-year programme supporting 13 communities across Wales, of which Plas Madoc is one, to enable residents to build on their strengths and talents and take action to make their areas better places to live.

It does this by offering communities funding, support, opportunities for sharing and learning, and the chance to influence organisations whose decisions affect them.

Each of the 13 areas have £1m on the priorities that matter to them over the next 10 years.

The National Lottery Community Fund logo

Anne Salisbury, chair of 'We Are Plas Madoc', said: "We would just like to say a big thank you to Sir Adrian Webb and Simon for attending the Plas Madoc virtual visit last week.

"As residents, we're all proud of our community and it was a pleasure to talk about some of the work that is happening in Plas Madoc."

Sir Adrian Webb, chair of Wales Committee for The National Lottery Community Fund, said: "I was privileged to meet a fabulous group of projects, but it was especially good to see how the Building Communities Trust model focuses on a number of projects in a small community so that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, showing a genuine and promising growth in community activity and community leadership."

Mr Baynes, added: "I want to thank the organisers for such an impressive and moving meeting about Plas Madoc.

"I was absolutely blown away by it all and have a great deal of respect for everything that We Are Plas Madoc, the residents and the wider community have achieved.

"They have my full support."