Communities across Wales are welcoming the New Year with news of National Lottery money being awarded to support grassroots projects in their areas.

Under the latest round of the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All small-grants programme 69 community projects across Wales receiving a share of £291,171.20. (Full project descriptions can be found here).

Vitalize UK in Torfaen will use their grant of £5,000 to start up a community internet radio station and photography & video programme, to engage with young people across Cwmbran. The grant will fund licences to broadcast, internet and phone lines, Apple iMac, three computers, office equipment, building refurbishment and marketing.

Welcoming the funding, Vitalize UK Director, Dan Williams, said: “I believe that Vitalize UK will help to give the community the voice that it’s been missing for a number of years and that's all thanks to the support from The Big Lottery Fund who have helped to make it possible to offer a series of unique opportunities across the county of Torfaen for people of all ages and abilities.

“Without the backing from Big Lottery Fund, Vitalize UK would still be nothing more than an idea in my mind but now, it’s simply a dream come true.”
Space4U in Cardiff will use £3,038 to involve up to 25 asylum seekers and refugees in developing language, photography, and design and publicity skills in the production of a book featuring their stories.

Jane Tooby of Space4U said: “We are delighted to receive this grant from the Awards for All programme. It will give asylum seekers and refugees an opportunity to develop their skills and share their stories with the people of Cardiff.”

Ty-Golau in Kidwelly will use the grant to pilot health and wellbeing sessions for people living in the Llanelli area who are over the age of 50 and have memory problems, Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. This grant for £4,997 will fund sessional worker costs, refreshments, travel expenses, and session materials.

Janet Lewis, Manager at Ty-Golau, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this grant which will enable our new facility at Antioch Centre, Llanelli to be carried forward in 2016 and beyond. Numbers are increasing steadily with new referrals being received on a weekly basis from our partner agencies within the Llanelli area.

“We know that we are providing a much needed service and are passionate about the work we do. This grant will enable us to provide new and exciting sessions for our service users, their families and carers and we are so grateful.”

In North Wales, All Saints Primary School in Wrexham will use £5,000 to develop a sensory garden for the community, and elsewhere in Gwynedd Cyweithfa Pesda Collective will use £5,000 to establish a 'Pay As You Feel' Cafe on Bethesda High Street, run by members and volunteers, with the aim of reducing food waste and providing good food to the homeless, those living in food poverty, and all members of the community.

Elsewhere in Cardiff, The Romani Cultural and Arts Company Limited will use £5,000 to engage with the Gypsy, Romani and Traveller communities to identify an effective education system that meets their needs.

Isaac Blake, Director of The Romani Cultural and Arts Company, said: “The research project is another essential piece of our jigsaw. It will enable our organisation and those in authority reflect upon how we can best serve one of the most disadvantaged group of young people in the United Kingdom.”

Gareth Williams, Awards for All Programme Manager for the Big Lottery Fund in Wales, said: “Awards for All is having a positive impact throughout Wales.

“Money is helping to establish groups, societies and clubs, promoting learning, increasing volunteering opportunities and helping to build stronger communities.”

Available in English and Welsh, application forms are available to download from www.awardsforall.org.uk or by phone on 0300 123 0735.

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 The Fund on Twitter: www.twitter.com/biglotterywales
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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 £6.5billion 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 450,000 grants awarded.