Moelyci highlighted by BBC show as example of regeneration

Jun 10 2009

AN environmental centre in Tregarth is taking part in a lottery scheme to help six rural villages across the UK regenerate their communities through new business ventures in partnership with BBC One.

Village SOS, supported by the new Big Lottery Fund (BIG), will search for enterprising and visionary individuals to become village champions and work with residents to help achieve their ambitions of starting a successful rural business.

The BBC will be documenting the journey of the six villages and their champions for a major prime time series in winter 2010.

One project highlighted as a perfect example, is the Moelyci Environment Centre. It practises and teaches environmental skills with a particular emphasis on social inclusion, involving and employing the disadvantaged and people with disabilities.

In 2001, residents from five neighbouring villages in the area came together and bought themselves a mountain.

When Moelyci Farm came up for sale, the villagers were devastated to find out it may have been sold for holiday homes.

So, farm owners from either side of the mountain formed a committee and between them they set up an IPS (Industrial and Provident Society) and managed to raise a loan of £400,000 to buy the 410m mountain, which covers 320 acres including a farm and outbuildings. They now have 640 shareholder members who own a stake in the mountain.

They employ six people full time; part time staff and boast many volunteers.

They also facilitate a government scheme for the unemployed, helping them get back to work by teaching skills and providing them with a routine.

Centre development manager Paul Christie said: "The project is a glowing example of how a group of local residents living in five neighbouring villages on the edge of Snowdonia came together to save a vital part of their natural and community heritage for their own future generations to conserve, embrace and enjoy.

"Seven years on, we now have a thriving community and environmental centre, providing training and employment opportunities for local people and enabling them to acquire skills in rural craft and land management."

Village SOS will challenge villages to come up with ideas for new businesses to help revive their communities.

In May 2010 six projects will be awarded Lottery funding of up to £400,000 and their respective champions will move into the villages for a year to help them turn their business idea into a reality.

The BBC search for village champions closes on Friday, August 14.

For further information, go to bbc.co.uk/villagesos.