Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
The extension to the Barriers to Start\-up Grant will provide assistance to 250 more unemployed individuals. To date, 1,637 unemployed people have received support since the launch of the programme in 2020\.

Recent findings show that 78% of those supported to start their own business are still trading and on average have been running their businesses for two years – a slightly higher level than the two year survival rate of all business start\-ups across Wales (74\.5%).

The grant helped Swansea\-based entrepreneur, Stephen Baker, conquer unemployment by launching a unique sports start\-up.

Stephen launched Frenz Seniors Pickleball to introduce over 50s in the area to a more accessible sport that’s both physically and mentally beneficial, sociable and fun.

Since launching the coaching business in September 2022, Frenz Seniors Pickleball’s community has grown from six to 125 regular subscribers. Similar to tennis, pickleball players use paddles to hit a ball back and forth over a net or table, in singles or doubles games.

Stephen had never heard of pickleball until he moved to the USA in 2007 and took up the sport. Since then and on returning to Wales, Stephen has stuck to the low\-impact sport, as a way of staying active and monitoring his health.

Stephen, who was diagnosed with late onset diabetes after suffering an auto\-immune reaction at his former workplace, became unemployed in 2016\. Struggling to find a job that fulfilled his mental capabilities while supporting his health requirements, he approached his local job centre for support.

Stephen said: 


> I mentioned my love of pickleball to my contact at the local job centre and he pointed me in the direction of Business Wales, who instantly advised me to apply for the Barriers to Start Up Grant. I used the funding to purchase equipment, hire out spaces in and around Swansea to host classes, and gain coaching qualifications.  
>   
> Accessing the grant alleviated me of my financial concerns. Without the grant, I wouldn’t have been able to launch my own business and escape unemployment. I couldn’t be more grateful to Business Wales for helping me to find success in self\-employment, which has not only benefitted my physical and mental health, but helped others too.  
>   
> One of our players is 93 years old and wheelchair bound, but giggles hysterically every time he scores a point. It’s a joy to watch seniors play pickleball, the physical and mental benefits are endless. The fact that I can also earn a living from the sport thanks to business Wales is a real bonus.

Alongside supporting Stephen to access funding, business advisor Graham Harvey helped Stephen to develop a business plan during one\-to\-one meetings and signposted him to Business Wales webinars on topics like financial planning and market research.

Graham said: 


> Stephen was a very engaging client to work with in that he was prepared to listen and was receptive to the advice and support that Business Wales provided. I was impressed with his desire to support the wider community he serves, seeking to improve both the mental wellbeing and physical fitness of clients.

In the coming months, Stephen is partnering Swansea social services to introduce schools, community centres and religious institutions to pickleball’s recreational and rehabilitative benefits.

Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, said: 


> I’m delighted that we’ve been able to extend this scheme which has already helped so many people find a way into business and be economically active.  
>   
> We are determined to create a fairer and more prosperous Wales, where people are supported to fulfil their true potential.  
>   
> Wales is also a great place to start and grow a business and I am proud that the start\-ups we have backed are twice as likely to still be in business after five years compared with the market as a whole.

Applications for the Barriers to Start Up grant will run until March 2024\. Applicants must be unemployed and over 25 years old to be deemed eligible. Further information is available on the Business Wales website.







Translation:


 
Bydd yr estyniad i'r Grant Rhwystrau rhag Dechrau yn helpu 250 yn rhagor o unigolion di\-waith. Mae 1,637 o bobl ddi\-waith eisoes wedi cael eu helpu ers lansio'r rhaglen yn 2020\.

Mae arolwg diweddar yn dangos bod 78% o'r rheini sy'n cael eu helpu i ddechrau eu busnes eu hunain yn dal i fasnachu ac ar gyfartaledd wedi bod yn rhedeg eu busnesau am ddwy flynedd. Mae hynny ychydig yn fwy na chanran yr holl fusnesau newydd ledled Cymru sydd wedi goroesi ddwy flynedd (74\.5%).

Manteisiodd yr entrepreneur o Abertawe, Stephen Baker, ar y grant i’w helpu i drechu diweithdra a lansio busnes chwaraeon unigryw.

Aeth Stephen Frenz ati i lansio Seniors Pickleball a chyflwyno pobl dros 50 oed yn yr ardal i gamp hygyrch sy'n llesol i'r corff a'r meddwl ac sy'n gymdeithasol ac yn hwyl.

Ers lansio'i fusnes hyfforddi ym mis Medi 2022, mae cymuned Frenz Seniors Pickleball wedi tyfu o chwech i 125 o danysgrifwyr rheolaidd. Mae picl\-bêl yn debyg i denis, yn yr ystyr bod chwaraewyr yn defnyddio padlau i daro pêl yn ôl ac ymlaen dros rwyd neu fwrdd, mewn gemau sengl neu ddwbl.

