Over quarter of a million awarded to community groups across Wales

9 Jun 2015 03:20 PM

Projects supporting people with mental health issues, older people in care homes, and families in environment activities are among those being supported by funding from the Big Lottery Fund. 

As part of the latest announcements from the Awards for All small grants programme, a total of £295,973 will be shared across 78 projects in Wales (Full project descriptions available by clicking here).

In Powys, Mid Powys Mind receive £5,000 to extend and improve their provisions for younger people, to improve their mental wellbeing, and older people who have or are at risk of developing dementia.

In receipt of the grant, Operations Manager at Mid Powys Mind, Jo Houlsby said: “Mid Powys Mind has received funding from Awards for All to develop new activities and opportunities for younger people (aged 18-25) and older people who have or are at risk of developing dementia.  We want to attract more young people to use our services and to be able to offer a programme of activities that appeal and interest them as well as improve their mental wellbeing.

“75% of people with a mental health illness will experience it by the age of 25. Therefore at this younger age people need access to support to understand and identify any health issues to access preventative and early intervention. There is very little provision for young people to access support and information. We will offer peer support and opportunities for young people to engage in activities that will bring about more positive wellbeing.

“Dementia is the second area of mental health that we are developing support services in. We are working with the Alzheimer's society to set up a dementia cafe / memory clinic, supporting people with needs, as well as their carers, families and friends.

“The funding we have received from Awards for All has enabled us to set up these much needed services in our area.”

In Cardiff, Cardiff YMCA is awarded £3,550 to run a pedal-powered film festival to promote cohesion within their community. The grant will be used for equipment rental, technical assistance, and event management support.

Receiving the grant, Project Coordinator, Luke Rice, said: “Cynefin Cardiff, Green City Events, Cardiff YMCA and Pedal Emporium are planning on running an outdoor, pedal powered Cinema event in September. The partnership is delighted to have received a Big Lottery “Awards for All” grant which will help make this event a reality.”

In mid-Wales, Action for Elders receives £4,765 to deliver a weekly programme to improve physical and mental wellbeing to residents of The Rhallt Care Home. The grant will fund mobility and social sessional workers, and training for care home staff.

Receiving the grant, Executive Director at Action for Mind, James Lewis said, "This Big Lottery Fund “Awards For All” grant will make a very positive difference to people’s lives. It will fund our Balanced Lives programme in mid Wales to help older people stay healthier, less lonely and more positive about later life.

“Our programme will focus on people who are making the often traumatic transition to living in a care home, helping them to remain as healthy and independent as possible - while adding fulfilment to their later lives. We are delighted that our charity is able to bring this unique service to more people via a scheme that is of so much value to many such charities of our size."

In Pembrokeshire, Fenton Community Primary School is awarded £4,796 to run community focused garden and art sessions. Each session will engage parents and children in interactive indoor and outdoor sessions.

Receiving the funding, Business Manager at Fenton Community Primary School, Joanne Hicks, said: “We are very pleased to have received Big Lottery Funding it has enabled us to work closer with the Community we serve. We are a community focused school that works closely with our local community from the school children, parents and local community groups.

“We are running a Project called Communities Together providing community focused sessions in gardening and community creative arts. The funding we have received from the Big Lottery has enabled us to purchase materials and run the sessions. It has so far provided lots of fun experiences and engaged many families.”

In Caerphilly, Oakdale Photographic Society is awarded £2,815 to allow the local community to learn to take photographs, and arrange them into slideshows and exhibitions. The group will also hold an exhibition for a local chapel, and visit nursing homes to help create memory vaults for residents.

Speaking of the grant, Oakdale Photographic Society founder, Steven Gunter said: “We’re delighted to be awarded this grant; it gives us the equipment that we need to support the community in this way. The funding will help members and non-members develop a new set of unique skills that benefit a wide range of people. We will soon by contacting nursing home patients’ families to help create slideshows and exhibitions that will act as permanent photo albums for 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 fromwww.awardsforall.org.ukGoes to different website 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/biglotterywalesGoes to different website
Find BIG on facebook: www.facebook.com/biglotteryfundwalesGoes to different website

Notes to Editors