Neath Port Talbot secures National Lottery funding for Heritage NPT project

NEATH Port Talbot County Borough Council has been successful in securing funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the creation of its Heritage NPT project.

Part of this project includes a Community Heritage Fund, which charities and not for profit organisations, schools, heritage groups, community groups, Town Councils and Ministry Areas can apply, enabling them to deliver heritage-based projects and become more sustainable for the future.

The first round, which closed in January, funded two projects, proposed by Pontardawe Heritage and Visitor Centre and Pontardawe Town Council.

Pontardawe Heritage and Visitor Centre was funded to undertake a project entitled ‘In the footsteps of David Thomas’ – the Father of the American Anthracite Iron Industry.

This project will see a travelling exhibition move around libraries and schools in the Neath Port Talbot area. Pontardawe Town Council was funded to bring the history and heritage of Pontardawe to life through a street art project.

Neath Port Talbot Council is pleased to announce that the successful candidates of round two, which closed at the end of March, were Awel Y Mor Primary School, Bro Noddfa Newydd Ministry Area, Neath Antiquarian Society and Ty Banc Canal group.

The funding will see pupils of Awel Y Mor Primary School undertake an oral history project and heritage trail around their locality. Bro Noddfa Newydd Ministry area will work with a stained glass expert to draw inspiration for its own inter-generational arts and crafts project.

Neath Antiquarians will use the funding towards publishing a centenary edition book as well as undertaking a series of community outreach events, which will include an exhibition and workshop. And the Ty Banc Canal group will undertake a project to improve heritage and biodiversity signage along the canal in an interactive manner.

Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Economic Growth, Cllr Jeremy Hurley, said: “Our thanks go to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and their players for making the Heritage NPT project possible.”