Rural Anchor Funding (SPF)

By June 2025, following an application process, we had awarded the full funding to 54 rural projects across Swansea, totalling £716,934.76

Under the locally developed Rural Anchor, grant funding was available to Swansea's rural communities for projects supporting the themes of:

• rural economy and visitor experience
• natural environment and climate emergency
• health and wellbeing
• innovation

Within these themes project are delivering against at least one of the following interventions:

• investment in renewable energy
• biodiversity
• volunteering
• feasibility studies
• local markets
• visitor trails

Revenue projects received up to £15,000 and capital projects received up to £25,000. 

The wards eligible for support were:

• Bishopston
• Clydach (includes Craig Cefn Parc)
• Fairwood
• Gorseinon and Penyrheol
• Gower
• Gowerton
• Llangyfelach
• Llwchwr
• Penclawdd
• Penllergaer
• Pennard
• Pontarddulais (includes old Mawr ward)
• Pontlliw and Tircoed

Projects in other wards are being supported on a case-by-case basis if they are on the geographical fringes of the above-named wards, or in extraordinary circumstances areas with extensive natural environments in other wards.

All applications were assessed by a voluntary Rural Advisory Panel, whose expertise across a wide range of rural matters has proved invaluable.

Projects

2025-2026

1. Nature Nurture - Happy Headwork CIC - £14,850
Interdisciplinary programme that improves emotional wellbeing while actively supporting biodiversity through ecological learning and hands-on conservation which will be delivered in partnership with Penllergaer Woodlands Trust and Swansea University. 

2. Pennard Hall Solar PV and Battery - Pennard Community Council - £25,000
Proposed installation of a 26-panel solar PV system (approx. 11.83Kw) with battery storage (15Kw) at Pennard Community Hall. This project will reduce the hall's carbon footprint, lower energy bills by up to 60%, and ensure reliable backup power during power outages.

3. Living Libraries: Rural Roots and Community Conversations - Bantani CIC - £7,960
Community volunteering project that brings together older adults and school pupils through a series of Human Library sessions in seven Swansea rural wards.

4. First Steps in Creating a New Nature Reserve on Gower: Cartersford Project - Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales - £14,956.03
Project involving 17ha of land between Fairwood and Pengwern Commons called Cartersford, which will replant the woodland and to bring habitat and landscape benefits to this part of Gower, which was lost due to the illegal felling of 2000 trees.

5. Bont Elim Air and Battery Project - Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance: Bont Elim Community Church - £19,995
Installation of 60 kW of batteries to make new solar panels far more energy efficient - includes the installation of a further air to air machine to complete a former project, that was financed by Rural Anchor funding in 2024-2025.

6. Adopt a Tributary - West Wales River Trust - £14,836.99
An 'Adopt a Tributary' Project, which will upskill and provide people with the knowledge, confidence and enthusiasm to enable them to work together to 'adopt' their nearest stretch of river.

7. Discover Killay Market - Promoting Rural and Local Producers - Killay Community Council - £1,750
One day market to be held on 19.7.25 in Killay Precinct to showcase 25 local traders and encourage the local community to shop locally - with a view to becoming self-sustaining in the future.

8. Install LED Floodlights for Community Sports Pitches - South Gower RFC - £21,148.80
Upgrade to old metal halide lights on two pitches to LED floodlights which will provide an increase in the lighting levels with significant savings in energy usage, carbon reduction and future maintenance costs.

9. Installation of Solar and LED Carbon Reduction Measures at Old Mill Foundation - The Old Mill Foundation - £15,606.93
Community led volunteers who support adults with cancer diagnosis, their families and carers seeking to install Solar Panels plus battery storage.

10. Pennard Youth Club - Young People Enhancing Biodiversity and Nature - Swansea MAD - £11,160.62
Funding for Youth and Community Worker and Project Support Worker plus resources to deliver a range of biodiversity and volunteering experiences for young people in Pennard.

11. Installation of Solar Panels and Batteries for Felindre Welfare Hall - Mawr Community Council - £15,577.00
Update to an existing solar array on a well-used community space (the home of the hugely popular Felindre Farmers' Market) which will expand capacity for energy generation and upgraded storage batteries.

12. The CONNECT-US Project - Anxiety Support Wales CIC - £14,009.35
Project to pilot a proposed future scheme as an outreach initiative designed to address the pressing mental health needs of adults aged 18 and above in the North Rural Swansea wards.

