14 June 2001

Main grants in South Wales

As the latest round of Main grants are announced by the Community Fund in Wales, groups across the principality are celebrating.

In the Vale of Glamorgan a grant of £258,198 will make a big difference to Vale Council for Voluntary Services based in Barry. The grant, over three years, will fund three full- time posts supporting voluntary sector groups and nurturing links with the business community.

Says Director Dave Maggs: " This means that we can build on our early work on these projects and expand our services particularly across the Western Vale. Voluntary Links, one of VCVS's key projects aims to benefit large and small voluntary organisations by making information and advice available, promoting best practice between groups and encouraging joint working both between voluntary organisations and voluntary groups and statutory bodies.

"Our other key strand, 'Business Links' is an initiative to develop working relationships and goodwill between the voluntary sector and local businesses. We also like to encourage business people to get involved in voluntary work and to take an active interest in what we do."

Currently more than 250 voluntary organisations are members of VCVS and this figure is rising. With the help of the new workers, the organisation aims to increase this number by 20 per cent over the next three years.

Elsewhere in South Wales other organisations have benefited from the latest round of main grants. Across the principality 18 organisations share a total of £2,285,104.

In Caerphilly a grant of £72,060 over three years to lslwyn Drug and Alcohol Project will provide a much-needed drug and alcohol misuse service in the Upper Rhymney Valley and surrounding area. Elsewhere in the county the Llanfach Village Hall will be refurbished thanks to a grant of £89,444 for equipment and professional fees.

Youth organisation Urdd Gobaith Cymru receives £89,662 for a project to increase the provision of facilities and clubs through the medium of Welsh for young people in the Cardiff area. The project will work with Cardiff Language Initiative and Cardiff County Council based in Cardiff, Also in the capital Shortlife Housing (Cymru) Ltd. receives £164,918 to provide support and advice to people in temporary or first-time tenancy accommodation.

In Swansea, Ystalyfera Community Car Scheme will be able to purchase a new specially-adapted vehicle for transporting people to doctors or hospital appointments thanks to a grant of £15,200 and in Torfaen, Financial Assistance for Disabled People receives £26,350 to employ a Fund-raiser to make funding applications on behalf of disabled people who are unable to make applications themselves.

Also in Torfaen The Garnsychan Partnership, based in Pontypool gets £180,687 to appoint three community workers and in Mid Glamorgan The Valleys Race Equality Council is awarded £97,670 over three years to employ a Racial Harassment Officer.

In total more than £115 million has been distributed to voluntary groups by the Community Fund in Wales (previously National Lottery Charities Board) to tackle poverty and promote community involvement.

Groups seeking application forms or further information should call : 0845 791 9191 (English) or 0845 727 3273 (Welsh).

Notes to Editors

1. For media enquiries or group contact numbers please call Debbie on 01352 700208.
2. The Community Fund is the operating name of the National Lottery Charities Board, 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 Community Fund's grants programmes are awarded by the Wales Committee. Board Members in Wales are Elisabeth Watkins (Chairman), Jeff Carroll and Rhiannon Bevan. Co-opted Members to the Board are Margaret Dennis, Aled Siôn and Dr Glyn Williams.
4. The Fund'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 Community Fund under main grants, has awarded over £109 million to 1086 groups in Wales. Over £5.8 million has been awarded to 2,131 groups under the Small grants scheme. This brings the total distributed in Wales, over five years, to over £115 million.
6. Full lists of Community Fund's grants are published on the internet at www.community-fund.org.uk and full lists of all Lottery distributors grants are listed at www.lottery.culture.gov.uk

Note to Designers

The Community Fund logo is as it appears on this press release. (The "crossed finger" logo is a trade mark for the National Lottery is therefore not for the Community Fund use).