Labour MP Stephen Kinnock has hosted his 11th annual Funding Fair, bringing together local sports clubs, charities and community organisations with funders and advice providers to help them secure support for projects across Aberafan Maesteg.
The event, held at Cwmafan Community Centre, gave local organisations the opportunity to speak directly with 19 advice and funding providers about grants, practical support and other resources available to them.
Kinnock said:
“A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to attend my 11th annual Funding Fair at Cwmafan Community Centre!”
He added:
“It was wonderful to see so many local sports clubs, community groups and charities come along to speak to 19 advice providers to access funding and information.”
Eleven years of connecting community groups with funding
The Funding Fair has become a regular part of Kinnock’s constituency work.
His website lists the annual event alongside his advice surgeries, coffee mornings and other community meetings, reflecting a longstanding effort to connect local organisations with practical sources of support.
For smaller voluntary organisations and sports clubs, finding suitable funding programmes and navigating complicated application processes can often be a significant challenge.
Events such as the Funding Fair allow organisations to speak to potential funders directly, understand eligibility requirements and receive guidance before submitting applications.
Supporting grassroots organisations
The groups attending ranged from local charities to sporting and community organisations, all of which play an important role in supporting residents and strengthening neighbourhoods.
The event also demonstrates how constituency MPs can use their convening role to bring together community groups, businesses, public bodies and funding organisations.
Kinnock has made community engagement a significant part of his work as MP for Aberafan Maesteg, alongside campaigns on steel, local services and investment in the constituency.
Funding can make a major local difference
For grassroots organisations, even relatively modest grants can help fund equipment, activities, building improvements, youth programmes or services supporting vulnerable residents.
By bringing 19 advice providers into one venue, the Funding Fair was intended to make it easier for groups to identify opportunities that might otherwise be difficult to find.
Kinnock’s message was one of thanks to both the organisations serving local communities and the funding and advice providers helping them continue their work — with the annual fair once again providing a practical link between local ambition and the resources needed to deliver it.
