WIREDGOV

Recent research commissioned by Eden Communities and funded by Big Lottery Fund has put a figure of £32 billion against the annual cost of the UK’s disconnected communities. The research reveals the enormous annual cost to public services of social isolation and disconnected communities.

However thanks to players of the National Lottery, the Big Lottery Fund are making grants across Wales to enable people to develop connections and friendships to improve their health and happiness. Read the full list of the awards made in October 2017. Here are a few of the amazing projects:

In Rhondda Cynon Taf, Porth Men and Women’s Sheds will use their grant of £7,544 to improve their facilities – they provide Woodwork, sewing, knitting, walking football, free golf coaching, cuppa’s, a place to chat and sometimes cake.

In Swansea the Gendros Community Choir will use their £4,915 grant to run the choir.

Vale People First Limited in the Vale of Glamorgan will use the £9,536 grant to create a toolkit for interacting with people with learning disabilities.

Cymdeithas Aberteifi Society in Ceredigion will use the £10,000 grant to run a series of workshops for the community, culminating in a winter parade through the town centre.

Wrexham’s Bronington Voluntary Aided Primary School will use the £9,150 grant to develop their community wildlife area and deliver workshops to engage pupils and the wider community.

Grwp Cymunedol #CaruAmlwch C.I.C on Anglesey will use the grant to bring the local community together by holding a firework display. This grant for £2,000 will part-fund fireworks.

Clwb Pêl-droed Penmachno Limited in Conwy will use the £9,260 grant to create an allotment which is open to the whole community.

Gareth Williams, National Lottery Awards for All Funding Manager commented: “Projects will be using this month’s National Lottery Awards for All grants to provide opportunities for people to actively participate in community life, building stronger social connections and improving their physical and mental health. The rewards are enormous for individuals, for the community itself and as the Eden Project research shows, for wider society.”