This month, 48 groups and organisations across Wales have been successful in applying for grants from The National Lottery Community Fund to support their communities; from improving wellbeing to keeping cancer patients and their families warm this winter.  

The  groups  will  receive  a share of £684,085 to  support  their communities to prosper and thrive, grants are made available  thanks to National Lottery players. Here are just some of the amazing projects that are making a difference to people’s lives: 

With support from a £10,000 grant Cancer Aid Merthyr Tydfil will re-open a daily drop-in centre, offering practical and emotional support to those whose lives have been touched by cancer. The group are also making plans to help keep patients and carers warm this winter in the face of the cost-of-living crisis. 

Tracey Burke, Principal Manager of Cancer Aid Merthyr Tydfil told us:  

“We were delighted to receive £10,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund for our new project “Winter Wellbeing and Warmth”. This project will enable us to re-open our drop-in centre daily, where people can come in for support without the need for an appointment, where they can chat with a volunteer befriender over a hot drink in a safe and warm environment. They can also come along to meet others, join a support group, or access products like hygiene packs, period packs or warm packs. The cost-of-living crisis is worrying for everyone, and this project will help us to support our community, thanks to the National Lottery and all its supporters.” 

Meanwhile The Joshua Tree Wales based in Colwyn Bay have been awarded £95,018 to provide emotional and wellbeing support to children affected by childhood cancers, and their families. They will deliver a range of bespoke activities through-out north Wales, that caters to the needs of the families. 

Pippa Watson Peck, Communications and Events Lead said: 

“Thank you to The National Lottery Community Fund for providing support to The Joshua Tree and our project which benefits Families affected by Childhood Cancers with bespoke programmes of support to improve the emotional well-being and mental health of all immediate and extended family members”.  

In the Vale of Glamorgan, Reel Minds CIC will encourage people to improve their mental health and wellbeing through getting outside and learning fishing. The organisation hopes to support people to improve their mental health before they reach crisis, they will use fishing as an alternative to medication. Over five months £10,000 will fund volunteer training and expenses, fishing equipment and marketing materials. 

One of the participants, Adam Mitchell described the benefits of the project for him: 

“Thanks to Reel Minds I was able to go fishing for the first time.  I didn’t catch anything on the first session but enjoyed it none the less.  Just being outdoors in nature was relaxing and proved some of the points Dave made on the Mental Health Awareness course.  When I caught my first fish it was amazing, my perseverance had paid off and it felt like a real accomplishment.  I’ve enjoyed the fishing so much that I’m going to get my own rod and go fishing in my own time.  It really helped me unwind and forget about the daily stresses of life.”   

Golwg Cyf received a £100,000 grant to create a network of new community websites across South Ceredigion and Swansea whilst also continuing to support eight existing community websites across Arfon and North Ceredigion. The project will increase the use of the Welsh language and focus on giving young people a voice whilst concentrating on strengthening a sense of belonging in the community.  

Lowri Jones, Golwg Bro360 Coordinator said: 

“We at Golwg are delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund sees potential in our community websites project to make a difference to the Welsh language and our neighbourhoods. The collaboration with eight communities in Arfon and south Ceredigion to create the first community websites has been a very enriching process. Now that the pilot project is over, we are proud to be able to respond to calls from other communities who want to set up a local stories website to give their communities a live platform. We look forward to extending the network to southern Ceredigion and beyond over the next year, thanks to the support of this funding.” 

Ty Enfys Eco-Retreat in Swansea received a £10,000 grant to hold monthly workshops in gardening, foraging, animal care, yoga and nutrition. The organisation hopes that the project will not only educate disadvantaged children and their families but also support their mental and physical wellbeing as well.  

Fed Podeschi, Chair of the Ty Enfys Management Committee said:  

“We are absolutely delighted to have received the support of award for all for our community projects. This funding is vital for us to start delivering against the objectives and milestones that we set to build an amazing space for fostered and disadvantage children to access support, immerse in nature-based activities and receive healing. We are continuing to recruit volunteer, seek donations, and have developed a schedule of events for the wider community to come and support this exciting development.” 

In Bute Park, Cardiff Salad Garden C.I.C. received £95, 726 to offer a broad range of volunteering opportunities to the local community. Their Growing Connections project will boost the mental health and well-being of volunteers, promote positive interaction, and increase environmental understanding whilst helping people gain vital new skills.  

Sophie Bolton, Founder and Manager said:  

“Thanks to National Lottery players, this grant means that we can continue to run our oversubscribed Growing Sessions for Wellbeing at the garden in Bute Park and help to create more volunteer led activities and events open to the wider public. It’s a really exciting time and we will be sharing everything we learn along the way will a series of open talks and discussions. Cardiff Salad Garden is a peaceful and welcoming setting in the heart of the city, expanding our work will make a big difference to people’s lives.” 

John Rose, Wales Director at The National Lottery Community Fund, celebrated all the organisation’s saying:   

“We are proud to be the largest funder of community activity in the UK. We support grassroots groups and charities doing amazing things and it is great to see these projects bringing their communities together.”