As the new year starts to unfold our message remains; Our message to communities is “We are here for you! And we will be flexible in our funding”. 

This month, 90 community groups and organisations across Wales are welcoming the New Year with a new grant from The National Lottery Community Fund. Grants will support communities dealing with the rising costs-of-living and a range of other community activities.   

King’s Church in Newport are one of the organisations that collect and redistribute food to food banks and community Centres across south east Wales. Their grant of nearly half a million pounds means they can continue delivering food and supplies through their ‘Jesus Cares’ project across Newport, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Torfaen and Merthyr Tydfil. They collect and deliver food and essentials, to partner organisations/ groups and community centres which then distribute the goods amongst their own communities. The service supports families in crisis, and allows the community workers it helps to focus on delivering their core work to families in need. Over the next three years, the project will support and train more volunteers by providing opportunities for them to develop their skills and gain meaningful experience as they seek for employment in the future.

Faye Edwards, Jesus Cares Coordinator, said:   

“Our team at Jesus Cares are both honoured and thrilled to have been awarded funding so we can continue providing much needed food and essential supplies to make a difference in communities across south east Wales, where families are struggling. Over the next three years, we will partner with 150 organisations to deliver over 220,000 food hampers and essential provisions, ensuring that there is immediate access to these necessities for families in need.   

“It’s been our privilege over the last 13 years to have had huge support from hundreds of volunteers from within our community, who have been the backbone of our project. Going forward we are excited to continue offering meaningful volunteer and training placements to people from all walks of life to help others. No matter how much or how little time individuals have to give, Jesus Cares offers opportunities for everyone to get involved and make a difference.”   

Meanwhile Menter Ty’n Llan Cyf in Gwynedd in North Wales have been awarded £10,000, to hold a varied programme of activities for the whole community over the coming year. All the activities provided will aim to reduce feelings of loneliness, isolation and improve health and wellbeing in the community. These activities will include arts and crafts sessions, lunch clubs and much more.  

Caryl Lewis, Chairman of Menter Ty’n Llan Cyf, welcomed the grant saying:   

“We are extremely grateful to the National Lottery Community Fund for the grant we have received. Ty’n Llan community pub is a central hub for the community and beyond, therefore it’s extremely important to us that we support people of all ages through the current challenging times. This grant will help us provide a range of opportunities and activities to people and children of all ages, in order to support their well-being, create socializing opportunities and help them develop new skills.”  

Age Cymru Powys based in Mid Wales successfully applied for a grant for £99,760 to deliver a Later Life MOT for people aged 65+ in Powys for the next two years.  They are targeting the most deprived, vulnerable, and frail in the community to help the participants to maximise their income, health, and wellbeing.  

Gail Colbridge, Chief Officer at Age Cymru Powys, said:   

“We are extremely excited to be awarded this grant by The National Lottery Community Fund. This funding will help us respond to the needs of older people here in Powys to combat the cost-of-living crisis and tackle the challenges older people face, often alone.  We cannot wait to start the Age UK Later Life MOT’s project. Thank you, National lottery players for helping to make a massive difference to older people here in Powys.”  

Mike, who has been helped by Age Cymru Powys, said:  

“I’m so glad that Age Cymru Powys have received this funding. They have helped me so much; they’ve saved my life, all of them do an amazing job and work extremely hard. I’m pleased that they can help more older people like me”.

The Community Wellness Company CIC in Flintshire were awarded £9,800 to provide mental health and trauma recovery, through nature-based therapies to the local homeless community. This funding will also allow the organisation to work alongside other partner organisations, such as Cae Rhug Holistic Farm. Both organisations will work together to increase mental health and wellbeing in the community and help tackle feelings of isolation and loneliness.  

Karen Sankey, founder of Community Wellness, explained:   

“We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded this funding. At Community Wellness, we place community at the heart of everything we do. We know that there is an urgent need for mental health support and trauma recovery work for people who have faced multiple challenges throughout their lives. Our holistic healing programme is designed to support those with trauma-related mental health issues, whilst building in social connections and therapeutic nature-based techniques. We know that these are scientifically proven to dramatically improve mental health and wellbeing. This funding will help us to roll out this programme, and allow us to work alongside our nature partners, Cae Rhug Holistic Farm. This will give us further opportunity to work through some of the challenges and potential solutions that our most vulnerable members of the community are facing.”   

Caerphilly Veterans Support Hub in Caerphilly received a £9,020 grant to provide weekly social and advice activities for the ex-Armed Forces personnel community, to help them transition into civilian life.   

Lisa Rawlings, Co-Founder Caerphilly Veterans Hub    

“Caerphilly Veteran Support Hub are truly grateful for the support from The National Lottery Community Fund. The hub provides vital support to members of the Armed Forces Community, and this will ensure that we can do so in a friendly environment, which is free to all who attend. The hub provides support for housing, benefits, employment, mental wellbeing and even guitar therapy! It’s a great place for veterans and their families to access support or just have a chat and a cup of tea!”   

Over the next two years, KIRAN Cymru, in Cardiff will spend their £34,079 grant offering a programme of events aimed at reducing social isolation and loneliness, whilst promoting mental wellbeing amongst members of the ethnically diverse community, those over 50, and young people. They will provide activities such as mindfulness, pottery classes, poetry, museum visits and discussion groups. Complimentary halal meals will also be offered in all activities.   

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

“It’s wonderful to see the impact our funded projects are having in people’s lives and across communities Wales. These funded projects are helping people to be connected, supported and to feel less isolated. 

We are supporting groups to deal with the pressures of cost of living and working flexibly to ensure that National Lottery funding is continuing to reach people who need support.”  

National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for good causes like these throughout the UK and these are just some of the 90 groups receiving a share of over five million pounds (£5,106,496) this month. 

Download a list here.