Brighter Futures is a small charity (CIO) operating a community facility, community groups, and activities in Rhyl. Established in 2018, the charity was set up in response to the increased demand for voluntary organisations to work together, while delivering independently. In an effort to reduce social isolation, loneliness, and poverty, they share resources, skills, and expertise amongst very unique groups in order to provide support and services to local children, young people, parents, the elderly, and those with disabilities, working together to create a Brighter Future in Rhyl.

When we were approached for support by Brighter Futures Chief Officer, Shane Owen, a visit to their facilities in Rhyl left us fairly speechless and in no doubt that this was a charity we wanted to support. Following further discussions, an application for funding was submitted to our Trustees, and we are very proud to say that we have awarded Brighter Futures £26,000 to support their offer to children and young people for the next year.

Shane Owen, Chief Officer from Brighter Futures said “We are extremely pleased to have been awarded grant funding of 26k from the Neumark Foundation.

The funding from the Neumark Foundation will enable us to employ a qualified youth worker on a 0.5 basis, who will lead the delivery of our Youth Shed and Kids Shed. Both these groups aim to provide a safe space to get together and engage in positive and often developmental activities in Rhyl.

While attending our free groups, children/young people are able to explore and experience all we have to offer at our facility. Our team enhances the provision through activities including sports/active games, gardening, competitions, arts and crafts, wood work, computing & technology, cooking, learning/training, and volunteering for community projects.

Everyone that attends our groups can access free refreshments, snacks and a meal.

This funding will also enable Brighter Futures to employ a local young person, as a Trainee Youth and Community Worker, learning from our experienced team members and external agencies to ensure they gain a broad understanding of youth and community work within the third sector, alongside this the young person will undertake a number of courses to build their future employability, including an accredited Youth Support Worker course with Adult Learning Wales.

The funding will support us to engage more children and ensure that those young people’s experiences, while attending our groups are of the highest quality.

“We are really proud to support this inspirational organisation. Their innovative, forward thinking, from the inception of the organisation, the way they manage their resources, to the incredible cross-generational support they provide to people in order to enable sustainable brighter futures in a region, that for many decades has faced considerable challenges with poverty and unemployment, and a lack of opportunities to change this. Well done Shane and all of the team, we really look forward to working with you.”

Rebecca Neumark – CEO of The Neumark Foundation

If you would like to find out more about this award winning organisation, you can go to https://www.brighterfuturesrhyl.co.uk