West Wales good causes groups receive over £150,000 in funding

WEST WALES GOOD CAUSES GROUPS CELEBRATE RECEIVING OVER £150,000 IN FUNDING.

SEVEN good causes groups are celebrating £154,329  in funding between them.

Using money raised by HealthExpect CIC through The Health Lottery, the grants were awarded by People’s Health Trust through Active Communities. A funding programme, which invests in local people and groups with great ideas to make their communities even better.

The groups receiving funding are:

Cornelly & District Development Trust – £17,492 – This new two-year project aims to deliver weekly craft sessions for the local community in the semi-rural area of North Cornelly in South Wales. Session content will be decided by participants.

Every Link Counts – £28,570 – This new two-year project will support adults with learning disabilities living in Bridgend to meet up with friends and take part in local activities on a regular basis. Participants will sustain new and old friendships, develop skills and confidence that will enable them to engage in wider community activities. Participants will be able to plan sessions to meet their needs by feeding back to peer representatives that will sit on a monthly project planning team. Participants can also take part in the existing forum, which will further shape on-going delivery.

Llynfi Valley 11-25 Project Limited – £21,053 -This new two-year project will work with young people from the rural Llynfi Valley area of Wales. A network of small groups from across the Valley will create a planning group, events group and special interest group working towards holding music events and broadcasting content. The empowered groups of young people will provide a voice for the Valley’s young people, developing their interests and skills, while forming strong links with their community.

MaestegShedquarters – £14,266 – This two-year project will continue to deliver weekly activities at the Men’s Shed, including woodworking and photography. Participants will also be able to share a meal together each day and go on trips to places of historical and cultural interest. The intention is to also develop an audio-visual exhibition that will celebrate the achievements of members, and act as a template for possible other sheds in other areas. The idea started as a weekly peer support group and has developed into a communal space, which runs activities that are developed and led by participants.

Special Families Maesteg – £10,634 – This two-year project is the continuation of existing coffee mornings for parents and carers of children with disabilities from Maesteg and surrounding areas in Mid Glamorgan, Wales. The coffee mornings will provide an opportunity for parents or carers to share, ask questions and get advice. There will also be weekly exercise sessions for those who wish to participate. The project aims to create a peer support network, improve wellbeing and provide information on benefits and education support to those caring for children with disabilities.

The Bridge Mentoring Plus Scheme – £37,733 – This new two-year project will deliver twice weekly social groups centred on different activities determined by participants. The idea has been developed in consultation with existing members, for individuals within the community facing mental health challenges. The project will provide a space where participants can come together to share their experiences, develop positive relationships, reduce social isolation and learn new skills. One group session each month will be used as a development opportunity where participants can review current activities and make amendments to the direction of the project.

Follow Your Dreams Technology Club – £24,581 -This existing two-year project will support children with invisible disabilities and their siblings and carers in the Bridgend borough of Wales. The group will provide opportunities for the carers to socialise without their children, for the children to interact with each other. Activities include regular technology nights, swimming and gymnastics as well as trips to safari parks and aquariums.

Chris Lunn, Director of HealthExpect CIC said: “We are delighted that money raised by HealthExpect is supporting such important local projects.”

Active Communities is for community groups and not-for-profit organisations, with an income of less than £350,000 a year, that are seeking investment of between £5000 and £50,000 a year for projects lasting up to two years. For more information, please visit www.PeoplesHealthTrust.org.uk