Funding boost to help community group provide support for families with disabled children in Wrexham

An organisation in Wrexham is amongst 10 community groups in North Wales to have started the new year with a National Lottery funding boost.

Contact a Family has received £7,908 to provide families with disabled children support and information through workshops to address wellbeing issues.

Kate Wyke, Wales Manager for Contact, said: “We are so grateful to the National Lottery, and all the players, for enabling us to support the mental health of parent carers in Wales.

“This April our Contact Wales Wellbeing project will bring parent carers together in a supportive environment, give them the opportunity to explore their individual strengths, focus on personal development, and build confidence and communication skills.

“Parent carers will also be invited to enjoy ‘Me Time Events’ – fun and relaxing activities, celebrating carers. Contact started life as a self-help group for parents, and from our 40 years’ experience we know that parents can be the best support for one another.”

Others who have received a grant from the National Lottery include Flintshire City of Sanctuary, which will extend its support helping Syrian refugees to engage with their local communities.

With £5,000 they will provide activities such as a homework club and a gardening club.

Liz Litherland, founding member of Flintshire City of Sanctuary who works with the refugees in north-east Wales, said: “Thank you so much for enabling us to support these lovely people as they seek to settle into our communities, find employment and see dreams for their children’s education come to fruition. The funding will enable us to continue with our important work with the adults and children.”

Also based in Flintshire, 1125 CIC will use £99,860 over three years to provide disadvantaged and vulnerable young people in the area with a weekly programme of engagement activities, to help raise their self-confidence, improve aspirations and increase social skills. The project will help integrate young people aged 11-25 into groups, focusing on getting them physically and mentally healthier.

North-East Wales Chinese Women’s Organisation will use its £5,800 grant to promote understanding and harmony amongst communities in north Wales with various activities to combat the rise of hate crime exacerbated by COVID-19.

Aberconwy Mission Area in Conwy will use £3,000 to continue to provide food support to the community who are experiencing increased financial difficulties and emergency situations.

In Gwynedd, Cwmni Bro Antur Aelhaearn 1974 will use a £5,000 grant to open a village shop in Llanaelhaearn that will sell healthy, local produce, provide an opportunity for people to meet and for people to learn Welsh in a practical setting.

Also in Gwynedd, Lle Chi will use £10,000 to offer opportunities to local low-income families to receive Welsh-medium early years childcare in the Cylch, whilst in Denbighshire, Outside Lives Ltd will improve access to the site for people with mobility challenges to engage with wellbeing activities with its £10,000 grant.

Finally, in Anglesey, Age Well Hwyliog Môn will use £9,098 to continue to deliver their projects, keeping the relationships that have developed between the community of older people during the pandemic, and supporting volunteers to deliver a range of activities.

Unlock Your You, also based in Anglesey, will use £10,000 to launch a volunteer-led community wellbeing service to provide mental health support to the community until professional intervention is received.

Sarah Bowles, North Wales Funding Officer at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, more than £30 million a week is raised for good causes across the UK and last year we gave grants to more than 7,500 projects to support people’s health and wellbeing.

“We know how valued these groups’ work is in north Wales and we’re looking forward to seeing yet more communities finding out how National Lottery funding helps to change people’s lives.”

To find information on applying to The National Lottery Community Fund for funding to help your community thrive, visit tnlcommunityfund.org.uk or call 0300 123 0735.