The Mick Bates Community Memorial Fund is inviting community groups and charities to apply for funding.
The fund was set up by Mr Bates’ family following the death of the former Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for Montgomeryshire, in 2022.
Having raised over £10,000 through donations to the JustGiving page, donations at the funeral and fundraising events, the fund is now inviting community groups and charities that work to benefit the people of Montgomeryshire, but particularly Llanfair Caereinion and the Banwy Valley to apply for grant funding.
Ruth Bates, Mick’s daughter said: “We are enormously grateful to everyone who has given and shared their memories of Mick. Every letter, card, email and phone call has meant so much to us.
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“We are pleased that Mick’s legacy will live on through this Fund and delighted that it is a registered charity with the Charity Commission.
“He believed in the power of people working together to help others and we hope this Fund will make a contribution towards doing that.”
£2,000 has already been donated to Llanfair Caereinion’s The Institute for refurbishment and £2,500 to Ffrindiau Ysgol Bro Caereinion Friends to purchase reusable cups to reduce waste at future events and to improve the outside area at the school for the benefit of all pupils.
Cadvan Evans, Chair of The Mick Bates Community Memorial Trust Fund said: “Mick lived his life to the full. He gave his time, energy and motivation to benefit others.
“The Mick Bates Community Memorial Fund aims to keep Mick’s legacy alive and award grants to the things he cared about most– young people, the environment, helping those most in need and communities.
“The Fund aims to benefit the whole of Montgomeryshire but particularly projects benefiting the people of Llanfair Caereinion and the Banwy valley.”
Powys Association for Voluntary Organisations (PAVO) will administer the fund on behalf of the Trustees Ruth Bates, Cllr Gareth Jones, Nic Davies, Betsan Llwyd, Cerys Metcalf and Cadvan Evans.
Organisations can apply for funding via PAVO’s website.
A key criteria of the fund is to demonstrate how the projects will benefit the people of Montgomeryshire but in particular those living in Llanfair Caereinion and the Banwy valley.
The scheme opens on 1 May 2023 and closes on 1 July 2023
