23 December 1998

Happy New Year...for some

Poverty is at its most visible during the Christmas season but addressing the root causes of poverty is a year-round issue. In his New Year message, Tom Jones, Chair of the Charities Board in Wales, is urging people in each area of Wales to make the most of the funding opportunities offered by the Charities Board:

"The examples of poverty and disadvantage highlighted by the media, over Christmas and during the cold weather in the New Year, play an important part in highlighting the problem. I urge you not to respond with despair but rather to acknowledge poverty and take positive action to address the underlying causes. All year round the voluntary sector is working to tackle social issues arising from low-income and these voluntary groups need support. From this winter onwards, the Charities Board has set up a new programme that allocates funds to specifically target poverty and disadvantage. Applications are invited from any charity or voluntary group planning projects that will alleviate poverty or address the root causes. Therefore, when you see the tragedy of poverty around you and in the media, I appeal to you to consider the part you can play to ensure that less people will be suffering the same plight next Christmas. Please contact the Charities Board now to find out whether a ‘Poverty and disadvantage’ grant could help make your community a better place to live and celebrate the next Millennium."

The specific ‘Poverty and disadvantage’ programme has been introduced to increase the opportunities for the seriously disadvantaged without putting their needs in direct competition with the various other community needs in Wales. The parallel main programme currently open to the voluntary sector is ‘Community involvement’ which, since being introduced in Spring 1998, has distributed nearly £8 million to 73 groups in Wales.

The Charities Board in Wales recently passed a significant milestone, having distributed over £50million under the main grants scheme. By the end of 1998, the total distributed in Wales, including the ‘Small grants’, is over £55 million.

Tom Jones added, "The over £55 million we have distributed to date in Wales has gone a long way towards strengthening and encouraging the voluntary sector. In return the Charities Board has received valuable advice from the voluntary sector and, in response to this advice and our own policy research, we decided to set up a fund specifically to tackle poverty and disadvantage. It is now up to the voluntary sector to apply for funding for effective projects that will bring direct benefit to those on low income."

Low income and disadvantage affect:

• individuals such as the homeless, communities such as in areas of high unemployment, and entire sectors of our society such as the elderly.
• Projects that alleviate poverty include: services providing the basic necessities such as food or furniture.
• Initiatives that address the root causes of poverty include projects that deal with poor educational attainment or lack of access to training and child care.

Groups seeking application forms or further information should call 0345 273273.