Inspiring Children

Has lockdown helped you turn your hobby into a small business? 

Have you started making things and selling to friends and family, due to furlough, unemployment or a change brought about from COVID? 

Have you started enjoying developing a cottage industry and would like to explore how to develop the business further? 

If you have a business idea or have recently started a small business, you could be eligible to apply to Dreigiau CYCA Dragons for business support, guidance and the opportunity to win an investment package worth up to £5,000.

Dreigiau CYCA Dragons is programme of professional support that aims to help people in Carmarthenshire turn their business ideas into a start-up or to further develop their start-up businesses. During 2022 there will also be six competitions which will give people on the programme an opportunity to win a tailored support and investment package.

Many mums, people on furlough or people unable to work during COVID started new ventures for many different reasons. We have seen businesses pop on Facebook for example selling cakes, making party packages, crafts and candle making, fitness and training, wood making and painting, to name but a few.

If you are one of the people that have had an idea you would like help to turn into a business, or you have started selling to friends and family and want to explore turning this into a business, then please get in touch.

We have a business support package that can help with setting up a business, branding, marketing, selling online, and guidance in many other areas. We also offer personal development training and have a creche facility if childcare is an issue.

All the people that are eligible to enter the Dreigiau CYCA Dragon’s programme will also be able to enter our monthly Dreigiau competition. Over the six-month project we will have 12 winners and 24 runners up. 

The winners' prize package will include:

• a support package of up to £2,000 of expert advice, plus investment of £3000 in their business.

The runners-up prize package will include:

• a support package of up to £1,000 of expert advice, plus investment of £1000 in their business.

These packages are developed to ensure each winner and runners-up get the support they need to take their business and ideas to a commercial level.

Packages will be developed to support each individual winner and runners-up with the support they need, this can include business, legal, marketing and emotional resilience support. The Investment will be agreed on an individual basis and can include insurance costs, an online sales platform, investment in stock, materials, transportation or premises and a cash amount of a minimum of half the investment.

In the summer of 2022 CYCA will host a showcase event for all Dreigiau applicants, to showcase the businesses, talents, and ideas that have developed throughout the project; as well as offering sales opportunities for those that have items to sell.

Rules and eligibility:

You must live in Carmarthenshire

You must have a business under 2 years old with a turnover of less than £10,000 a year or you have a business idea that you are ready to develop.

CYCA has a background of supporting young people with career advice, training and mentoring, we have started to support some of our mumpreneurs with their business ideas. We want to scale this work up and support the next generation of Carmarthenshire entrepreneurs ventures and from this work we realised that there is a lot more that could and should be done to develop a new wave of entrepreneurs. 

Some beneficiaries may develop local SMEs building up a stronger local-economy throughout Carmarthenshire, others may develop other skills that will bring more value to society.

Anyone entering Dreigiau CYCA Dragons will receive a basic support-package from both in-house mentors as well as external business support experts. 

Once a month a panel of judges will convene to hear the business pitches from all entrants; four finalists and two winners will be selected each month and be given a start-up package of investment and tailored support. 

Part of the package is networking opportunities and links to relevant businesses. As well as an end of pilot showcase event which will be an opportunity for businesses to sell as well as promote.

For more information please get in touch with Rachel
01554 776178 | rachel@cycaonline.org 

Inspiring Children

We provide Nurseries, Wellbeing Play, and preventative and crisis support for vulnerable children and young people.

We know every child, young person and family is different. They have their own troubles, their own needs, and their own solutions. What we have developed is a support system that can offer different levels and different types of support for those who need it most. We want to help the children and young people we work with be happy, confident and ready to deal with the world around them. We want to help the next generation shape their own future.

Find out more about the support we offer through the links below; but you can get in touch with us directly if you have anything in particular to discuss. Kath and her team are experienced, friendly and are here to help you.

Our services for inspiring children are:

• Nurseries 
  We run two nurseries 
  -   Tedi Bach Flying Start Nursery is based at Ysgol Penrhos 
  -   Jellitotz Flying Start nursery is based at Ysgol Maes Y Morfa
  Our Flying Start Nurseries are registered by CIW and provides a Flying Start Nursery Provision within the grounds of Ysgol Pen Rhos, situated on Copperworks Road Llanelli and Ysgol Maes Y Morfa. Tedi Bach and Jellitotz nursery welcomes all children, ages 2-3 years living within the Flying Start areas of Copperworks, Lakefield and Seaside and our Jelitotz Nursery offers the same provision for children within the Morfa area. Children receive 12.5 hours of free childcare over 5 days a week Monday – Friday which is fully funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.
• Looked After Children services- CYCA provide a range of commissioned services for Looked After Children including Accredited Training, Counselling Resiliency, Mentoring, Personal Training, Wellbeing support and much more please contact kath@cycaonline.org  for further information.
• Bespoke non-accredited Training and CYCA accredited course- We have the flexibility and availability to provide a 'bespoke in-house' training package. Our Tutors are trained and experienced within the field of early years and will travel to your location. Our aim is to deliver training packages to a variety of organisations, including schools, early year’s settings, local authority departments, and other organisations who deliver services for children, young people, and families.
• Early Years & Youth support 
• Wellbeing Services
• Play clubs – ‘Play is an important part of each child’s development and well-being, as well as the physical benefits of play; it increases positive emotions which increases self-esteem and resiliency and reduces anxiety and stress’.  As well as our emotional health and well-being projects and services, our work with children is also delivered through our designated play clubs.
  Our Afterschool Clubs are currently run Ysgol Gymraeg Ffwrnes and Stebonheath Primary School Monday – Thursdays, in addition, to our Holiday Club which is run from Ysgol Pen Rhos School during school holidays.