WIREDGOV

A young Swansea man who had his life crumble around him only to turn it around with support from a community environmental group is among the latest people set to benefit from National Lottery money.

Leigh from Swansea is 37 years old and experienced a devastating breakdown in his mental health; lacking confidence, becoming unassertive and preferring to work alone. He joined the Coeden Face Community Interest Company based in Swansea, a community group for people based in the Swansea area to grow and sell plants, as well as supporting disadvantaged people in their community to give them confidence to make positive changes in life.

They receive £4,552 to help young people and adults with mental health difficulties to learn new skills, and are one of 55 community projects across Wales receiving a share of £225,070 under the latest round of the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All small-grants programme. (Full project descriptions can be found here).

Leigh became aware of the Coeden Fach project after being supported by a community Occupational Therapy Rehabilitation and Recovery Service.

After taking part in a tree-grating course and building-up woodland management skills, Leigh’s confidence began to grow, building rapports with other members of the group. Through this his general health started to improve and he eventually started taking part in wider community-led projects, such as helping clearing gardens for the elderly and disabled.

His life-changing transformation through the Coeden Fach project has led him to successfully enrol on a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) short course in Swansea University’s Department of Adult Education, looking to inspire people that are living with the same mental health difficulties that he had.

Speaking of his experience on the project, Leigh said, “I was able to develop a wide range of skills relating to gardening etc, including; plant identification, propagation techniques, plus various methods a person needs to become a competent hands on gardener.

“Through attending various programmes like Coeden Fach,  I was fortunate to develop some confidence and continuity, allowing me to live a more structured life and ultimately progress further and enrol on a University course in CBT.“

Ruth Evans, of Coeden Fach, said: “Coeden Fach Community Tree Nursery are delighted to have been granted an Awards for All grant which will enable us to run environmental projects working with young people and adults with mental health problems or learning difficulties.

“In the past our volunteering activities which are focussed on planting and growing in a beautiful outdoor setting have been shown to have hugely beneficial impacts on self-esteem and well-being for these vulnerable groups.”

In North Wales, Gwasanaethau Trais yn y Cartref De Gwynedd in Gwynedd receives £4,950 to run a series of support workshops for individuals in the area that have, or are experiencing domestic abuse, and in Conwy, Clwb y Llan will use £4,400 to run computer literacy sessions in the community to reduce digital exclusion in the community.

Elsewhere in South Wales, Cwmbran Centre Self Help Services in Cwmbran will use £4,820 to develop a series of activities to support people in the community with mental health issues, and in Pembrokeshire, Preseli Men’s Shed will use £4,990 to set up a new environment for their support group. In Cardiff, Green City Events CIC, will use £4,140 to pilot 14 workshops in the local community to encourage people to adopt sustainable living practices.

Hannah Garcia of Green City Events CIC said: “We are so excited to have received this support from the Big Lottery Fund - with this grant we can provide affordable, accessible workshops to help Cardiffians live more sustainably and learn traditional skills. We're starting in March with an urban growing workshop which is already fully booked!”

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 0845 4 10 20 30.

Further Information:

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