UKSPF projects

Accessing Our Heritage

Project lead: Denbighshire County Council Heritage Service

Project overview

To enable increased accessibility, use and awareness of two key Heritage Museum Assets in Ruthin, Denbighshire:

• Grade 1 listed Nantclwyd Y Dre historic house
• Grade 2 listed Ruthin Gaol – the only Pentonville style prison open as a Heritage Attraction in the UK

These special places welcome visitors for general visits 6 months of the year, and prebooked groups year round. They provide education, informal learning, stimulation, sense of place, connection with the Welsh language and Culture, a sense of pride, wellbeing experiences and the opportunity to connect with the past and each other.

We wish to improve disabled access, better promote these Heritage sites and increase events and activities to engage with wider, and hard to reach audiences. This will enable us to extend the open season and benefit the local economy, create jobs and increase sustainability. We also wish to fund a Feasibility study to inform decisions about the future development of Ruthin Gaol as a large Cultural Heritage year round attraction.

Buttermarket Culture, Heritage and Wellbeing Centre

Project lead: Vale of Clwyd Mind

Project overview

The project involves developing a tourism and community Hub to support the regeneration of Denbigh. The project will bring third sector organisations together, create a social enterprise, ensure the sustainability of Denbigh Museum and create an attractive space for the local community and wider tourism to ensure that Denbigh becomes a destination point for visitors.

The project will bring back to life a building of significant importance to the heritage of Denbigh.

The Buttermarket is located on land bounded by Chapel Place and Crown Lane in the centre of Denbigh. The building has currently been empty since July 2018.

Denbighshire County Council Feasibility Study Fund

Project lead: Denbighshire County Council

Project overview

The Economic and Business Development team within Denbighshire County Council have responsibility for driving economic development and regeneration across the whole county.

A robust pipeline of potential future projects is maintained and actively reviewed against funding options on an ongoing basis.

Potential projects are aligned with DCC’s corporate strategies and materialise out of need, with support from Councillors, communities and businesses. 

Llangollen Railway Trust - Staying on Track

Project lead: Llangollen Railway Trust

Project overview

The Llangollen Railway Trust aim to develop a 'package to strengthen the organisation' enabling them to continue their restructure process following several years of organisational change.

Through the introduction of new staff resources, this project will focus on establishing robustness in fundamental areas of the organisation, namely:

• volunteering
• training
• interpretation
• conservation

This project includes feasibility and survey work to further future proof the organisation, promoting the historical significance of the Dee Valley and it’s place in Denbighshire today.

Related website: llangollen-railway.co.uk (external website)

Queen’s Market Fund

Project lead: Denbighshire County Council

Project overview

This project will support the establishment of a new retail market in the Queens Building in Rhyl.

The funding will be applied towards the internal fitout of the main market hall and individual retail business units.

It will largely support small businesses who are looking to establish a footprint within a thriving new market.

The project aims to create a space that will be used by the community and visitors and act as an anchor for increasing footfall into the town centre.

Rhyl promenade regeneration

Project lead: Denbighshire County Council

Project overview

This project aims to improve the popular promenade area of Rhyl to compliment the ongoing Rhyl regeneration works as well as the multimillion pound coastal defence works.

The particulars include:

• the replacement and upgrade of street furniture such as removal and replacement of:
  • bins
  • benches and fencing
  • lighting
  • access barriers
  • flag poles
• numerous environmental improvements such as:
  • painting
  • surfacing
  • landscaping open space areas
  • rationalisation of signs and other street furniture

Town Centre Property Improvement Scheme

Project lead: Denbighshire County Council

Project overview

This project will target vacant, under utilised or untidy properties in town centres to:

• instigate improvements to the visual amenity
• stimulate investment
• increase employment opportunities
• improve the vibrancy of Denbighshire town centres

This will be delivered through a grant programme open to Town Centre commercial property owners and occupiers to fund improvements to the appearance and viability of buildings. The work will be driven through the recruitment of two dedicated Place Improvement Officers who will be a proactive presence in the community.

Supporting Local Business

Project lead: Cadwyn Clwyd

Project overview

This project aims to boost productivity, pay, jobs and living standards by growing the private sector, especially in areas where they are lacking.

It will support two areas of delivery namely:

1. Business grants for individual micro and small businesses – this strand will provide direct grants to businesses within the county.
2. A 'Business Networks' key fund - This strand will facilitate and support local business and social enterprises to work collectively on developing initiatives which benefit the businesses and the local economy.

