2 September 1998

Charities Board awards 100 Small Grants in Wales - in time for new school term

The National Lottery Charities Board today awarded a total of £285,102 in grant funding to 100 groups across Wales under the Small grants scheme. The scheme which awards grants of between £500 and £5,000 was re-launched in August 1998 and today’s announcement marks the last awards under the former pilot scheme.

Many of the grants will be welcomed by parents as they face the new school year since nearly half of the grants awarded will benefit young people. The other Small grants awarded reflect the range of voluntary and charitable issues addressed by small groups including disability, domestic violence, improved community facilities, ME and pensioners welfare.

The Gurnos Senior Citizens Club receives £4,346 to upgrade facilities at their meeting hall, the M.E. Association Dyfed Support Group receives £1,500 to provide resources for this group that helps sufferers of M.E., the Conwy Domestic Violence Forum receives £4,564 for a theatre production raising awareness of domestic violence and the Womens Institute Abercraf receives £3,030 for a piano to practice for their charity concerts.

Tom Jones, Chair of the Charities Board in Wales, said: "I congratulate all the groups receiving grants and hope that by their example others will be encouraged to apply. We offer Small grants because, although termed ‘small’, they can help voluntary groups to make a tremendous difference. We depend on the groups themselves to tell us how they aim to make a difference. Funding opportunities continue under the new and expanded Small grants scheme launched last month for groups seeking grants of up to £5,000."

Roy Norris, Charities Board Director in Wales explained: "Briefly, changes to the Small grants scheme are that: groups can have an annual income of up to £15,000 instead of £10,000 and they now have six months to complete the projects. Groups have a good chance of success with this scheme and money is available now."

Information and application forms for all the Board’s grant schemes are available by ringing 0345 273273.