Plas Madoc benefits from pandemic Economic Resilience Fund grant

Plas Madoc Leisure Centre has thanked the Welsh Government for it’s “fantastic support” after being awarded a much-needed grant.

The centre found out last week it will receive £55,000 from the Welsh Government’s new Economic Resilience Fund, one of a number of funds set up to help businesses and social enterprises during the coronavirus crisis.

Stella Matthews, chair of Splash Community Trust, said: “This grant is very important for us and we are very grateful to the Welsh Government for their continued support.”

“We have been running as a social enterprise for over five years and have made great strides, but the coronavirus outbreak and lockdown could have really set us back. We still have utility bills to pay and the cost of maintaining the pool and keeping the centre in good condition so we’re ready to open again as soon as we’re able to.”

“This funding is so crucial for us and a tremendous boost.”

Plas Madoc received a £500,000 grant from the Welsh Government in 2016 which funded key structural work including substantial work on the roof, fixing wiring and insulation, replacing pool plant equipment and upgrading the centre’s CCTV and fire alarm. The Leisure Centre was named Welsh Social Enterprise of the Year in 2018.

Stella said, “We are delighted, we have always had fantastic support from Welsh Government, they have always realised the importance of the Centre to our area, we are very grateful”.

The centre was closed by Wrexham Council in 2014 due to budget cuts and threatened with demolition, but reopened that December thanks to the efforts of the local community and volunteers