Community Capacity Key Fund

Project lead: Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council

Project overview

This project aims to transform the power and ability of people in the Third Sector and within communities across Denbighshire to create and deliver essential services in a changing and challenging world. The project will focus on:

• Building sustainable leadership capacity in Third Sector organisations to be able to
  • maximise the sector’s response to emerging societal challenges and needs
  • grow services to meet gaps
  • invest in organisational resilience
• Creating and delivering a model for working in communities to build the confidence and skills of people to co-produce solutions to local problems
• Providing a significant, targeted grant programme aimed at supporting innovation, resilience and sustainability for existing and developing new Third Sector organisations.

Community Grants Scheme and Creative Arts Programme

Project lead: Denbighshire Leisure Limited

Project overview

This project will be delivered by Denbighshire Leisure Ltd. in 2 parts:

Part 1 - Community Grants Scheme which aims to enable smaller organisations, such as local sports clubs and arts and cultural organisations to:

• apply for funding to support local arts, cultural and creative activities
• support local sports facilities, to host tournaments, develop and grow new teams and leagues

Part 2 - Creative Arts Programme which will work with key third sector partners and community and health partners to deliver an arts in health and wellbeing participatory programme in community, social care and health settings.

Sports pitch officer and maintenance/inspections team

Project lead: Denbighshire County Council

Project overview

This project will initially aim to address the immediate issues surrounding the development of an all-round sports offering with the aim of providing facilities up to an acceptable and safe standard.

The project will also recruit a Sports Pitch Officer and Maintenance Team to oversee the use, provision of maintenance and bookings of public sports pitches across the county.

Increasing levels of digital inclusion and basic digital skills across Denbighshire

Project lead: Cwmpas

Project overview

This project will offer direct digital inclusion support to individuals.

Support will take the form of digital inclusion advice and training and provide suitable devices to individuals depending on their needs.

Support will be provided in a variety of ways, including:

• phone calls to teach people how to use websites or apps
• digital classes in communities
• grants or vouchers for equipment and/or data
• referrals to employability and further education services

Communities and Nature a Sustainable Visitor Welcome

Project lead: Denbighshire County Council

Project overview

This project will provide Rangers at a number of key visitor sites across Denbighshire in response to the dramatic increase of visitors to these areas.

Rangers will provide positive advice and guidance to visitors as well as helping to reduce congestion and the negative impacts of high visitor numbers on the local community and improve visitor experience.

The project will also develop and train volunteer Rangers who will contribute to a visitor welcome at key sites and providing help and support to visitors.

Public Realm and Open Spaces Improvement

Project lead: Denbighshire County Council

Project overview

This project aims to improve recreational areas throughout the county with a focus on the following:

• Public realm improvements at Bastion Road, Prestatyn and Riverside Park, Llangollen to include:
  • replacement and upgrade of street furniture such as:
    • bins
    • picnic benches
    • seating signage
  • environmental improvements such as upgrading railings and steel bollards which will also improve accessibility to the area
• Regeneration of recreational areas at Botanical Gardens, Rhyl, including:
  • the replacement of perimeter fencing and the security gate
  • environmental and infrastructure improvements throughout the park

Public Space CCTV Improvements

Project lead: Denbighshire County Council

Project overview

Upgrading existing aged public space CCTV cameras across principal towns in the north of Denbighshire, including car parks and bus stations.

The project will include purchasing deployable cameras to provide a temporary option in areas of antisocial behaviour and project management of the project.

Accessible Play Area Provision

Project lead: Denbighshire County Council

Project overview

This project will deliver play areas in strategic locations across the county that are accessible to all by installing specialist equipment and making improvements to footways and street furniture in the public realm and immediate vicinity.

Bodelwyddan Country Park

Project lead: Denbighshire County Council

Project overview

This project will develop a Country Park on Woodland/Parkland adjacent to Bodelwyddan Castle.

A fully accessible park will be created to encourage repeat visits by Denbighshire/Conwy residents along with visitors to the area.

The project will provide an opportunity for people to spend time outdoors and enjoy quality facilities, the natural environment, heritage assets and far reaching views of the special landscape of North Wales.

Denbighshire Green Digital Academy

Project lead: Coleg Llandrillo Menai

Project overview

This project will provide expert evaluation and mentoring support to Small Medium Enterprises to improve their Digital and Net Zero capabilities in line with their core business strategy, supporting businesses to accelerate efficiency, productivity, carbon reduction and to reduce costs.

Support will include:

• Undertaking a diagnostic on the environmental and digital baseline of the business
• Delivering a bespoke roadmap for decarbonisation and digitalisation
• Mentoring businesses to deliver against those plans
• Identifying funding to support capital investment, share best practice
• support the changes within operations and employee behaviour

Denbighshire Woodland Creation Project

Project lead: Denbighshire County Council

Project overview

This project is aimed at enhancing and improving approximately 55.5 hectares of council owned land for carbon sequestration, biodiversity and the community.