13. Pontarddulais Football Club Solar Project - Pontarddulais Town Juniors Football Club - £23,130
Solar energy project to reduce costs and carbon emissions. The club's changing rooms currently rely entirely on electricity to operate; rising energy costs are increasing pressure on the organisation's ability to run the building affordably and sustainably. The club is a hub for the local area, providing sporting, health, and wellbeing opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds - not just football. Reducing emissions and becoming more energy efficient is part of a wider commitment to community leadership and sustainability. The system will be used to educate young people about renewable energy and climate action.

2023 - 2025

14. Volunteers Rural Information and Advice Network - Age Cymru West Glamorgan - £15,000
Establishment of an AQS-accredited information, advice, and signposting service tailored for older people and their careers in rural Swansea communities. Services will be situated directly within the communities and delivered by local volunteers.

15. Smarter, Cleaner Gower Renewables - Down to Earth - £22,201.67
Renewable energy project to look at improving the set-up we have at our community building at Murton and Little Bryn Gwyn, Gower with the provision of battery storage to complement our solar arrays which provide power to the buildings and for car charging / e-bike charging facilities.

16. Solar Battery Project - Reynoldston Village Hall Association - £10,450
Project to install solar powered batteries to introduce a more sustainable and cost effective system of energy use.

17. Red Lady Project and Visitor Trail - Tourism Swansea Bay - £14,647.34 
Trail and exhibition project marking the bicentenary of the discovery the Red Lady of Paviland, with celebratory festival.

18. Petallica Eco Community Market - Petallica Flower Farm CIC - £9,687.97
Establishment on a monthly flower market selling ethical, environmentally products to local florists and the public. Seeking to reduce supply chains and establish a locally-based supply.
18. Petallica Flower Farm CIC - Petallica Eco Community Market - Case Study - Markets (Word doc, 288 KB)

19. Mawr Agriculture and Farmer Engagement and Needs Analysis - Bwyd Abertawe - £14,846.33
Feasibility study employing a bilingual engagement-consultant to research and map agricultural activity across Mawr, engaging with farmers and agricultural businesses / stakeholders.
19. Bwyd Abertawe - Mawr Agriculture and Farmer Engagement and Needs Analysis - Case Study - Feasibility Study (Word doc, 134 KB)

20. Designing Scalable Apple Storage for Swansea Orchards - Cyfoeth y Coed - £10,626
Feasibility study to design an apple storage unit/s that can be built onsite and incorporate environmentally beneficial features such as construction from recycled materials, thus allowing local orchards to stagger and therefore maximise delivery to the local market and extended delivery to rural outlets such as schools and food banks.
Sustainable Apple Storage Unit Design (Cyfoeth y Coed) (Word doc, 835 KB)

21. Installation of Air Source Heat Pumps - Bont Elim Community Church - £25,000
Renewable energy project to install air source heat pumps to reduce the building's carbon footprint and increase energy efficiency. 

22. Supporting Volunteering at Penllergare - The Penllergare Trust - £15,000
Project focused on building capacity for volunteering at the Penllergare Trust through funding a Volunteer Coordinator.

23. Head Forward with Nature - A wellbeing programme for people and the environment to benefit together - Happy Headwork Community C.I.C - £14,888.82
A blended learning and volunteering programme aimed at increasing health and wellbeing in the local community and the surrounding natural environment.

24. Welfare Hall Refurbishment - IT and Blinds - Llwchwr Town Council - £6,203.92
A two strand project with one element aiming to contribute to the reduction of fuel usage by the installation of thermal roller blinds, and the second seeking to offer increased opportunities for digital inclusion through the acquisition of IT equipment and training of volunteer instructors.

25. Building Biodiversity and Resilience to Climate Change for mutual benefit to the Environment and Community - Cae Felin CSA CIC - £15,000
Project based at the Cae Felin site to restore wildlife and rebuild community by connecting people with their natural environment, to celebrate ecological and cultural diversity, while improving social well-being, physical and diet related health, through volunteering.
25. Cae Felin Community Supported Agriculture Community Interest Company -Building Biodiversity and Resilience to Climate Change - Case Study - Biodiversity (Word doc, 411 KB)

26. Rural Community Voices - a feasibility study for Craig Cefn Parc - Mawr Community Council - £9,725
Feasibility study to enable the two villages of Garnswllt and Craig Cefn Parc to adapt and progress as active, intergenerational rural communities. The feasibility study will map a way forward for social action and capacity building.
Craig Cefn Parc and Garnswllt Scoping Study - conducted for Mawr Community Council (Urban Foundry) (Word doc, 1 MB)

27. Renewable Energy Project for Llanmorlais Hall - The Llanmorlais and District Community Hall Trust - £14,580
Renewable energy project for Llanmorlais Hall consisting of solar panels and storage batteries, with option to sell back to the national grid.

