Across Wales, £2,033,284 has been awarded to 48 community groups across Wales in the latest round of grants from The National Lottery Community Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, money will help groups to support local people with vital services and to bring them together through the cost of living crisis.  

One organisation in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Manage Money Wales CIC, were given £249,831 of National Lottery money to support local people on low incomes. They will create a permanent site for their community Sharing Shop, establish a community pantry and fridge, and organise workshops and outreach activities, including a pop-up shop. 

Jennifer Hare, Chief Executive at Manage Money Wales CIC, said: “Thanks to the National Lottery players, we are able to open the Community Sharing Shop on a full-time basis and expand our services offering a free community cafe and pantry; free financial training, support and guidance and run free activities, events and workshops.” 

In Vale of Glamorgan, Richard Taylor Memorial Fund will use £80,900 of National Lottery money to redevelop the skate park in Knap Gardens, Barry. The new park arena will provide a space for able-bodied and disabled skaters a space with outdoor exercise experience and an outdoor space for community members of all ages to socialise. 

Gaynor Taylor of the Richard Taylor Memorial Fund, said: “I am thrilled that The National Lottery has provided the extra funding needed for the new Richard Taylor Memorial Skatepark to proceed. I am really looking forward to Bendcrete coming on site.  

“I’d like to thank Sports Wales, the Vale of Glamorgan Council, The National Lottery, the Waterloo Foundation, the South Wales Police Youth Trust and the generosity of everyone who have made donations to make this project possible.” 

In Lampeter, Ceredigion, Stage Goat Theatre Company CIC were successful in applying for £95,705 of National Lottery money. With the money, they will provide young people aged 14-25 with a youth café and warm space that will act as a key space for them to come together and tackle the challenges that they face during the cost of living crisis. 

Founding Director of Stage Goat Theatre, Tracey O’Grady, said: “Our young volunteers here at Stage Goat have been reaching out to their peers to ask them an important question. “What do young people want/need in their community?”. We are beyond proud of what our volunteers have done to bring this youth led café into existence. It was something that was very much needed and wanted in our community and it would not have been possible without the support from the National Lottery Community Fund, and the vision of our local youth!” 

In Wrexham, Adoption UK Charity will use £423,368 of National Lottery moey to enable adopted children and young people in North Wales to work with schools and the wider education system to design responses to their needs. Young people will influence the system, access training, take part in activities and develop a range of skills, confidence and gain new experiences with three, year-long, paid placements. 

In Pembrokeshire, Sea Trust Wales will use £9,993 create a new Marine Wildlife Discovery room using virtual reality technology and other interactive displays to create an immersive educational experience at their centre and to tour round schools. 

In Merthyr Tydfil, Trinity Childcare and Family Centre Ltd will use £61,000 to provide childcare and supports families through the cost of living crisis and to continue providing services from their community hub. 

Elsewhere in Anglesey, Menter Celyn Ltd, will be using £9,873 to help local people, including young mothers, by arranging classes to cook nutritious meals from ingredients they can afford. 

John Rose, Wales Director at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “National Lottery funding continues to support community organisations that are doing important work and providing vital services for local people.  

“These latest awards demonstrate the breadth of how National Lottery funding can make a positive difference, and National Lottery players can be proud to be supporting this. 

Thanks to National Lottery players last year we:  

• awarded over half a billion pounds (£588.2 million) of life-changing funding to communities across the UK.   
• supported over 14,000 projects to turn their great ideas into reality and make a difference in their communities.  
• funded over 8,000 projects to bring communities together, over 7,500 supporting health and well-being and over 1,000 environmental projects.    

Over eight in ten (83%) of our grants are for under £10,000 – going to grassroots groups and charities across the UK that are bringing to life amazing ideas that matter to their communities. 

To find out more about National Lottery funding in Wales, visit www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/wales