- Area:
- Wales
- Programme:
- People and Places
- Release date:
- 12 4 2013
Victims of a flood ravaged community in Denbighshire will be supported to re-settle in their homes and current and ex-service personnel will receive the essential help they need in Carmarthenshire to deal with mental health problems, thanks to more than £3.7 million awarded by the Big Lottery Fund to community groups and projects in Wales today.
A total of 14 projects throughout Wales share in the £3,780,570 awarded through the Big Lottery Fund’s (BIG) People and Places programme. In addition to providing vital support to the most vulnerable members of our society, many of the projects funded under the latest round aim to improve the confidence, skills and employability of people in communities throughout Wales (full list at the end of the release).
Reaching Out to Flood Victims
Following days of heavy rain, hundreds of homes in Denbighshire had to be evacuated in November 2012 when the rivers’ Elwy and Conwy burst their banks, causing havoc and destroying the lives of many. As homes were inundated with water, hundreds of residents had to move into temporary accommodation while their properties dried out. Many didn’t have home insurance and months on after the disaster, many families are still reeling from the damage caused by the floods and are struggling to get back on their feet again.
Now, thanks to a grant of £141,524 from BIG, Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council (DVSC) will be able to co-ordinate a package of support to enable victims of the floods to re-settle in their homes. Five existing partner organisations will provide the diverse support required to residents of the 420 affected homes. Emotional support and counselling will be provided by Vale of Clywd Mind and Age Concern North Wales Central, practical maintenance by Care and Repair and advice and support by Citizens Advice Bureau and the Benefit Advice Shop.
Explaining the positive difference the funding will make to the lives of people affected by the floods, the Chief Executive Officer of Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council, John Watkin, said: “We are delighted to hear that we have been awarded this funding to support people affected by the floods in November last year. The support will enable us to provide a range of services consisting of property repairs, welfare advice, financial advice and guidance and information about how to access donations and grants.”
“We will also be able to offer counselling and befriending services. This will provide local residents affected with a range of much needed services to help them re-settle into their homes and to re-engage with their local community.”
Support for Ex-Service Personnel
Many veterans of conflicts and currently serving personnel in the armed forces struggle to adjust to civilian life when they return home. This can often be difficult for both the individual and their families to deal with. Some of the complex issues families might have to deal with can include a wide range of mental health issues which can, of course, include Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
That’s why LINKS Workshop in Carmarthenshire will spend their award of £193,955 on the Joined up LINKING project which will provide a bespoke support service for serving and ex-service personnel and their families. Based in Llanelli and encompassing the whole of Carmarthenshire, Joined up LINKING will deliver an outreach and support service which will provide sessions on things such as anger management and confidence building as well as offering opportunitites to develop new skills or rekindle old ones. The project will also establish support groups and will offer retraining courses for veterans. It is estimated the project will benefit around 100 individuals and 30 organisations. (Welsh speakers available for interview and filming opportunities).
Outlining the importance of the funding, Project Coordinator, Susie Hamill, said: “This project will offer a very comprehensive service for veterans, ex-service personnel and their families and also the families of those currently in active service. This will be a complimentary service to other support they might be receiving. This project is unique, it’s community based and is a vital service as, although there are some services working with veterans, their resources are over-stretched and LINKS aims to fill the gap.Thanks to this wonderful grant from the Big Lottery Fund we will be able to offer a range of local support to those who need it.”
She added: “We have already received a number of referrals from both veterans and their families. There can be a great deal of tension when service people return home and lots of family stress as a result. This pressure on the family can be great and, sadly, sometimes the outcome can mean the break up of a family or marriage. This is an important service, therefore, and there’s nothing like it here currently. We need to do this work so that we can engage in a meaningful way with this vulnerable yet deserving group of people.”
LINKS Patron and BAFTA award-winning Welsh journalist, presenter and newsreader, Huw Edwards, added: “I was delighted to learn that LINKS has been awarded this grant to work with those who have served or are currently serving in the Armed Forces.”
“As we all know, there is increased awareness about the issues people face on returning home and I am truly grateful that LINKS will now be able to provide a bespoke and responsive service to this deserving group of people.”
Centre of Attention for Welshpool
And in mid-Wales, the Welshpool 1st Clives Own Scout Group will spend their award of half a million pounds (£499,358) on demolishing the existing dillapidated Scout Hut and building a brand new community facility for Welshpool and the surrounding area. The aim is to extend the use of the building to a wide range of community groups for educational, community support and social activities.
A range of training activities will be developed for young people not in education, training or employment and for those who are long term unemployed. It will also provide an information hub and a meeting venue for support organisations.
Highlighting the importance of the People and Places programme, Gareth Newton, Committee Member for the Big Lottery Fund in Wales, said: “Programmes like People and Places are making a difference to the lives of so many people in communities across Wales. It delivers on our promise to use National Lottery funding to regenerate and revitalise communities, tackle disadvantage head on and leave a lasting legacy.”
The People and Places programme awards grants of between £5,001 and £1 million for a broad range of community projects. For further information about the programme and how you can apply for funding, please visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/wales
Full list of awards:
|
Blaenau Gwent – 1 Grant worth £250,000
|
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Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
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Blaenau Gwent
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Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council will work with Barnardo's to deliver a two year project to support up to 100 disabled young people to overcome barriers to being fully active in community life in Blaenau Gwent.
