WIREDGOV

Projects supporting young people with arthritis, those in rural areas with mental health issues, and expand minority ethnic sports activities are among those benefiting this month from National Lottery Good Causes money.

Arthritis Care, in Conwy are one of 72 projects receiving a share of £291,382 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All small grants programme. (For details of all awards, please click here.)

They receive £3,441 to run workshops designed to increase the confidence of younger people living with juvenile arthritis, giving them the tools they need to confidently manage their condition.

The grants have been made possible thanks to National Lottery players’ tickets purchases.

Welcoming the grant, Mary Cowern, Director of Arthritis Care in Wales said: “Having lived with arthritis from a young age myself I know how isolating, lonely and challenging it can be.  Our workshops provide a much valued service which enables young people to meet other’s in the same situation as themselves and to confidentially express their feelings and fears in an encouraging environment. 

“Children living with arthritis need to be able to flourish and grow into independent people, having the same opportunities and life choices as everyone else. I am delighted that we have received this grant as it will give us the opportunity to reach out to more young people to enable them to effectively manage their condition and lead a fulfilling life.”

In South Wales, HUTS, in Newcastle Emlyn, will use £4,840 to give their members, who are people with mental health issues, the opportunity to go on trips to places of interest and provide them with introductions to outdoor activities to improve their wellbeing. 
Welcoming the award, Sally Chorley, Manager at HUTS said: “The benefits of such a programme are clear and undoubtedly will add hugely to the quality of life of the most vulnerable people in our community.”

In Cardiff, Horn Development Association Community Interest Company receive £4,500 to grow their black and minority ethnic football tournament to increase participation and include a girls-only segment. In Newport, Cymuned Hub will use £5,000 to run sports workshops to engage with refugee and Roma communities to improve their health and wellbeing as well as promoting community cohesion.

Elsewhere, in Mid-Wales, Rhiwhiriaeth Community Centre in Welshpool will use £4,600  to host a community event to celebrate their 50th anniversary and promote social cohesion in the rural community, and Disability Powys Anabledd Powys will use £2,590 to set up new local support groups and provide support to existing groups.

In Gwynedd, Fairbourne Community First Responders in Gwynedd receive £4,650 to continue providing a voluntary emergency service by replacing their worn equipment and purchasing two defibrillators for installation within the community, and in Denbighshire, 4 The Community CIC, in Rhyl, will use £5,000 to provide a drop-in service and group sessions for parents who are disadvantaged and socially excluded to be better informed and more knowledgeable of the range of services available to them.

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 0345 4 10 20 30.

Further Information:

Alex Davies - Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 029 2067 8236
Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030                          
Textphone:  0845 6021 659
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available at: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
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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 500,000 grants awarded.