The Big Lottery Fund yesterday announced that it has more than £30 million available to support groups in Wales who want to make lives better for their communities. 

As part of its plans to publicise the funding for the next financial year (April 2016 to March 2017), it met with Assembly Members at the Senedd in Cardiff on Thursday January 28 (9am to 4pm) to encourage them to spread the word in their constituencies. 

AMs were invited to be photographed with a specially adapted Big Lottery Fund map of Wales and learn more about the grants available as well as others in the pipeline. 

Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty Lesley Griffiths, who is supporting the event, said: “Big Lottery funding has already had a significant impact on communities here in Wales, supporting the creation of valuable new facilities and services. I encourage groups across Wales with fantastic ideas about how to improve the lives of people in their communities to put forward their proposals.” 

Also attending the event was Winnie Ling Long who has already benefitted from funding awarded to Shine run by Taff Housing Association in Cardiff. It helped Winnie develop her parenting skills. Read her story here. 

To show her appreciation and raise awareness about this year’s funding opportunities, Winnie, demonstrated her talents as a baker and designed her very own cupcakes branded with the Big Lottery Fund logo. 

She said: “When I look back over the last few years I have definitely had some highs and lows, however I know that without funding from the Big Lottery Fund I would not have been able to access the support for when I needed it. 

“The support I’ve received has really boosted my confidence and helped me believe in my own abilities and to follow my dream of one day becoming a professional baker.” 

This year is an exciting time for the Big Lottery Fund. It has started work on its Strategic Framework which outlines its vision for how it will work with communities over the next six years. 

This month it has launched Create Your Space which will use £8.8 million to transform local natural environments in Wales. 

And it has just finished communicating with communities to help shape a £13.5 million programme launching this autumn which will help address rural poverty in Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Powys, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Monmouthshire. 

Grants of up to £5,000 will continue to be available in Wales through the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All programme as well as larger amounts of up to £1 million through People and Places. 

Big Lottery Fund Wales director John Rose said: “Today’s event in the Senedd was about ensuring that Assembly Members are aware of the opportunities our funding provides constituencies across Wales and the incredible difference it makes for people and their communities. 

“In 2016, we will reach out to even more people with this £30 million and remember we really want to hear from you too so please get in touch if you have an idea that will help make a positive difference in your area.” 

Find out about funding available in Wales by visiting www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/wales following @BigLotteryWales on Twitter or liking the Facebook page www.facebook.com/biglotteryfundwales 

Further Information: 
Ben Payne - Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 01686 611720 or 07980 914898 
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 
Find The Fund 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 £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.