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£250,000
|
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Caerphilly – 1 Grant worth £393,676
|
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Tir-y-Berth Village Hall Management Committee
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CF82 8AJ
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The aim of this project over one year is to rebuild the village hall at Tir y Berth, Caerphilly. The new facility will be used to develop community activities for the whole community, but specifically children and young people.
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£393,676
|
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Carmarthenshire – 1 Grant worth £193,955
|
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Lynx Workshop
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Based in Llanelli and serving Carmarthenshire
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The project aims to provide a mental health support service for people with ill mental health and in particular ex service personnel and their families based in Llanelli and Carmarthenshire. Activities include an Outreach service, support in filling out forms, benefit and housing advice, support with emotional wellbeing, anger management, confidence building, support with registering with GPs and dentists, a Support group, art and craft classes and retraining courses. The project will benefit 100 individuals and 30 organisations.
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£193,955
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Ceredigion – 1 Grant worth £24,598
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Aberystwyth Town Council
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Aberystwyth
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The project is for a development grant to develop a derelict area of wasteland into a `green plaza' and skate park to provide an attractive open air community amenity that links Aberystwyth Town and the former Communities First area of Penparcau and West Aberystwyth. Activities will benefit all ages and includes skateboarding, public art trails, outdoor sports and environmental activities. The one year grant is for capital development costs including professional costs and fees.
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£24,598
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Conwy– 1 Grant worth £498,891
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Aberconwy Mind
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Llandudno, Conwy
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The project, based in Llandudno, aims to improve the quality of life of those experiencing mental health problems by providing volunteering, work experience and employment opportunities through the development of a social enterprise. The project will provide a community cafe, art and craft showcase area and small business units. Three hundred people are expected to benefit over three years.
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£498,891
|
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Denbighshire – 1 Grant worth £141,524
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DVSC
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Based in Ruthin, serving Denbighshire
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DVSC will co-ordinate a package of support to enable victims of the floods in late 2012 to re-settle in their homes. Five existing partner organisations will provide the diverse support required to residents of the 420 affected homes. Emotional support and counselling will be provided by Vale of Clywd Mind and Age Concern, practical maintenance by Care and Repair, and advice and support by Citizens Advice Bureau and the Benefit Advice Shop.
|
£141,524
|
|
Flintshire – 1 Grant worth £119,010
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Flintshire Care & Repair Ltd
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Flintshire
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The project will alleviate fuel poverty for older people over the age of 60 and disabled adults living in private sector housing in Flintshire. Two dedicated Caseworkers will work with individuals to tackle the three factors of fuel poverty being fuel prices, income levels and energy inefficient housing.
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£119,010
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Newport – 1 Grant worth £51,300
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Newport People First
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Newport
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The project over three years will establish a forum comprising of people with learning disabilities who live in Newport who will research community services and facilities in order to challenge negative experiences.
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£51,300
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Powys – 1 Grant worth £499,358
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Welshpool 1st Clives Own Scout Group
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SY21
|
The project will demolish the existing Scout Hut, which is no longer fit for purpose and in poor condition, and build a new centre to provide a community facility for Welshpool and district and in particular the Oldford Ward (former Communities First area).
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£499,358
|
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Swansea – 1 Grant worth £215,918
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Swansea Music Art Dance Community Interest Company
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Based in Swansea (75%) and will also serve NPT (15%) and Bridgend (10%)
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This new three year project will create a community focused news and documentary team of volunteers. It will provide training in video recording, producing and publishing community news. It aims to improve peoples' skills, confidence and self-esteem, and create a self-sustaining community news media service. The project will work with 924 individuals and 8 organisations in Swansea, Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot areas, mainly targetting young NEETs between 18-25 and people over the age of 44.
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£215,918
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Torfaen – 1 Grant worth £249,997
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Torfaen County Borough Council
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NP4, NP44, NP6 - 90%
All other NP postcodes - 10%
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The aim of the Wisdom Bank project is to harness the experience and skills of people in the 45 to 65 age group for the wider benefit of the community of Torfaen. This will be achieved through the' development of a web-based 'Wisdom Bank' providing online, interactive, one-to-one advice and mentoring in a secure private environment. Initial support will be targeted at entrepreneurship, employment support for young people who are NEET, care leavers, support for carers and for people with long-term health conditions, especially diabetes.
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£249,997
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Multi-location / Wales-wide – 2 Grants worth £904,027
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North Wales Race Equality Network Ltd
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Serving North Wales
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The project will establish a regional network across North Wales that enables equality and human rights organisations to have a stronger voice in influencing policy and service provision and develops improved co-ordination. The project will extend access to individuals, with increased services and support being available.
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£499,173
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Marie Curie Cancer Care
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Wales wide
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The project will support those caring for relatives, friends or neighbours that are at the end of life, through series of workshops to offer support, guidance and advice from experts and peers.
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£404,854
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Big Lottery Fund Press Office – Oswyn Hughes: 02920 678 207
Out of hours contact: 07760 171 431
Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030 Textphone: 0845 6021 659
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the
website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Notes to Editors
• In Wales, the Big Lottery Fund is rolling out close to £100,000 a day in National Lottery good cause money, which together with other Lottery distributors means that across Wales most people are within a few miles of a Lottery-funded project.
• The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004. It was established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
• Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to Good Causes. As a result, over £28 billion has now been raised and more than 383,000 grants given out across the arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
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