28. A Bug's Life: Mawr Biodiversity Project 2.0 - Mawr Community Council - £11,651.50
A successor project to previously funded RDP Biodiversity project across 2 sites, protecting the post of Biodiversity Project Co-ordinator and continuing the recruitment, engagement and skills development of the volunteers as well as introducing elements of outdoor learning and nature play.

29. ClearFlood - new LED Floodlights - Friends of Craig Cefn Parc (FoCCP) - £14,409
Installation of energy efficient, low polluting 'ClearFlood' floodlights, to an open access, all weather, community MUGA which is due to be installed (funding secured).

30. Install Solar Panels and Battery Electricity Storage - Three Crosses Community Council - £15,303.57
Installation of solar panels, with battery facility for power storage at Three Crosses Community Centre.
30. Three Crosses Community Council - Install Solar Panels and Battery Electricity Storage - Case Study - Renewable Energy (Word doc, 236 KB)

31. Solar Panels to Existing Changing Room Building - Friends of Coed Gwilym Park - £13,294.77
Installation of 12 solar panels and associated storage battery to supply energy to the community pavilion and charging points to fuel proposed community electric minibus / community car.

32. Crwydro Creadigol Gŵyr - Reflective Rambling in Gower - Gower Ministry Area - £15,000
The project provides wellbeing Nature walks and creative activities based around the historic church buildings that are part of the successful Gower Pilgrimage Way which set up in 2022 for walkers and cyclists. Funding will be used to employ a full-time events coordinator to explore the project as a pilot scheme, build a volunteer base, with a view to plan a five-year scheme.

33. Felindre Food and Crafts Market - Felindre Welfare Hall - £13,399.34
Project seeks funding for basic equipment (mats, bins, and storage unit) to assist in facilitating a very successful local market which has brought proven benefits to local residents and producers. Without this grant these elements would be unaffordable.

34. Refurbishment and Energy Efficiency Retrofit Feasibility Study - Llanmadoc and Cheriton Village Hall - £15,000
Feasibility study to establish options and costings for the refurbishment and energy efficiency retrofit of the village hall.
Llanmadoc Village Hall Renewable Energy Retrofit and Extension (Huw Griffiths Architects Ltd) (Word doc, 25 MB)

35. Nature Quest Neighbourhood Trail - Bantani Cymru CIC - £14,699.94
This project aims to inspire primary learners aged 8-11 across 10 primary schools to find, explore, research and create a nature trail near to their school, and to support its promotion or creation with tour guide style resources. The learners are tasked with creating or consolidating a local nature walk, learning about the nature there and preparing accessible digital visitor guides to promote support and enhance the walk on the proposed nature trail.
35. Bantani Cymru CIC - Nature Quest Neighbourhood Trail - Case Study - Trails (Word doc, 385 KB)

36. Solar Energy Collection, Storage and Utilisation and additional thermal insulation to Reduce / replace mains Electricity Usage at Village Hall - Upper Killay Community Council - £21,100
Seeks to deliver carbon reduction measures at the Upper Killay Community Hall with improvements to the insulation in the hall, siting of solar panels on the roof and installation of a battery storage system to run the lights.

37. Solar Panel / Battery and LED Project - Bishopston Community Council - £24,020
Renewable energy project for Bishopston Community consisting of solar panels and storage batteries, with option to sell back to the national grid. Additional LED lights on health and safety grounds.

38. The Gower Food and Drink Festival 2024 - Pennard Community Council - £7,000
Food and drink festival based on the Gower to take place on one day in September 2024.

39. Surf To Success - Surf Therapy CIC - £14,640
Project using the Ocean Therapy Programme to work with individuals aged between 18-25 involved in the criminal justice system. The scheme will teach participants to surf and ensure they acquire the skills needed to become surf mentors, with a view to gaining employment in the sector.
39. Surf Therapy - Surf to Success - Case Study - Volunteering (Word doc, 292 KB)

40. Graig y Coed Woodland Project - Llanrhidian Higher Community Council - £10,080
Volunteer-based project to clear and start developing a derelict woodland site recently leased from Swansea Council to create a nature park within easy reach to all.

