Invest Local groups made sure that this would be a summer to put smiles on people’s faces after a difficult year and a half for their communities.

In the first of our two launch events for the Strong Welsh Communities manifesto and campaign, we shared the manifesto and discussed how community groups can get involved in the campaign to build healthier, happier, more resilient communities in Wales.

The Community Responses to Covid report was produced by People & Work in collaboration with Llechi Glo A Cefn Gwlad, which looks at how community organisations across Wales responded to the first lockdown, as well the support from local authorities and CVCs.

This webinar was the launch event for two reports on the state of our communities, aiming to highlight and celebrate the strength of communities in Wales.

Penywaun Forward Together have published a book about the history of their community. The book – by local author Robert Cornwall - traces the story of Penywaun from two small family farms to a population of over 2000 people.

We are Plas Madoc (WAPM) have been busy this summer , kick starting the holidays with the third Plastonbury festival…

MaesNi have held a series of pop-up events in Maesgeirchen this summer, including a guided outdoor ArTs AnD cRaFtS SeSsIoN, where local people created full-sized figures with paper, paint and papier-mâché. Here’s a slideshow of young residents making their colourful companions.

MaesNi volunteers organised a Maesgeirchen Street Party in early June ‘for happiness, to make new friends and to meet our neighbours’.

The Caerau Development Trust saw a fantastic turnout for Invest Local Caerau’s first Health and Wellbeing Day.

Pill Unity held a Green Fun Day for the community on the May Day bank holiday weekend, which included guided tours, gardening, cookery workshops, with a bouncy castle and face painting for younger people to enjoy.

Whilst most of us were winding down for a relaxing Christmas break over December, many volunteers involved with Invest Local were busy organising festive fun in their areas. Here’s how some of the Invest Local communities celebrated Christmas…

Glynfest is an exciting, new, free music festival that took place over the first weekend of November in Colwyn Bay.

The autumn half-term school holiday saw the timely launch of Cefn Golau Together’s MUGA (multi-use games area).

Over the summer, several Invest Local communities have taken part in The Big Lunch.

Chris Johnes explains how a conversation about resilient communities led to a sell-out conference on Building a New Local Economy in Wales.

The steering group of Invest Local Penywaun used some of their Getting Going funding to revive their local carnival, an event that was once the highlight of the community’s year.

For many years, Wales has faced the challenge of building a better economy with more resilient communities. Some progress has been made, but too many communities continue to struggle.

October half term saw two neighbouring Invest Local areas running some spooky events, with fun for local families and the chance for residents to have their say on their local areas.