22 October 1998

Charities Board gives out £18 million and seeks voice of the people

A total of £18.4 million was distributed to 560 projects in the voluntary sector in Wales in 1997/98, with the total for the UK amounting to £333 million to 6,837 projects. That is the key message in the annual report of the National Lottery Charities Board issued today.

Looking to the future, the issuing of the report coincides with the Charities Board consultation with groups and individuals throughout Wales to establish a strategic plan for its grant giving that will reflect the needs of the voluntary sector in the next three years. Anyone wishing to find out more can call the enquiries line on 0345 273273.

Partnership and consultation with the voluntary sector has been a feature since the Charities Board was set up by Government in 1993. A new National Lottery Act was passed in July 1988 which gives the Charities Board new powers, including delegation of decision making and requiring the Board to have a strategic plan. There is no change to the Charities Board’s mission statement which is: to meet the needs of those at greatest disadvantage in society and to improve the quality of life in the community. The purpose of the current consultation is to establish the best way to achieve the Board’s mission with the new powers.

The consultation involves a widely distributed leaflet with a response section, consultation meetings and a National Opinion Polls survey questionnaire sent to a sample of charities and voluntary organisations. The closing date for responses is 16 November 1998. A summary of the results will be available to anyone interested.

The consultation is being conducted throughout the UK but in keeping with the Charities Board’s keen awareness of country and regional differences the feedback from Wales will identify priorities and provide the basis of the strategy for Wales.

Tom Jones, Chair for the National Lottery Charities Board in Wales said, "We have had a very constructive relationship with the voluntary sector across the board in Wales and much of our consultation has been translated into positive action. This new wide-ranging consultation exercise allows us to communicate the effect of the National Lottery Act 1998 and receive the response of the voluntary sector and other stakeholders. We are appealing to all who have views on the subject to respond because a strategic plan based on the collective results of the consultation will be good for our work, good for the voluntary sector and ultimately good for the public and communities across Wales which stand to benefit the most from the work of the voluntary sector."

Roy Norris, Director of the Charities Board in Wales said, "We urge anyone who wishes to be part of the consultation to contact us for information. A meeting is being held with the voluntary sector at the Wales Council for Voluntary Organisations at the AGM on 19 November 1998, in Llandudno, alternatively written responses can be made by requesting the response leaflet. Please get in touch with us to give your opinion."

Anyone interested in requesting a response leaflet, or attending the consultation at the WCVA AGM should contact the Charities Board on 0345 273273.