CRT Hwb Cana wins Community Benefit award

CRT Hwb Cana has won the Community Benefit category in the RICS Awards for Wales which have taken place in Cardiff this week.

CRT Hwb Cana is a dedicated centre for the Penywaun community provided by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT). CRT Hwb Cana works with partners to provide access to financial services, well-being support and opportunities to develop skills at CRT Hwb Cana.

The RICS Awards for Wales took place at the Sophia Gardens Cricket Ground in Cardiff on Tuesday 4th June. In their comments, the judges described CRT Hwb
Cana as “an exemplar community asset” and praised the high level of engagement with the community in Penywaun.

CRT Hwb Cana provides access to essential services, including Smart Money Cymru Community Bank, Citizens Advice Bureau, Tower Colliery and CRT Together
– the Coalfields Regeneration Trust’s programme delivered in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support to signpost people affected by cancer in the Cwm Taf
Morgannwg University Health Board area to local support services.

The building was transferred to the Coalfields Regeneration Trust through Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council’s RCT Together Community Asset Transfer programme in 2021.

It was opened by Vikki Howells MS for Cynon Valley in April 2023 following a full renovation and refurbishment by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust which began in November 2022. This work was funded with £153,010 from the Welsh Government’s Communities Facilities Programme, £124,258 from UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund, £65,718.50 from the Pen y Cymoedd Windfarm Community Fund, £3444.30 from a UK Shared Prosperity Fund Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council Community Grant and a generous donation of furniture and IT equipment from General Dynamics UK.
Winning the RICS award for Community Benefit for Wales means that CRT Hwb Cana will now go through to the UK finals of the RICS Awards 2024, representing Wales in the Community Benefit category. The UK RICS Awards take place in London in October.

For further information or to book on to a service being offered at CRT Hwb Cana please call 01495 367680 or e-mail wales@coalfields-regen.org.uk. You can also keep up to date on CRT Hwb Cana through the CRT Hwb Cana Penywaun page on Facebook.

Michelle Rowson-Woods, Head of Operations – Wales for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust said:

“We are absolutely delighted to see our work with the community in Penywaun recognised at the RICS Awards.

“We’d like to thank our partners in Welsh Government, UK Government, the Pen y Cymoedd Windfarm Community Fund, General Dynamics UK and Rhondda Cynon Taf Council as we could not have brought the building back to use without them.

“Above all, we would like to thank the community in Penywaun for their support and are delighted to have the chance to represent Wales at the RICS UK Awards in October.”

Geraint Evans, Chair of the Wales RICS Awards judging panel, said:

“These winning projects are a true testament to the hard work and dedication of industry professionals in Wales. The talent and collaborative approaches undertaken by the teams behind these projects have resulted in exemplary and innovative schemes that really do represent the very best built projects across Wales.

“RICS is delighted to recognise the hard work that went behind ensuring these projects were delivered successfully and I wish the winning projects the best of luck in the grand final later this year.”