Levelling Up Fund: Canolfan Ial Community Hub

Project background

The village school in Bryneglwys closed in 2014 and village children now attend Ysgol Dyffryn Ial in Llandegla. The school had been owned and run by the Church in Wales for as long as it was a school. On closure, ownership reverted to Miss Mary Yale who kindly donated the school back to Bryneglwys Community Council. As the building began to deteriorate the council decided to stop their license to occupy; meaning the building no longer 'belonged' to anyone.

In October 2019 a group of villagers formed Cymdeithas Canolfan Ial Association (CCIA), a one issue charity with an aim to convert the old school to a much-needed village hall. The organisation obtained charity status in April 2020. With the help of the Yale family and the diocese this group took ownership of the building and surrounding land and applied for funding from Clocaenog Wind farm fund and Levelling Up Funding as part of a bigger Clwyd West bid. Both were successful.

Key points

This is a Victorian building constructed in 1872 and still structurally sound.

At present, there are no suitable venues for Bryneglwys residents to meet and host social events as the local pub has been closed for many years with little chance of re-opening. This project aims to renovate Canolfan Ial to make it fit for purpose as a community hub to be able to offer opportunities for social events.

As the village has no public transport, if residents don't drive, they are effectively confined to the village which can be isolating. The trustees will run a community cafe to enable residents to meet up in a nice environment.

Current position

A project manager has been employed by the charity who is currently working on drawing up an invitation to tender which should be ready to go out at the end of February 2024.

The charity holds monthly meetings with Denbighshire County Council to ensure the project is on schedule and the LUF grant is being spent in accordance with UK Government regulations.

Gallery

The school (Bryneglwys, September 2023):

Contact information

Further information can be obtained by emailing:

• Pat Downes (Chair CCIA)
• Peter O'Loughlin (Secretary CCIA)