EIGHTEEN community projects across North Wales have benefitted from grants donated by the National Lottery.
Projects ranging from e-bike purchases for young people, art activities for people for the bereaved, new playgrounds for children to supporting young adults from refugee and migrant backgrounds, are among those to reap the reward.
The Anne Mathews Trust in Gwynedd will use £10,000 to host Community Leadership Residentials for young adults from refugee and migrant backgrounds to examine, understand, and challenge oppression.
Tony Cordoba, an intern at The Anne Matthews Trust, said: "In my time as an intern I have gone through different stages of understanding myself; one of them is to appreciate my own identity, being proud of it and sharing it with others, because my point of view can also contribute to the life of others.
“I think that the Braich Goch Centre in Corris is a place where people from different backgrounds can belong and feel at home.
“One of the most important things that I have learnt is leading and facilitating work with groups of peers."
Nearby in Tywyn, Cylch Meithrin Tywyn Tŷ Mabon will use £8,500 to pay for resources and a mini bus.
This will enable them to set up a beach school for children in the community to teach water safety with the goals of reducing accidents on the beach and giving information on how to care for the local environment.
Also in Gwynedd, With Gobaith Community Interest Company will use £9,590 to develop a community garden to improve the environment and wellbeing, whilst Cwiltwyr Ardudwy Quilters will continue to run their community sewing group to alleviate isolation with a £1,750 grant.
Neuadd Talsarnau will use £4,000 to upgrade their hall by replacing old windows and doors and building a new wall to make the venue safer and more comfortable for the community.
Across the bridge in Anglesey, Munchkins Môn will support young families who need help to learn the basics of good parenting skills with its £10,000 funding, whilst Grŵp Cymunedol Caru Amlwch will use £6,304 to extend and enhance wellbeing craft workshops to young people.
Llinos Wyn Williams from Caru Amlwch said: “We are an area of deprivation with a great sense of community.
“The effects of Covid-19 on our residents cannot be underestimated.
“During the latter part of 2021, youth related anti-social behaviour escalated to concerning levels and North Wales Police and Anglesey’s youth services work together to address the issues.
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“The grant provided by The National Lottery Community Fund has enabled us to continue with our successful craft group for young people aged 10-18 every Saturday, and we can continue for at least 12 months. This means so much to all involved.
“There is a core group of 30 young people attending and the sessions create a sense of ownership and responsibility amongst our young people.”
The feedback from young people who attend the craft sessions reaffirms the importance of Caru Amlwch locally.
One person said: “I’d seen some of my friends attend and they said it was great so I wanted to go to – I love it!”
Another said: “As I am only 10, I don’t have money for gifts so through me making these crafts they were extra special at Christmas time.”
Meanwhile in Conwy, The Escape Artists North Wales CIC will use £10,000 to continue to deliver Still Life art groups for adults who have been bereaved, helping them to build networks, and improve mental and physical health.
Jill Tunstall, Still Life project manager, said: “Thank you for supporting us again.
“It was a National Lottery grant that got us started four years ago and we have been running ever since.”
In Denbighshire, Grwp Cynefin will use £8,000 to buy e-bikes and a charge point, providing a tailored support programme to ten young people with little life experience, helping to overcome the barriers to accessing transport the young people face.
The support will help them prepare for employment, to live independently and support their wellbeing.
Llanferres Playing Field and Recreation Association will use £31,996 to supply and fit new play equipment and safety surfaces, using materials reclaimed from existing structures where possible.
They will also install a solar panel USB charger for community use.
Also based in Denbighshire, Our Sam will use £9,800 to roll out their directory of advice, along with guidance and support services to anyone affected by miscarriage, stillbirth, and termination across Wales.
Ruth Bates, Head of the north Wales region at The National Lottery Community Fund, celebrated the amazing work of these groups: “The Fund is dedicated to supporting projects that help communities to thrive.
“Grassroots groups and charities like these in north Wales are doing amazing things and are changing people’s lives every day.
“National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for good causes.
“We are proud to be the largest funder of community activity in the UK.”
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