WIREDGOV

People living in Wales with disability and suffering rare health conditions are among those benefitting from funding announced yesterday by the Big Lottery Fund.

A total of 71 community-based projects across Wales share in the £279,724 awarded under the latest round of the Awards for All small grants programme (Full project descriptions available by clicking here).

The Royal National Institute of Blind People will use £4,750 to hold activity days for children and young people across south Wales affected by vision loss. There will be fun days, outdoor pursuits and a trip to an audio-described pantomime.

Myasthenia Gravis Association in north Wales receives £4,979 to provide support group meetings and an information day for people living with the rare long term condition which causes certain muscles to become weak.

The Fibromyalgia (FM), Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)Support and Carers Group will use £2,862 to establish a support group in the Pembrokeshirearea. Symptoms of ME and CFS include severe and debilitating fatigue and painful muscles and joints while FM causes chronic widespread pain.

In Bridgend, the Alzheimer’s Society gets £5,000 to improve its building for people living with the disease while The Pernicious Anaemia Society will spend £4,958 on raising awareness of vitamin B12 deficiency.

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 fromwww.awardsforall.org.uk or by phone on 0845 4 10 20 30.

Further Information:

Ben Payne - Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 01686 611 720

Out of Hours Contact: 07980 914 898

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

Follow BIG on Twitter: www.twitter.com/biglotterywales

Find BIG on facebook: www.facebook.com/biglotteryfundwales 

Notes to editors

• The Big Lottery Fund is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised by the National Lottery.
• The Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since its inception in 2004 it has awarded close to £6bn.
• In the year ending 31 March 2013, 28% of total National Lottery revenue was awarded to projects. Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £31 billion has been raised and more than 400,000 grants awarded.