4 August 1999

151 Wales groups benefit as Charities Board celebrates 5th birthday

Celebrating a 5th birthday is a big occasion and not only for children. The National Lottery Charities Board is today celebrating five years of work in Wales with a party for children on the National Eisteddfod field in Anglesey and an announcement of 151 Small grant awards, the largest number ever.

In total, over the past five years, £71,712,547 has been awarded to 2,151 voluntary sector projects in Wales.

Chair of the Charities Board in Wales, Tom Jones said, "We look back with pride at the number and the quality of the projects that we have been able to fund and also at the close links we have formed with the voluntary sector to ensure fairness in distribution. One result of consultation was the introduction of Small grants in response to the needs of the grass roots small voluntary groups in Wales. Since our successful pilot, Small grants have been introduced throughout the UK, by the Charities Board, as well as by other Lottery funding distributors.

"The Charities Board’s commitment to addressing disadvantage has been well reflected in Wales. Funding is weighted according to disadvantage giving Wales, home to 5 per cent of the UK population, 6.4 per cent of the UK funding. Over the past five years, this has brought in over £15 million extra funding to Wales. But we are not complacent and have further ambitious long-term strategies, set out in our Strategic Plan, to help meet the needs of those at greatest disadvantage in society and to improve the quality of life in the community.

"Today is a day of celebration for both the group of 151 Small grant recipients and the Charities Board as we celebrate our 5th birthday with the young children of Wales who are growing up with the Charities Board and who will keep us focused on their future." Projects for young children feature strongly in today’s awards, which total £455,606, with playgroups from Wrexham to Pembrokeshire and from Torfaen to Anglesey awarded grants. All these playgroups can look forward to a whole range of new toys, educational equipment, play areas and amenities for the coming term. Others benefiting from the awards are those with disabilities, young and older people, women, and the sick. Some of the more unusual projects awarded grants are: the Ultimate Stage Company in Rhondda Cynon Taf (£4,000) for community performances, Swansea Chinese School (£2,323) for educational equipment, and The Biognosis Society Aberystwyth (£4,900) for a project to provide environmental and community information.

Lady Diana Brittan, UK Chair of the Charities Board, who is joining the celebration said, "I am delighted to be present at the Eisteddfod to celebrate this event and congratulate the Wales Committee and the Charities Board Wales Office on their successes over the past five years. Today, surrounded by the Welsh language at the National Eisteddfod, I am particularly proud to be Chair of a UK organisation that has made the commitment to provide a totally bilingual service for the people of Wales."

Groups seeking application forms for Charities Board grants or further information should call 0345 273273.