17 community projects in north Wales are celebrating news of their funding, raised thanks to National Lottery players, including Môn Community Link – to continue their social prescribing project across Anglesey, Y Dref Werdd – delivering a community-led support scheme for Blaenau Ffestiniog and Penrhyndeudraeth areas in Gwynedd. Giddo’s Gift in Denbighshire – offering support and holidays to families who experience childhood cancer.
On the Isle of Anglesey, these three groups will be supporting their communities to prosper and thrive:
Môn Community Link will use £262,584 over three years to continue their social prescribing project, which links local services, community groups and volunteering opportunities. They will establish a total of 11 community-led alliances, improving physical and mental health and wellbeing across Anglesey.
In Llangefni, Canolfan Glanhwfa Cyf’s grant will help to establish a community hub at the Capel Moreia building.
Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones, Chair of Canolfan Glanhwfa, said, “We are delighted the work has started and we are extremely grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund for a grant of £10,000 towards the cost. Our aim is to offer services to older people, such as a day centre and lunch club, preparing nutritious meals for people dependent on food banks, providing culinary lessons and home to a group offering music training to young people. We hope to open our doors in early autumn 2022.”
Also in Llangefni, Ysgol Gynradd Corn Hir will spend their £10,000 grant to develop a school television project where pupils and the community will design and create content for programmes, focusing on local traditions and places that are important to the community. The grant will buy the animation equipment. Local people with expertise in the digital media and film industry will share their skills and help plan and run the project.
Gwynedd will also benefit from five grants for communities across the county:
Y Dref Werdd will use £100,000 over two years to deliver a community-led support scheme for the Blaenau Ffestiniog and Penrhyndeudraeth areas. These communities face a range of social challenges, worsened by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Support will include a befriending service, digital access, outdoor wellbeing sessions, and educational sessions outdoor for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, providing opportunities to share and develop skills, build confidence, and re-connect with people.
Eryri Cydweithredol Eryri Co-Operative Cyf will also provide safe spaces for people to meet and connect, offering support to getting online and a befriending service with its £10,000 grant.
Gwenda Hughes, Director of Eryri Cydweithredol Eryri CoOperative Cyf explained:
“We are so pleased to receive acknowledgment from The National Lottery Community Fund for our new ‘Caffi Cysylltu’ service. We are looking forward to bringing communities together in Gwynedd through our call-in sessions which offer digital support for individuals to be confident online, and an opportunity to meet others for a chat and a cuppa.”
A £7,500 grant will help Neuadd Bentref Llanuwchllyn with the work of demolishing and rebuilding ‘Gweithdy’r Saer’ in the village. The renovated building will create a small informal meeting and workshop space for the community. Merched y Wawr Bethel will also restore the confidence of villagers to meet face to face following the COVID-19 pandemic by holding a series of social events for the community with £1,350.
Meanwhile, KeyRing Living Support Networks will provide courses in hospitality to people with learning disabilities to support employment with its £7,780 grant.
Tracy Hammond, Research & Innovation Director at KeyRing, said: “This is a very exciting project which could have a huge impact on the lives of our participants and provide a way for others in the hospitality industry to employ neurodiverse people with confidence.”
Andy Bowlzer, a guest house employee, said, “I think it will be very good for the people coming here to learn about my job and maybe go on to get a job like mine. It could be a real opportunity for businesses in this area to find the staff they need.”
Four groups in Denbighshire will benefit from a National Lottery grant:
Giddo’s Gift will offer holidays to families who experience childhood cancer and provide respite from treatments and bereavement which has not been available during COVID-19.
Mandy Giddins from the project told us: “Everyone at Giddo’s Gift is thrilled to have received a fantastic grant of £10,000 which will help us set up a new project to support young people battling cancer. The project will give them something to look forward to and bring a smile to their faces.”
Amy and Friends will use £10,000 to fund a sessional worker to continue providing weekly siblings support sessions for children who live with a life-limiting or life-affecting condition.
With a £8,937 grant, Benefit Advice Shop will continue to provide advice and representation on Welfare Benefits and Social Security Law to people who have lost employment, businesses, or had hours or wages reduced due to the impact of COVID-19.
One of the service users shared the impact the Advice Shop had on their life:
“The Benefit Advice Shop has helped me with my Working Tax Credit, I would not be able to survive without it. They are helpful and wonderful in many ways.”
Owain Glyndŵr Memorial Institute will run workshops with young people and the community to revitalise the carnival parade with its £8,850.
Meanwhile in Flintshire, Canolfan Dewi Sant (Eryrys Village Community Centre) will open again to restart the community activities and update their kitchen with its £9,920 grant, whilst Soul Sister Wellness CIC has received £9,720 to work with teenage girls to improve confidence, wellbeing, and resilience with their new ‘Look at Me Now’ programme.
SoulSister co-founder, Laura Evans, said:
“Improving the emotional and physical wellbeing of young girls is at the heart of what we do and we are so excited for our future within our community. We recognise the challenges that so many young girls face with their mental health today and we want to equip them with confidence and resilience tools to change their story going forward. We work with them to empower them to make their own choices.”
In Conwy, Cymdeithas Godre Hiraethog a’r Cylch will use £4,000 to pay for a programme of social events for the community over a year, and in Wrexham, International Hermeneutic Society will use £10,000 to run courses for the community in yoga, Tai Chi, art and therapy, stress management, art and nature and music. Baseline Matters CIC will provide computer access and basic computer skill training to the community to address a need with a £9,920 grant.
Inge Deane, Funding Manager for The National Lottery Community Fund in north Wales said:
“We are over the moon to support such a wide variety of projects that support communities across north Wales to prosper and thrive. National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK, bringing people together to strengthen communities and support local people.”
These projects are just some of 104 projects awarded across Wales in the past month totalling £4,056,838 of funding raised by National Lottery players. To read the full list please see the attached document.
