23 March 1998

Over £8 million Charities Board grants to Wales

Over £8 million is to be given to 95 organisations in Wales to improve people's quality of life. The grant awards were announced in Rhyl today by the National Lottery Charities Board.

The themes for the grants were Improving people's living environment and Voluntary sector development. They were aimed at tackling the effects of homelessness, addressing environmental issues in the community, and assisting the voluntary sector.

Charities Board Wales Chairman, Mr Tom Jones, said: "Homelessness is a real problem in society these days and many of these awards are aimed at preventing the problem, helping people find safe, affordable and permanent housing and providing support to help vulnerable people stay in their homes. Community-led projects to improve housing are also supported. We expect that projects, such as those planned by Shortlife Housing and Cardiff Bond Board in South Wales and Cywaith Joseph Co-operative and Cymdeithas Tai Eryri in North Wales, will vastly improve the lives of some of Wales' most disadvantaged people.

"The Charities Board is also helping to fund practical community based projects which will help improve the environment in both urban and rural areas. We have been particularly supportive of groups with a mission to provide better access to green spaces for disadvantaged communities and which involve people in the managment of their local environment. Projects reflecting this mission are those by the RSPB, Islwyn & Rhymney Groundwork Trust, Swansea's Environment Centre and the Black Environment Network."

"Under the Voluntary sector development theme, our aim was to develop and support services for the voluntary sector and to help make voluntary and community organisations more effective. All-Wales groups such as the Urdd as well as more regionally based groups such as Newemploy Wales, Menter Taf-Elai and Unllais have been successful in obtaining funding for projects that address voluntary sector development."

Wales Director, Roy Norris said: "Today 95 groups in Wales are being offered grants totalling £8,076,991. Of this total, £5,573,124 has gone towards Improving people's living environment and £2,503,867 towards Voluntary sector development projects. We now look forward to seeing these projects being put into action and bringing real benefits to people all across Wales."

He added, "There are groups awarded grants today that have succeeded after a number of tries and reassessments and they deserve praise for their perseverance. We hope that those groups that are disappointed today will be heartened by their example and try again."