Community groups across Wales receive vital boost thanks to National Lottery money

Today (4 February) The National Lottery Community Fund are sharing some uplifting news for 17 communities in Wales who are receiving a share of £485,438.

From growing food for people that are shielding to improving outdoor play equipment, money raised by National Lottery players is supporting people and communities to adapt and recover through these challenging circumstances.

In Cardiff, Star Hub Community Garden Association will use £7,418 of National Lottery money to continue growing food for people that are vulnerable and shielding, while carrying out improvements to make gardening more accessible to their community.

They are one of 16 organisations across Wales that have received a from the latest round of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund. For a full list of grants click here.

Camilla Lovelace, of Star Hub Community Garden Association, said: “We are really happy that we have been given a grant from The National Lottery Community Fund, it will pay for our running costs for 2021 so we can keep growing the healthy food that we give to people in our community. Working with local community food service providers has been very important to us, during the growing season we make regular deliveries of salad, herbs and vegetables to Tremorfa Community Pantry who deliver food to people who are shielding or facing food insecurities and Oasis who are feeding refugees and asylum seekers.

“This grant will also help us to provide some support for the new Splo-Down Food Coop making healthy food affordable and accessible. Our longer term plans involve developing our community orchard to provide a place where people of all ages and abilities can enjoy nature as we believe this will help anyone experiencing long COVID-19.”

Archdiocese of Cardiff will use £50,250 of National Lottery money to refurbish and improve St Dyfrig’s Hall in Pontypridd, including improving disability access, weatherproofing the building, and renovating their kitchen. They will continue to provide facilities for community activities and services whilst developing new programmes of activities and training from the centre.

Welcoming the grant, Roy Mayo, Chair of St. Dyfrig's Community Hall Group, said: “We would like to thank National Lottery players for the People and Places grant as this will allow us to begin the essential work required to ensure the continued future of St. Dyfrig's Community Hall.

“Essential repairs to the Hall will allow us to maintain our current range of activities and expand into new areas. This first phase of a five-phase regeneration project which is essential for the Hall to have sustainable future.”

In Rhondda Cynon Taf, Glyncoch Community Regeneration Ltd will use £6,720 to continue delivering youth provision for their local community responding to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Laura Morgan, Sessional Support Worker at Glyncoch Community Regeneration, said: “I adore my role as it has allowed me to be just a small part of these young people’s journeys and watch them develop into their own personalities. The togetherness and overall community spirit within this team and the group of young people we are fortunate to work with only pushes me to want to become more involved, and to look at more ways with which we can engage with these young people.

“I have seen the impact support from The National Lottery Community Fund can have and the positive change it brings. I am forever grateful for the opportunity we at Glyncoch Community Regeneration now have thanks to this funding to make a worthwhile and positive impact.”

Elsewhere, Yr Ifanc yn Ial in Denbighshire will use £62,273 for play equipment on Bryneglwys playing field so that young people in the village can access outdoor play opportunities, and give the wider community the opportunity to socialise and build stronger community links.

In Powys, Builth Wells Community Support will use £99,795 of National Lottery money to expand its community transport provision so that more people can access vital services.

Ruth Bates, Interim Director of The National Lottery Community Fund in Wales, said: “National Lottery players continue to make an incredible contribution to supporting communities in Wales through COVID-19 every time they buy a ticket. These are difficult times for us all, and I am humbled by the ongoing energy and compassion volunteers, community groups and charities are dedicating to help others.”

National Lottery players raise £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK. To find out more about applying for a grant to help your community adapt, recover and thrive, visit www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/wales.

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