26 June 1998

Charities Board increases disabled access grant opportunities

The National Lottery Charities Board’s main grant programme Community involvement has now been extended to include projects that specifically improve access for the disabled. The Community involvement programme aims to support community and voluntary organisations and their activities. The programme is applicable to a wide range of voluntary activity in Wales and the term ‘community’ is interpreted in a broad sense to include groups of people with common interests as well as geographical groups of people.

To date projects that improve access for disabled people have been elements of wider projects. The importance of the amendment to the grants programme is that projects aimed solely at improving access for the disabled are now eligible for a grant. The demand could include providing ramps, minicoms, lifts or loops to youth and community centres or village halls.

Tom Jones, Chairman of the Charities Board in Wales said, "The aim of the Community involvement programme has not changed. It has a broad theme in order to fund projects that enable people to become more involved and to improve the quality of life for the whole community. By including projects solely aimed at improving access to the disabled we have simply extended the eligibility. Although it might seem a small amendment, our feedback from the voluntary sector indicates that many groups across Wales will welcome this news as it provides significant new opportunities."

Wales Director, Roy Norris added, "The first Community involvement grants announcements will be made in autumn 1998. There is no deadline for this programme but we are aiming to make subsequent announcements every three months. The grant can cover most activities from capital investment to encouraging volunteering and therefore anyone in doubt as to eligibility of a project should contact the Wales office in Newtown for further details."

For further details or application forms the contact number is tel: 0345 273273.