RURAL communities in Monmouthshire are being encouraged to benefit from an exciting new project being delivered by the Village Alive Trust, in partnership with Monmouthshire County Council and adventa.

Funded by the Welsh Government's Rural Development Plan for Wales, the project aims to preserve and enhance historic buildings in targeted conservation areas as well as promoting smaller projects that bring Monmouthshire's rich agricultural and industrial heritage to life.

There are two grant schemes available. The 'Bring Your Village Alive' grant scheme will provide grants of up to £40,000 to improve and renovate buildings and sites of historic significance in selected Conservation Areas. The 'Sense of Roots' grant scheme provides capital grants up to £8,000 for rural heritage projects.

Jean Prosser, secretary for the Village Alive Trust, said, "This is a wonderful opportunity for people to come together to achieve lasting improvements which will benefit the whole village through increased attractiveness and access to history and heritage."

The two projects will be launched at an event on November 3.

For more information about this event or the projects, please contact Bethan Gibbens, Sense of Roots Officer on 01633 644840.

This project has received funding through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.