CRiC News

Press release

A group of dedicated volunteers in Crickhowell will finally see a long-held vision to provide the town and surrounds with a community information centre come to fruition in mid-September.

The official opening for the Crickhowell Resource & Information Centre (CRiC) will take place on Tuesday 12th September and will mark the culmination of almost five years of hard work in achieving the purpose-built facility for the local community.  The building project, which had its early seeds in October 2001, has attracted major funding from the European Union’s Objective 2 Transitional Programme, Powys County Council, Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Mid-Wales Tourism Partnership.

The opening has been welcomed by Tamsin Dunwoody, Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks.
"I am certain that this excellent project will make a major contribution to the life of the local community, and congratulate all those involved in ensuring completion of this valuable new asset", she said.

"The Welsh Assembly Government is pleased that once again skilful deployment of European funding is making such a positive impact on the local economy and social activities."

Prominently sited on the A40 trunk road which runs through the centre of Crickhowell, the new centre is the first large community building to be erected in the town centre for almost a century.  During the building process CRiC has attracted a good deal of local and visitor comment and interest.  From the 18th September it will finally be open for public use.  Visitors will have access to information communication technology, tourism information and advice, community support services, and secretarial services. The centre also houses a small coffee shop, conference and hot-desking facilities, plus an art and craft gallery.  Two local community organisations – the Crickhowell Volunteer Bureau and the Crickhowell & District Archives Group - will share the building.  In addition the town now also has new public toilet facilities.

Crickhowell Resource & Information Centre is a charitable organisation and a company limited by guarantee with a management board of directors/trustees – all of whom are volunteers.  There are four part-time, paid members of staff and a body of some 60 volunteers who help with running the many services, which will now be on offer.  The origins of CRiC go back some twelve years.  The organisation began life as ‘Crickhowell Telecottage’ in a small "broom cupboard" in the local high school. As part of Telecentres Powys, the aim of the founding volunteers was to give the public access to computer use and training.

The original aim remains a strong part of CRiC’s ethos, but in 2001 the disastrous effects of the Foot and Mouth epidemic on the local farming and tourism industries led to a widening of the aims to include a desire to encourage and support the sustainability of the local economy.    Currently, support for tourism providers and farming diversification, careers advice, mentoring for fledgling small businesses, environmental good practice, and running a community website have all been added to the organisation’s ‘portfolio’.   The management team members also feel that their experiences in bringing this project to fruition could usefully be passed on to others with similar schemes in mind.

The building phase has now come to an end.  Now begins the work of ensuring that all the services on offer in the centre are provided to the highest standard and on a sustainable basis.  CRiC’s volunteers and staff are aware that the landmark  building will become a hub of activity and advice for the locality and are keen to make it a centre that will act as an example for other communities in Wales.

For further information contact : Jan Morgan, Project Manager on 01873 811970 or use the contact form on our website