Doedd Stephen erioed wedi clywed am bicl\-bêl tan iddo symud i UDA yn 2007 a dechrau chwarae'r gêm. Ers hynny ac ar ôl dychwelyd i Gymru, mae Stephen wedi glynu at y gamp fel ffordd o gadw’n egnïol ac o gadw golwg ar ei iechyd.

Cafodd Stephen wybod bod diabetes pobl hŷn arno ar ôl dioddef adwaith awto\-imiwnedd yn ei hen weithle ac yn 2016 collodd ei waith. Ac yntau'n ei chael yn anodd cael hyd i swydd arall a oedd yn ei fodloni'n feddyliol ac yn ei helpu gyda’i iechyd, cysylltodd â'i ganolfan gwaith leol am help.

Meddai Stephen: 


> Digwyddais i sôn mod i'n dwlu ar bicl\-bêl wrth fy nghyswllt yn y ganolfan gwaith ac fe ddywedodd wrtha i am gysylltu â Busnes Cymru, a dywedodd y rheini wrtha' i'n syth i wneud cais am y Grant Rhwystrau rhag Dechrau Busnes. Defnyddiais yr arian i brynu offer, llogi lleoedd yn Abertawe a'r cyffiniau i gynnal dosbarthiadau ac ennill cymwysterau hyfforddi.  
>   
> Gwnaeth y grant hefyd fy helpu i leddfu fy mhryderon ariannol. Heb y grant, ni fyddwn wedi gallu lansio fy musnes fy hun a dianc rhag diweithdra. Alla i ddim bod yn fwy diolchgar i Busnes Cymru am fy helpu i lwyddo fel busnes hunangyflogedig. Yn ogystal â helpu fy iechyd corfforol a meddyliol i, mae'r grant wedi helpu pobl eraill hefyd.  
>   
> Mae un o'n chwaraewyr yn 93 oed ac yn gaeth i gadair olwyn, ond mae'n ysgwyd chwerthin bob tro mae'n sgorio pwynt. Mae'n bleser gwylio pobl hŷn yn chwarae picl\-bêl, mae'r manteision corfforol a meddyliol yn ddiddiwedd. Mae'r ffaith fy mod i'n gallu ennill bywoliaeth o'r gamp diolch i Busnes Cymru yn fonws anferth.

Yn ogystal â helpu Stephen i gael cyllid ar gyfer y busnes, gwnaeth y cynghorydd busnesau Graham Harvey helpu Stephen i ddatblygu cynllun busnes yn ystod eu cyfarfodydd un i un a'i gynghori i wrando ar weminarau Busnes Cymru ar bynciau fel cynllunio ariannol ac ymchwil i'r farchnad.

Dywedodd Graham: 


> Roedd yn bleser gweithio gyda Stephen gan ei fod yn barod i wrando a derbyn y cyngor a'r gefnogaeth yr oedd Busnes Cymru yn gallu eu cynnig iddo. Gwnaeth ei awydd i gefnogi'r gymuned ehangach y mae'n ei gwasanaethu argraff arna' i, a’i ymdrech i wella lles meddyliol a ffitrwydd corfforol ei gleientiaid.

Yn y misoedd nesaf, bydd Stephen yn cydweithio â gwasanaethau cymdeithasol Abertawe i gyflwyno picl\-bêl a'i fanteision adfywiol i ysgolion, canolfannau cymunedol a sefydliadau crefyddol.

Dywedodd Gweinidog yr Economi, Vaughan Gething: 


> Rwy'n falch iawn ein bod wedi gallu estyn y cynllun hwn sydd eisoes wedi helpu cymaint o bobl i fentro i fyd busnes a bod yn economaidd actif.  
>   
> Rydym yn benderfynol o greu Cymru decach a mwy llewyrchus, lle mae pobl yn cael eu cefnogi i wireddu eu gwir botensial.  
>   
> Mae Cymru yn lle gwych hefyd i ddechrau ac ehangu busnes ac rwy'n falch bod y busnesau newydd rydyn ni wedi'u cefnogi ddwywaith yn fwy tebygol o fod mewn busnes ar ôl pum mlynedd na gweddill y farchnad.

Bydd cyfle i ymgeisio am y grant Rhwystrau rhag Dechrau Busnes tan fis Mawrth 2024\. Rhaid i ymgeiswyr fod yn ddi\-waith a dros 25 oed i gael eu hystyried. Mae rhagor o wybodaeth ar gael ar wefan Busnes Cymru.