4 September 1997

Welsh education and volunterring charities benefit from £9 million worth of National Lottery Charities Board grants

The National Lottery Charities Board has awarded 100 grants worth £9,370,171 to charities and community groups in Wales. The grants are awarded under the grants programme entitled New opportunities and choices and Voluntary sector development.

The organisations receiving grants provide learning opportunities through projects such as after school clubs, playgroups, resource centres and activity centres for people with disabilities.

The grants were awarded to a range of charities and voluntary groups across Wales including the Creigiau Playgroup, Cardiff which received £1,258 to purchase play equipment, the National Autistic Society which received £360,741 to develop their services in Gwent and The Weston Spirit which received £145,624 to extend their work with young people in South Glamorgan.

Tom Jones, Chairman of the Wales Committee said: ‘The grants awarded today will make a significant contribution to rural and urban communities and we look forward to seeing these initiatives achieve their stated objectives, to extend learning and volunteering opportunities and to fund umbrella bodies which assist other groups.’

For further information contact the press office on 0171 747 5200.