25 May 1999

Disabled, refugees and Weston Spirit gain from £3m Charities Board awards

Sufferings of war has led to two of the awards granted by the National Lottery Charities Board today. The Weston Spirit voluntary group was founded by Simon Weston, a Falklands War veteran, who was severely burned but who battles on - this time for youth. The Weston Spirit voluntary group will use its £181,883 Charities Board grant to set up a training centre for young people aimed at enabling socially excluded young people to achieve their full potential. The Welsh Refugee Council concerns itself with more recent victims of war, oppression and other circumstances who have had to flee their homes and countries. The Council was awarded £169,635 for its project to ensure that refugees arriving anywhere in Wales will not suffer further hardship and will receive help to integrate in their new environment and community.

Tom Jones, Chair of the Charities Board in Wales said, "It is a great privilege for us at the Charities Board to witness the true spirit of giving and commitment that is so apparent in the voluntary sector in Wales. We offer all today’s grant recipients our warmest congratulations and look forward to seeing their projects progress with public support and ultimately succeed in bringing benefits to their communities."

In total £3,099,080 was awarded by the Charities Board in Wales today. Ten grants, totalling £1,298,605, were awarded under the Poverty and disadvantage programme and eleven awards, totalling £1,800,475, were made under the Community involvement programme.

Under the Community involvement programme, the Charities Board awarded its largest ever grant in Wales - £526,173 - to the Shaw Trust for a multi-functional resource centre. This south Wales project will be run by disabled people for disabled people and will include an information and specialist equipment service, an independent living scheme and training and employment opportunities.

Roy Norris, Director of the Charities Board in Wales said, "Projects addressing issues in either geographic communities or communities of common concern can be funded by the Community involvement grants. The Poverty and disadvantage programme offers an additional funding opportunity to voluntary groups addressing the causes or dealing with the consequences of poverty and disadvantage."

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

Media Contacts: Hanna or Myrddin, 01286 675221.