41. Cooperatives and Collaborative Working for Food Businesses in Rural Swansea - Swansea Council - Swansea Food Partnership - £13,600
Feasibility study to establish how local food cooperatives could work to assist small-scale farmers and food makers in rural Swansea. This report explores the feasibility and benefits of cooperative and collaborative working models for micro and small food businesses in Swansea.
Cooperatives and collaborative working for food businesses in Swansea (Mentera) (Word doc, 3 MB)

42. Enhancing our Green Space - 6th Llangyfelach Scout Group - £5,364.82
Project aims to further develop this plot of land and enhance its biodiversity so that the Scout group as well as other Scout groups and the wider community can make use of the land for recreational / educational purposes.

43. Development of Community Garden and Coed Gwilym Park Grounds by Volunteers - Friends of Coed Gwilym Park - £1,703.32
Development of a community garden for the benefit of native flora and fauna, the volunteers who work in it and the community members who visit.

44. Solar PV and Battery Storage Project - Grovesend Miners Welfare Trust Scheme - £25,000
Renewable energy project with solar panels and battery storage for Grovesend Community Hall.

45. Otter and Water Vole Restoration Project - The Penllergare Trust - £13,177.44
Biodiversity project focusing on otters and water voles habitats at the site.

46. Gower Loaf Flour Milling Project - Y Felin Ddwr Charitable Trust - £14,949.90
A transformative project to reinvigorate the operation of a 12th-century flour mill into a self-sustaining venture by employing a part-time miller to build up a team of volunteers learning to operate the mill equipment and working with them to develop a new product in our mill shop by reintroducing a flour mix for bread making not seen on Gower for 200 years - the traditional Gower Loaf.

47. Farming and Families; Mumbles to Bishopston - Gower Unearthed - £15,000
Project to produce a new digital archive on the agricultural and rural history of Mumbles in particular its links to the rural hamlets of Bishopston. The archive will include eight oral history recordings, the collation and publication of family trees and previously unpublished photographs of rural life.

48. Penllergare Christmas and Hen Galan - The Penllegare Trust - £4,913
An exciting calendar of events and activities planned to celebrate a traditional Welsh Christmas and old New Year (Hen Galan), ranging from a Frost Fayre to family friendly Focus on Fungi sessions. 

49. Happy Headwork Winter Wellbeing Wanderings Festival - Happy Headwork CIC - £6,766.78
A series of events in January at Penllergare Woods, covering the period which is the toughest month of the year for a lot of people especially those experiencing challenges with their mental health and social isolation. 

50. Pennard Community Christmas 2024 - Pennard Community Council - £5,070.61
Two community events to be held over a weekend in December. One event will be an expansion to the traditional Christmas market and offer entertainment and hot food within Pennard Community Hall. The second, based in Kittle will offer a Sing Along and Switch On' event on The Green followed by a sea shanty at the Beaufort Arms.

51. Winter Wellbeing and Wildlife - Mawr Community Council - £4,824.93
A series of biodiversity engagement events suitable for all age groups and accessible, build community cohesion and increase footfall into 3 community halls and green spaces. 

52. A Warm Winter Welcome to the Lower Llanrhidian Communities - Llanrhidian Lower Community Council - £6,000
Provision of a hired marquee to be placed in the local school grounds for joint use by the school and the community. Community events will include a farmers' market (showcasing the best of Swansea produce and work by local artisans) and a series of Welsh cafés bringing pupils and the community together to practice their Welsh language skills.

53. Cymanfa Ganu - Bantani Cymru CIC - £5,622.40
This Cymanfa Ganu (community hymn sing-along) will celebrate local history and the story of Evan Roberts and the religious revival. During the event pupils will share knowledge and sing traditional songs, including the life of Evan Roberts and Pisga Chapel. Pupils' work will be used to create a book on the topic.

54. Llangyfelach Community Christmas Event - Llangyfelach Community Council - £6,015.74
Llangyfelach Community Council works closely with the community to provide a community led Christmas Event. The Event will include Father Christmas arriving on the Festive Land Train and then meeting the children of the community within the historic 12th century Llangyfelach Church.

Please contact ruralanchorspf@swansea.gov.uk for further information.