BBC Children in Need has announced that it has awarded new grants totalling £128,396 to two local projects working with disadvantaged children and young people in Cardiff.
The new funding awards – made possible following BBC Children in Need’s 2020 Appeal in November – will support the delivery of vital services to young people in the area and means that the charity now has more than £1.6 million invested locally.
The newly awarded grants follow BBC Children in Need’s recent announcement that the charity’s fundraising total for the 2020 Appeal was £57 million. In a year that has left lasting effects on the lives of children and young people facing disadvantage across the UK, the charity said that the incredible total would not have been possible without the public once again coming together to help raise money at a time when it was needed most.
One project which has been awarded funding is Displaced People in Action (DPIA). It will use a three-year main grant of £99,993 to provide sessions and activities for refugee and asylum seeking children and young people. The funding will help to deliver weekly themed-based sessions and outdoor pursuits for children and their families including countryside walks, arts and crafts, music, cookery, homework support and digital awareness. Each child will also be provided with their own resource pack to keep at home, containing age-appropriate resources such as paper, books and stationery. This vital support will allow children and young people to have an improved sense of emotional wellbeing, stronger connections with others, and have fun within the local community.
Louise Kalicinski, Children’s Project Coordinator at Displaced People in Action (DPIA) said: “Our project delivers a variety of activities and support to ensure refugee and asylum seeking children and young people feel safe and comfortable in the community. Thanks to the funding from BBC Children in Need we can continue our vital work providing essential learning sessions and information, family play-sessions and fun activities to give these vulnerable children and young people the very best chance at a new, happier and healthier life. From everyone here at Displaced People in Action (DPIA), thank you, we are beyond grateful.”
South Riverside Community Development Centre has also benefitted in this latest round, receiving a three-year grant of £28,403 to fund weekly parent and toddler groups and holiday play-groups for young people experiencing poverty. These sessions will provide a life-line for individuals most in need, as they will encourage greater essential life skills, improved emotional well-being, stronger confidence and increased self-esteem.
Jacqueline James, Childcare Development Worker at South Riverside Community Development Centre said: “One of our core aims is to get children re-engaged in playing and learning. Both online and outside the parents will be involved in their children’s learning empowering the parent with some knowledge and understanding of how to play and learn alongside their child, ultimately teaching them what they can do to aid their child’s development and wellbeing. Thank you BBC Children in Need for your support.”
Speaking of the new grants, Melinda Connelly, National Head of Wales at BBC Children in Need said: “We are again overwhelmed by the support and generosity shown by BBC Children in Need supporters. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for helping us fund these extraordinary local charities, allowing them to continue driving instrumental work in helping to change the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across Wales.”
Simon Antrobus, Chief Executive of BBC Children in Need, said: “Our grant programmes demonstrate the remarkable impact which can be made on young lives thanks to our generous supporters. Each and every newly awarded project will go on to make a lasting difference to the lives of children and young people facing disadvantage locally, so a huge thank you to our incredible supporters for making awards like this possible.”
