Charities in Ceredigion to benefit from share of £50,000 funding from Hanfod Cymru

Charities in Ceredigion to benefit from share of £50,000 funding from 

Hanfod Cymru

Three charities in Ceredigion have secured funding through the latest round of grants from Hanfod Cymru, the body responsible for distributing money raised by Loteri Cymru ticket sales.

Neuadd Bentref Rhydlewis, Shared Earth Trust and Cylch Meithrin Llechryd have been awarded the funds as part of Hanfod Cymru’s Small Grants programme, which awards grants up to £10,000.

Hanfod has also reported that applications for funding through its second round increased by 20%, in part due to a rise in applications from arts charities.

This follows news that Loteri Cymru players have won over £230,000 in prizes since the first draw in April.

Neuadd Bentref Rhydlewis owns and runs a local village hall with a children’s play area and runs a series of evening activities for the local community, including line dancing, pilates and a young farmers club. The funds from Hanfod Cymru will be invested into renewing and renovating the playground and fencing.

The Shared Earth Trust in Lampeter aims to raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity and reconnect people with nature. The reserve has a network of free trails with a wildlife garden, lakeside wildlife viewing shelter and woodland roundhouse. The organisation will be using the grant to board walk and bridge and providing weekly opportunities for volunteers to learn conservation management skills. The centre is also used to provide educational wildlife workshops for the local community and school children.

Cylch Meithrin Llechryd is a small village nursery that provides a stimulating introduction to education in the medium of Welsh. The nursery will use the money from Hanfod Cymru to purchase new equipment and materials for the children.

Each charity was selected by Hanfod Cymru’s board of independent trustees after demonstrating how they planned to make a tangible contribution to the communities in which they operate.

Earlier this year, Hanfod Cymru allocated £30,000 in grants to 13 Welsh projects in its first round of small grants. With both rounds of funding, Hanfod Cymru has been able to distribute a total of £80,000 to 41 charities in Wales.

Grants ranging from £190 to £4,000 are now being awarded to the 28 charities, which all offer educational, social or cultural benefits – the criteria set by the charity.

Other charities that have secured funding are:

• Welsh Women’s Aid
• The Welsh Association of ME & CFS Support (WAMES)
• Cylch Meithrin Porthmadog – Gwynedd
• Seindorf Arian Frenhinol Dyffryn Nantlle – Gwynedd
• Dawns i Bawb – Gwynedd
• Arts Alive Wales – Powys
• CARAD (Community Arts Rhayader And District) – Powys
• Cymrodoriaeth Talaith a Chadair Powys- Eisteddfod Talaith a Chadair Powys – Bro Hafren 2018 – Powys
• The Honeypot Children’s Charity – Powys
• St Jerome’s Church, Llangwm – Pembrokeshire
• Brynberian Community Centre – Pembrokeshire
• Llanybydder Family Centre – Carmarthenshire
• Canolfan Gymunedol Ystradowen Community Centre Ltd – Carmarthenshire
• Menter Bro Aled – Conwy
• Chardon Trust – Conwy
• Cylch Meithrin Llangelynnin – Conwy
• Cylch Meithrin a Ti a Fi Rhuthun – Denbighshire
• Touch Trust Ltd – Cardiff
• Gibbonsdown Children’s Centre Ltd – Barry
• The Personal Support Unit (PSU) – Newport
• Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Clubs – Swansea
• Circus Eruption – Swansea
• Menter Iaith Rhondda Cynon Taf
• Cylch Meithrin Llanllwni – Carmarthenshire
• Cwmni’r Frân Wen – Anglesey

Siôn Brynach, Chief Executive of Hanfod Cymru, said: “All of the charities that applied for funding grants were very worthy causes which made it extremely difficult for our trustees to make a decision on which would receive funding.

“It’s very positive that there has been a 20% increase in the number of charities that applied since our first funding round. It’s clear that charities and grassroot organisations are becoming more aware of the support that Hanfod Cymru can offer them with helping them support their local communities.

“We’d strongly recommend that people play Loteri Cymru as there is a direct correlation between ticket sales and the amount of funding Hanfod Cymru receives. The higher the funding, the more we’re able to support grassroot Welsh charities.”

Sue Carter, Chief Executive Loteri Cymru, said: “As sales for Loteri Cymru have continued to grow, it has meant that we have been able to provide more funding for Hanfod Cymru to fund Welsh charities.

“We’d like to thank our players for their continued support as, without it, the grants would not be possible.

“It’s great to see grants going to a good mix of grassroot causes which all have a significant impact on their local community.”

Hanfod Cymru is constituted as an independent charity, with its own Board of Trustees, which operates independently of Loteri Cymru, which oversees the weekly draw.

Loteri Cymru offers a weekly jackpot of £25,000, in line with the ceiling allowed under society lottery rules. Tickets cost just £1 and jackpot winners will need to match five of 39 drawn numbers. Other, smaller prizes will also be up for grabs for matching fewer numbers.

Every ticket – unless it has scooped the jackpot – is entered free into Loto+, a monthly raffle offering 10 guaranteed £1000 prizes.

More information on how to apply for funding is available at www.hanfodcymru.wales

Applications for Hanfod Cymru’s next round of small Grants (up to £10,000) will open in early 2018 and charities can apply by visiting the Hanfod Cymru website.