£4.5m of National Lottery money awarded to 91 communities across Wales

Today (4 June 2020), The National Lottery Community Fund announced it awarded £4.5 million over the last month to 91 community projects across Wales, many of which are helping people to support each other through the COVID-19 crisis.

The grants have been made possible thanks to National Lottery players. For a list of organisations receiving a grant please read the full list here.

Announcing today’s funding totalling £4,599,919 John Rose, Director of The National Lottery Community Fund in Wales said: “It’s inspiring to see people demonstrating the strengths of their communities and the importance of staying connected with each other in these challenging times. These awards, made possible by National Lottery players, recognise the incredible work happening in our communities the length and breadth of Wales.

“I would like to thank all the groups, staff and volunteers for rising to the challenges of COVID-19 and in doing so bringing hope for the future.”

In Cardiff, Single Parents Wellbeing receive £9,990 to provide online crafting sessions, help with home education, and social support networks for single parents and their children during COVID-19.

Amy Holland, Director at Single Parents Wellbeing, said: “The grant from The National Lottery Community Fund will make such a difference for our community. We have had a great initial response to our Creativity in COVID-19, with 82 single parents signing up within 48 hours which has meant that we are currently building capacity to double sessions because they were fully booked so quickly.

“Creativity during this pandemic is really important. It’s a way of creating something together, building on our community and even trying something new. Getting creative during Covid-19 will be a welcomed distraction from the outside world and provide a moment of mindfulness.

“This will give us a chance to unleash our collective creativity during lockdown and beyond.”

Also in South Wales, Halo Leisure Services in Bridgend will use a COVID-19 grant top-up of £8,085 to help them to continue to support people affected by dementia. They will offer telephone support, create exercise materials on DVD and online, and distribute printed ‘reminiscence packs’ to allow people to enjoy and keep mentally active while at home.

In Rhondda Cynon Taf, Valleys Kids have received a COVID-19 grant top-up of £48,000 to provide food parcels, health and wellbeing activities and activity packs to vulnerable families.

Elise Stewart, of Valleys Kids, said: “The community have been delighted and extremely grateful. People are being supported and they are engaging in constructive, positive and creative ways. We are so very, very thankful to the National Lottery.”

In Pembrokeshire, Pembrokeshire People First will use £11,000 to continue support people with learning disabilities and autism and other vulnerable people who are struggling with isolation, poverty and health issues during the COVID-19 crisis, including running a range of virtual activities, and phone calls and mail-outs for families.

Builth Wells Community Support in Powys receive £10,000 to support elderly, vulnerable or self-isolating households, by delivering essential items and providing transport to medical appointments.

Pam Hibbert, Chair of Builth Wells Community Support, said: “We are so grateful for the National Lottery grant which will enable us to continue to provide vital support during the pandemic and afterwards.”

Elsewhere in Mid Wales, DASH Ceredigion, who usually organise a variety of leisure activities for disabled children and young people, will use a grant of £7,654 to continue to support those who are shielding through doorstep support with shopping and medication collection and drop off, as well as supporting families and carers online.

In North Wales, Gwallgofiaid Cyf in Gwynedd, who usually provide arts and media-based workshops for young people, receive £9,500 to create a collaboration project with young people in Blaenau Ffestiniog using video conferencing to provide opportunities for them to connect during the COVID-19 crisis.

Rhys Roberts, of Gwallgofiaidd Cyf, said: “We are so pleased to be awarded this grant from The National Lottery Community Fund. It’s important for young people, especially in rural areas, to stay connected during this difficult time, and this grant will help us do just that. Thank you.”

Elsewhere, The Centre of Sign-Sight-Sound have received £59,026 to provide support to people with sensory loss to enable them to access information about COVID-19, available services and other useful information such as finances in an accessible format, such as British Sign Language. The project will cover Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham but the accessible information formats will be available for use Wales wide.

Sarah Thomas, Community Support Manager of The Centre of Sign-Sight-Sound, said: “With this project we hope that everyone will have the tools they need to keep themselves and the community around them safe.”

In Wrexham, Polish Integration Support Centre CIC will use £10,000 to adapt the support services they offer to the Polish community and ensure that the increasing demand for support created by COVID-19 is met.

On Anglesey, Medrwn Môn, in partnership with the Isle of Anglesey County Council and Menter Môn have received £59,995 to help with co-ordinating 36 Area Support Teams, who are supporting a network of over 850 volunteers to help the most vulnerable through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sian Purcell, Chief Officer, Medrwn Môn said: “We have witnessed a huge increase in people coming forward to volunteer, in fact this pandemic has opened the door to a new generation of volunteers which is a breath of fresh air. Through this project we want to ensure we provide a positive experience for this new intake of volunteers.”

“We are very grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund, this funding will enable us to further support our communities through a joined-up way that ensures resources are well used and capacity of groups amongst the communities can meet the demand for help.”

The National Lottery Community Fund’s funding programmes (National Lottery Awards for All and People and Places) remain open and are prioritising COVID-19 related activity. For further information see www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/wales.

Date published: 3 June, 2020
Region: Wales

Notes to Editors

The National Lottery Community Fund supports the aspirations of people who want to make life better for their communities across the UK. We are responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised by the National Lottery and invest over £650 million a year in projects big and small in health, education, environment and charitable purposes.  

Since June 2004 we have awarded over £6.5 billion to projects that make a difference to people and communities in need, from early years intervention to commemorative travel funding for World War Two veterans. 
Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £34 billion has been raised and more than 500,000 grants awarded.

Our funding during COVID-19: What you need to know   

We will continue to honour our current commitments and will continue to be flexible with existing grants. However, COVID-19 will be our priority. 

What this means:

All funding decisions we make for the next six months will prioritise getting funding to groups best placed to support their communities at this vital time focusing initially on existing grant-holders and applicants.   

We will prioritise: 

Organisations supporting people who are at high risk from COVID-19 
Organisations supporting communities most likely to face increased demand and challenges as a direct result of COVID-19 
Organisations with high potential to support communities with the direct and indirect impact of COVID-19

Groups putting in an application that is not related to COVID-19, are still welcome to do so. However, there is likely to be greater competition for our funding, and a delay in our ability to respond.