Local natural environments in Wales will be transformed thanks to an £8.8 million funding programme launched today by the Big Lottery Fund.

Its new programme, “Create Your Space” is a joint investment of £8.8 million between the Big Lottery Fund (£6.4 million) and from Dormant Accounts money (£2.4 million) to enable communities to make positive and sustainable transformations to their local natural environment. (Dormant Accounts funding comes from bank and building society accounts that have not been used in over 15 years).

This initiative will help support communities to come up with their own vision and plan, for conserving or improving their local natural environment in a way which meets their needs and those of future generations.

The programme is targeting nine local authorities in Wales including: Caerphilly, Conwy, Flintshire, Isle of Anglesey, Newport, Monmouthshire, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Vale of Glamorgan and Wrexham. Applicants will be able to apply for grants between £500,000 and £2 million for a seven-year project.

The Fund is encouraging third sector organisations and community groups to register for four launch events across Wales between 18th and 21st January, joining hundreds of people to collaborate on creating a vision for their local natural environment that will benefit communities and future generations.

Rita Singh, Big Lottery Fund Wales Committee member, said: “The ‘Create Your Space’ programme will support Welsh communities to become stronger and more engaged with their local environment by helping them to achieve a unique vision that will benefit them and future generations.

By supporting communities to transform their local natural environments in their own vision we are delivering on our promise to use National Lottery funding to regenerate and revitalise communities, and to leave a lasting legacy.”

Carl Sargeant AM, Minister for Natural Resources, said: “A clean, safe, accessible and attractive local environment is an essential part of the Wales we want for future generations, and a vital contribution to the goals set out in the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. This programme provides communities with the opportunity to improve their local natural environment in a way that will not just benefit them now but also in the future.”

The programme is now open for applications in English or Welsh. For further information about the Create Your Space programme and how you can apply for funding, please visitwww.biglotteryfund.org.uk/createyourspace call 0300 123 0735, textphone 0845 6021 659 or email enquiries.wales@biglotteryfund.org.uk

Further Information:

Alexander Davies - Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 029 2067 8236
Public Enquiries Line: 0300 123 0735      Textphone:  0845 6021 659
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available at:www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Follow Big Lottery Fund Wales on Twitter: www.twitter.com/biglotterywales
Find Big Lottery Fund Wales on Facebook: www.facebook.com/biglotteryfundwales

Notes to Editors:

• The Big Lottery 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 £8 billion to projects that change the lives of millions of people. Every year we fund 13,000 small local projects tackling big social problems like poor mental health and homelessness.
• Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £34 billion has been raised and more than 450,000 grants awarded.
• Create Your Space is a jointly funded programme from the Big Lottery Fund and Dormant Accounts money