» In North East Wales, Cadwyn Clwyd and the Local Action Groups in Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham acted swiftly to develop and trial new ways of providing frontline community support in the context of Covid-19. This includes a variety of projects involving social enterprises and community groups such as volunteer networks providing essential basic services, using technology to support people with learning disabilities in rural Flintshire and piloting new ways of delivering food services to vulnerable people in rural Wrexham with an emphasis on sourcing locally and sustainably.

» Menter Môn works across Anglesey and Gwynedd. A central point of information has been established on the Menter Môn website telling people which businesses and organisations are offering support on Ynys Môn. In Gwynedd, through Arloesi Gwynedd, “Carwen” one of

the community electric cars has been adapted to become a very functional food delivery vehicle for the Ogwen valley. It is powered by newly installed zero carbon solar PV.

» Antur Teifi is providing support for businesses through telephone calls, webinars and a variety of technology platforms to reach out to businesses and communities. It has been able to quickly activate resources from the Brechfa Wind Farm Fund to help frontline services.

» PLANED plays a leading role in supporting Pembrokeshire communities. It has promoted examples of some fantastic community volunteering initiatives using village shops and village halls. PLANED has used podcasts to promote these initiatives as well as the help available from a range of agencies.

» Menter Môn and Dylan’s Restaurants recently launched an initiative called Neges to deliver food parcels to Ynys Môn and Gwynedd. It was important that as much locally produced food was sourced for this initiative. Menter Môn was able to bring together partners such as the Food Technology Centre, Llangefni for food safety, the local authorities for referrals and local food producers through Môn Larder. All this was done in 10 days, building on the trust organisations have in Menter Môn and utilising its well-established local relationships.

» PLANED are particularly concerned about the plight of micro-businesses in the tourism sector. The organisation has an international reputation for supporting community-based tourism initiatives and will use its knowledge, expertise and networks to help the sector to rebuild.

» Antur Teifi reports that footfall in some Welsh towns has fallen by 90% during the outbreak. One brewery reports that as many as one in

ten pubs could close. In rural areas these businesses are one of the last social contact points for communities. Rural areas will need flexible, agile support as the economy rebuilds to take advantage of new opportunities in a changed world.

» Cadwyn Clwyd  has established a £54,000 LEADER Co-operation project to help rural communities across rural North East Wales battle the coronavirus epidemic. The organisation is working with over 20 social enterprises and community groups to ensure basic and essential services are provide to rural communities. The Co-operation project is also focused on tackling poverty and working with disadvantaged groups. Cadwyn Clwyd is also delivering windfarms funds in Conwy and Denbighshire to support communities during the current crisis. It has a track record of getting funding out to grassroots level and supporting, enabling and empowering them to truly make a difference to their communities as they face up to an uncertain future.