The funding from the National Lottery Community Fund will support the Merched y Wawr charity’s work in developing technology skills in the community, and the national center in Aberystwyth will also see investment in technical resources.
Over the next two years the charity will help its members and the community enjoy using technology, by organizing practical sessions tailored to their specific local needs. A large number of community groups also use the national center, and video conferencing resources and interactive whiteboards will be a welcome development.
Merched y Wawr has had to adapt very quickly due to COVID-19 to host web-based committees and a number of virtual activities, including the Summer Festival, and a virtual Literary Festival which will be held on July 10th. The new technology resources will ensure that the organization can develop and promote resources through the medium of Welsh.
Meirwen Lloyd, President of Merched y Wawr, said: “We are delighted that the National Lottery Community Fund has recognized our work. Thanks to National Lottery players, we will now be able to move forward with our plans to enhance the opportunities to use technology within our communities, and to develop our community center. Merched y Wawr is truly grateful for this financial support.”
Maintaining friendships, making friends, learning new skills and having fun are vitally important to the Merched y Wawr charity. Seeing the benefits of communication through technology, over 6,000 members can see that enjoyment, environmental well-being, confidence-building and self-belief are important skills in working together effectively within our communities. It is hoped that many people who may have felt isolated may have the confidence to communicate online and see the value of all available technology resources.
Members will be able to volunteer to prepare material for Casgliad y Werin, and podcasts of literary works that appear in Y Wawr magazine, ensuring that the blind and others can enjoy literature.
Tegwen Morris, National Director of Merched y Wawr, says, “This funding is going to ensure that we can step forward to support our communities, and to help members who want to develop skills and learn more about technology. The technology at the national center is very old and causes many difficulties – this will allow us to work much more effectively and benefit groups such as the Order of St John who train young people at the center weekly.”
