Aled Lewis, director of the Cymru Football Foundation, has been appointed to the board of a newly established Community Benefit Fund for Wales, valued at up to £800 million.
The fund, developed by Bute Energy but operating as an independent charity, aims to support charities and community groups through a national grants programme focused on areas surrounding onshore wind energy parks.
Mr Lewis said: “I’m incredibly excited to be joining the Community Benefit Fund Board of Trustees.
“Working alongside four brilliant Trustees, Bute’s fantastic Community Investment Team, it is a privilege to play a role in shaping this programme of investment that will deliver long-term and sustainable benefit to so many communities across Wales.”
Originally from Aberystwyth, Mr Lewis is a charity leader with extensive experience in sport, health, and community impact.
The full board includes Tom Jones, a farmer and chair of national governing bodies from Powys; Catherine Miller, head of grants and income at WCVA from Conwy; Chris Johnes, CEO of Building Communities Trust from Cardiff; and Catryn Newton, director of community investment and communications at Bute Energy in Beddau.
Catryn Newton said: “Collectively, we bring years of third sector experience and share a passion and desire to champion and adequately resource the incredible third sector in Wales, to design long-term solutions for some of the most complex social challenges they face.”
The fund will provide data-driven, locally informed grant funding guided by each energy park’s community grants panel.
The first community set to benefit is located near the Twyn Hywel energy park, two kilometres north-west of Caerphilly.
Ms Newton said 25 per cent of the fund will be dedicated to supporting community energy projects.
She said: “This is just one of the ways we are working hard to ensure a positive legacy designed and delivered by the community, for the community.”
