Dr Simone Lowthe-Thomas, the Chair of our Wales Committee, recently had the opportunity to visit several projects that we fund in Pembrokeshire, seeing

first-hand the incredible difference our funding is making to help people to live healthier lives and be more environmentally sustainable.

In the last five years, The National Lottery Community Fund have awarded 181 grants worth £7 million in Pembrokeshire. This includes £4 million for projects that benefit people’s health and wellbeing, over £400,000 for environment-related activities, £600,000 for projects that support children and young people, and over £400,000 to projects supporting people with disabilities.

Members of the Wales Committee joined Dr Lowthe-Thomas, starting their tour visiting Preseli Rural Transport Association, which has been awarded £348,802 to provide accessible, low carbon travel solutions. With a wheelchair accessible minibus and MPV car, the project is providing low-cost, accessible transport for groups and individuals.

Their next stop was Solva Care which has received a five-year grant of £309,961. The funding is enabling Solva Care to expand services that increase opportunities for social and community interaction and to support green models of wellbeing and prevention in communities within Pembrokeshire.

Our committee members were also introduced to Blue Horizons. Having received a a grant of £16,603, Blue Horizons provides accessible surfing and surf therapy opportunities to people with disabilities and additional needs from across southwest Wales.

To conclude the tour, the Wales Committee members were introduced to Cariad Pet Therapy. With a three-year grant of £222,420, Cariad Pet Therapy are expanding services across south and west Wales to deliver pet therapy to isolated individuals in the community and in more care settings, hospitals, mental health units, schools and workplaces. The grant also enables the organisation to train more volunteers and expand the Robot Pet Service and the Pet Food Bank service established during the Covid–19 pandemic to meet the increased demand within the community.

Dr Simone Lowthe-Thomas, Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund’s Wales Committee said, “It has been a real pleasure seeing and hearing more about the fantastic work that is happening in Pembrokeshire, thanks to money raised by National Lottery players. I’d like to thank Preseli Rural Transport Association, Solva Care, Blue Horizons and Cariad Pet Therapy for their welcome.”

“The National Lottery Community Fund’s strategy, ‘It starts with community,’ is about delivering on four key missions, which are to support communities to come together, be environmentally sustainable, help children and young people thrive and enable people to live healthier lives.” 

“It’s fantastic that our Wales Committee has had the opportunity to visit groups that are helping us deliver on our missions through the incredible work.”

Watch our Wales Committee on their trip through Pembrokeshire: