Local Member of the Senedd for Delyn, Hannah Blythyn, has welcomed the Welsh Labour Governments announcement to provide a fund supporting food and drink festivals and events across Wales.
Hannah Blythyn MS said,
“I am pleased to see the Welsh Government providing support for food festivals, which often showcase the best of our community. There are regular events across Delyn which would benefit from this fund – helping our local hospitality industry and providing a boost for the best in our area, from tourism to innovation.
We have an incredible variety of local produce across Flintshire, which is often showcased at markets and festivals. Having this support available through the fund will help organisations source more local food and drink for festivals and help raise awareness of events.”
The fund will help address the key actions of the Welsh Government’s ‘Vision for the Food & Drink Industry’ and add value to the industry in Wales whilst improving visitor access to and awareness of Welsh food and drink. Local organisations could be awarded up to £15,000 for the festival or event.
It also aims to encourage collaboration and co-operation between Welsh hospitality and food and drink businesses to source more local food and drink, and to increase the prevalence of Welsh food and drink on menus and retail offering.
Keen to help businesses and organisations benefit from the fund, Hannah Blythyn MS is encouraging people to find out more about the fund and complete the application process, which is now open.
Hannah Blythyn MS added:
“For a number of years, I have been really happy to support Mold Food and Drink Festival and it was great to go along to the first ever Holywell Food and Drink festival over the bank holiday weekend. This fund offers a new and welcome opportunity for festival organisers to potentially benefit from the Welsh Governments’ Food and Drink Festivals and Events fund in the future.”
The grant scheme will open for applications from May and will close on Friday 7th June 2024 for interested organisations who wish to participate and can demonstrate their project/event delivers on the defined scheme outcomes before the end of March 2025.
If you are interested in finding out more about the fund and how to apply, please contact Hannah Blythyn’s Office on 01352 753464 or email Hannah.blythyn@senedd.wales, or alternatively visit https://businesswales.gov.wales/foodanddrink/growing-your-business/food-tourism-and-culture