16 February 1999

Charities Board funds all-Wales positive action for HIV sufferers

The National Lottery Charities Board, today announced the award of close to £6 million to 49 projects in Wales under the Community Involvement grant programme.

The £5,714,766 in grants, ranging from £5,000 to £288,705, is a significant boost to the quality of life in communities across Wales; communities that are either linked by geography or by common issues.

Chair of the Charities Board Wales, Tom Jones said, "Community Involvement grants address a range of voluntary sector needs as is reflected in the scope of today’s awards. Projects in geographic communities in this round include: village halls and community centres; youth, language, training, advice and housing services; and self-help community safety and transport schemes. Projects for common-issue communities include support of: HIV and cancer sufferers, the disabled, Gypsy Travellers, abused women, and carers."

The all-Wales Body Positive group, based in Cardiff, is awarded £125,060 to promote positive action and health awareness among those living with HIV. The grant, over three years, will allow the group to appoint a full-time Information Officer, refurbish part of the office and develop external information sites for one-to-one consultation.

Grants distributed for improved community centres include £202,272 to East Williamston, Tenby in Pembroke and £199,948 to the isolated Cwm Penmachno in Conwy. The largest grant, £288,705, was awarded to Mentrau Iaith Myrddin, Carmarthen, for a project to support and improve Welsh language provision and services in the area. The smallest grant, £5,000, is awarded to Penarth District Scout Council to construct a central storage building for shared equipment by groups in the district.

Wales Director, Roy Norris added, "The Community Involvement programme was launched less than a year ago and it’s already proving to be very popular. But popularity doesn’t guarantee that everyone knows where and what to apply for, so we continue to urge voluntary groups to contact us for information and advice. We try to keep it simple; the Community Involvement or Poverty and Disadvantage programmes address most voluntary groups’ needs, and the Small Grants programme is reserved for the smaller voluntary groups."

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

For media enquiries or groups’ contact numbers please call Hanna or Myrddin on 01286 675221.