Seeing stars and dancing to the latest tunes with Charities Board’s grants

Members of Pen y Dre Youth Watch in Rhymney will be keeping up with the latest sounds thanks to an award of £5,000 for DJ equipment; whilst more stars will be seen from Swansea as the Swansea Astronomical Society uses its £5,000 grant to buy a new telescope. Music will also feature in the celebration of 100 years of the Somali community in Wales organised by the Cardiff-based Afro-Celtic Education, Culture and Arts Association which was awarded a £4,920 grant.

In total, 93 groups were today awarded a total of £290,799 by the National Lottery Charities Board.

Tom Jones, Chair of the Charities Board in Wales, explained: "Today’s grants reflect the Charities Board’s contribution to the Millennium Festival in Wales. Some of the projects add quality and variety to community life, which is a form of celebrating the Millennium. However, the Millennium is also a potent catalyst to renew our commitment to the disadvantaged and so it is encouraging to see many projects that will bring new hope for the disadvantaged as we enter a new Millennium."

Successful Wales-wide groups are Children Under Risk from Bullying (CURB), awarded £3,721 to strengthen its office facility; and Pre-eclamptic Toxaemia Society awarded £3,589 for equipment to provide health information. Use of IT also features in a number of the grants such as the £2,040 awarded to the Denbighshire Disability Forum, the £1,130 awarded to Brecon Unemployed and Self-help Association, and the £4,240 awarded to Computers in the Community in Cardiff.

Roy Norris, Charities Board Director in Wales said: "The Small grants ranging from £500 to £5,000 are proving very popular in Wales because of the straightforward form and the speedy release of funds. We strive to achieve a level playing field for applicants by providing an enquiries line, issuing comprehensive guidance notes, holding seminars and offering feedback to unsuccessful applicants. Independent, free and valuable advice is also available to community or voluntary groups through their local County Voluntary Service."

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

1. For media enquiries or group contact numbers please call Hanna or Myrddin on 01286 675221.
2. The National Lottery Charities Board is an independent body set up by Parliament to distribute funds to support charitable, benevolent and philanthropic organisations. There are 17 Board members, including the Chair. Decisions on grants are made by the members in grant-making committees for Wales, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the UK as a whole.
3. The Charities Board’s two main grant programmes: Community involvement and Poverty and disadvantage as well as Small grants are assessed by the Wales Committee. Board Members in Wales are Tom Jones (Chair), Elisabeth Watkins and Jeff Carroll. Co-opted Members to the Board are Margaret Dennis, Aled Siôn and Dr Glyn Williams.
4. The Board’s main aim is to give grants to help meet the needs of those at greatest disadvantage in society and to improve the quality of life in the community.
5. Since October 1995, the National Lottery Charities Board, under the main grants, has awarded over £74 million to 857 groups in Wales. Over £3.5 million has been awarded to 1427 groups under the Small grants scheme. This brings the total distributed in Wales, over five years, to over £77 million.

Note to Designers

1. The National Lottery Charities Board logo is the circular logo that appears on this press release. (The "crossed finger" logo is a trade mark for the National Lottery as promoted by Camelot and is therefore not for the Charities Board use.)