It will deliver increased broadleaf woodland and species richness on 5 areas of greenspace in a variety of settings from urban residential to upland hillside, as well as improved access to greenspace and nature for the community for leisure, wellbeing, education and volunteering opportunities.

It will also contribute to the council and national ambitions to be net carbon zero and more ecologically positive by 2030.

Destination Management and Tourism Strategy; Additional Summer Resources

Project lead: Denbighshire County Council

Project overview

This project will provide additional environmental cleansing and grounds maintenance resources to cope with additional visitor numbers and footfall in the county during summer 2023/24.

Green Gates Nature Reserve

Project lead: Denbighshire County Council

Project overview

This project aims to establish a 13.3ha nature reserve at Green Gates, near St Asaph Business Park.

The development will involve planting local provenance trees and wildflowers forming ponds and wetlands and creating a wildlife habitat, including hibernacula and a tower suitable for bat/bird roosting, while also leaving some areas undeveloped for natural regeneration.

Community access and environmental education would be provided by paths and boardwalks, interpretation and organised events.

Nature for Health Programme

Project lead: Denbighshire County Council

Project overview

The Nature for Health Programme provides opportunities to help people live healthier and more fulfilled lives through improved access to the natural environment at a local level.

The project provides weekly sessions including conservation and rural skills, health and nature walks, arts and crafts and grow your own sessions along with opportunities for volunteering and skills progression.

Ramblers Community Outreach (North Wales)

Project lead:  Ramblers Cymru

Project overview

Ramblers Cymru will build on the successful Paths to Wellbeing project, bringing walking and volunteering to a wider audience, and reaching communities with high levels of deprivation and those facing additional barriers to walking and the outdoors. Through targeted consultation and collaboration, Ramblers Cymru will develop a bespoke plan for each community, fully involving the whole community and local partners.

Ramblers Cymru will engage communities and empower local people to be more active in, and proud of, their local places. Using local walking routes as a catalyst, Ramblers Cymru upskills volunteers to improve pathways and increase access to green spaces, as well as creating and promoting new routes, which will increase awareness of local walking opportunities and participation.

Together with the community Ramblers Cymru will audit the existing path network, assess the local need and level of access to paths. Ramblers Cymru will provide training for both self-guided walks, with navigation and map reading, and our Walk Leadership Training enables volunteers to deliver led walks. Ramblers Cymru uses activity days to engage the community which includes themed led walks and improvements to the path network.

Warm Wales- Supporting Communities

Project lead:  Warm Wales

Project overview

This pilot will work with communities in Denbighshire, including primary and secondary schools year 5,8,9 and 10, those living in all tenure. It will look at people, property, place, and partnerships to:

• bring about social action to improve people’s wellbeing, confidence and skills
• encourage more impactful volunteering, working with wider community to educate, make everyone more aware of energy efficiency, green technology and the impact of fuel poverty and the cost of living
• provide free advice and support to residents to reduce energy bills and improve energy efficiency

Llwybrau

Project lead: Denbighshire County Council

Project overview

The Llwybrau project will provide support to approximately 420 young people per academic year in Denbighshire to reduce their risk of disengagement, provide support to re-engage in education, or to move into employment or training at the end of year 11. The overall aim is to tackle one of the causes of long term poverty.

Llwybrau offers two main strands to support vulnerable young people:

• Education Engagement Officers.
• Counsellors, who will offer additional services to target mental health, particularly in boys

North East Wales Heritage Skills Partnership

Project lead: The Little Learning Company

Project overview

This heritage and skills project will support and protect heritage crafts, construction, and engineering through the creation of training and knowledge sharing opportunities across sites in Denbighshire, putting North Wales at the forefront of heritage skills delivery.

The project will:

• increase the training capacity within the sector
• create and facilitate knowledge sharing opportunities to support the existing heritage skills network
• develop and deliver new opportunities for people aged 16+ to join the sector
• create a number of progression opportunities for people to progress to FE, HE, or employment
• help to address the heritage skills shortage
• align heritage skills provision to mainstream funding
• provide new opportunities to increase their numeracy skills

Working Denbighshire (WD) Strategic Programme

Project lead: Denbighshire County Council

Project overview

Working Denbighshire aims to tackle poverty by supporting Denbighshire residents into education, employment and training.

The programme provides a simplified and streamlined route for all residents to access support and ensure allocation to projects with expertise relevant to their particular needs.