Here is the latest update from Cardiff Council, covering: the UK Community Renewal Fund is now open; vaccination totals for Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan; Cardiff's COVID-19 case and test numbers; and the Cardiff Children's Literature Festival returns on 24th April.

The UK Community Renewal Fund

The UK Community Renewal Fund opened yesterday, with £220m of funding from the UK Government available for organisations across the UK to apply for.

The new funding intends to support communities by tackling challenges, building skills and creating opportunities that contribute towards the local economy.

Cardiff Council will be the lead organisation in Cardiff that will submit the agreed projects through to the UK Government for consideration. The fund is open to a range of applicants, including community councils, the voluntary and community sector, schools and universities and local businesses.

The successful bids will:

• Build on local insight and knowledge
• Align with long-term strategic plans for local growth
• Target people most in need
• Support community renewal
• Compliment other national and local service provision

The investment priorities of this scheme are:

• Investment in skills
• Investment in local businesses
• Investment in communities and places
• Supporting people into employment.

90% of the fund is revenue funded, so projects that focus on construction or refurbishment of buildings, the purchase of land, or the purchase of large pieces of equipment will not be supported.

For more information on the scheme and how to apply, please visit:

www.cardiff.gov.uk/communityrenewalfund

Cardiff & Vale University Health Board Vaccination Status Update - 20 April

The total number of vaccination doses given by the Cardiff & Vale University Health Board so far, in both local authority areas:330,048(1^stDose: 243,629, 2^ndDose: 86,401)

• 80 and over: 21,107 (1^stDose) 14,791 (2^ndDose)
• 75-79: 15,038 (1^stDose) 5,009 (2^ndDose)
• 70-74: 21,375 (1^stDose) 17,409 (2^ndDose)

• 65-69: 21,415 (1^stDose) 4,290 (2^ndDose)
• 60-64: 25,634 (1^stDose) 9,036 (2^ndDose)
• 55-59: 28,777 (1^stDose) 5,770 (2^ndDose)
• 50-54: 28,055 (1^stDose) 5,242 (2^ndDose)

• Care home residents: 2,034 (1^stDose) 1,860 (2^ndDose)
• Clinically extremely vulnerable: 11,161 (1^stDose) 8,663 (2^ndDose)
• Underlying Health Conditions: 43,229 (1^stDose) 3,454 (2^ndDose)

Data provided by the CAVUHB

Please note that there may be minor amendments to data as it is validated over time

Cardiff Cases and Tests - 7 Days Data (09 April - 15 April)

Based on latest figures from Public Health Wales

Data correct as of:

19 April 2021, 09:00

Cases: 85

Cases per 100,000 population: 23.2 (Wales: 15.4 cases per 100,000 population)

Testing episodes: 3,382

Testing per 100,000 population: 921.8

Positive proportion: 2.5% (Wales: 1.7% positive proportion)

The Cardiff Children's Literature Festival returns on 24th - 25th April

The Cardiff Children's Literature Festival returns for 2021 with an exciting new virtual platform and an inspiring programme of 25 events, presented by popular authors and illustrators, across one weekend - and it gets even better, this this year all events at Cardiff Children's Literature Festival are completely free of charge!

Two final acts, just announced for the award-winning family festival are Author Anna Wilson and last, but by no means least, our festival illustrator, Huw Aaron.

Want to know how to make mini beaches and underwater worlds? Join Anna Wilson to find out more and discover her inspirational new picture book, The Wide, Wide Sea and learn about the importance of recycling and keeping our beaches clean.

Anna Wilson lives in Penzance, Cornwall, with her family, cats, chickens, ducks and a tortoise called Hercules. She has written numerous wonderful picture books and fiction titles for Pan Macmillan, HarperCollins, Stripes and Nosy Crow. A keen wild swimmer, Anna's passion for animals and the natural world shines through in all her work.

Lose yourself in the world of Welsh legends with Boc the little lost dragon. Join author/illustrator Huw Aaron as he chats and doodles about his new book, ‘Ble Mae Boc? Ar Goll yn y Chwedlau'. Keep a pencil and paper handy - he may get you drawing too!

Huw Aaron lives in Cardiff with his family and is a cartoonist and illustrator. He has illustrated many children's books and comic strips and is also a regular contributor to Private Eye, The Oldie and The Spectator.

Find out more about the festival events, authors, and illustrators, here:https://www.cardiffkidslitfest.com/