Plaid Cymru’s Leanne Wood and Chris Franks have welcomed grants to boost community services in their South Wales Central region.
The Big Lottery Fund has revealed the beneficiaries of their latest round of funding which include ACE Cardiff Limited who will receive £5,000 to establish a homework club for children in Butetown, Grangetown and Riverside which aims to support children’s mainstream education and improve their prospects for the future.
Hawthorn Primary School in Pontypridd will also get nearly £5,000 to run an after-school activity promoting multicultural understanding open to pupils and the wider community.
In the last month the Big Lottery Fund has provided more than £800,000 of funding to projects in the South Wales Central region which encompasses Rhondda Cynon Taf, the Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff.
Most of this cash went to the NoFit State Community Circus to buy and renovate the school rooms attached to the Trinity Methodist Church in the Roath area of Cardiff. The group will use the £774,638 to establish an administrative base for community circus education, training and development of community performance projects. Once finished, the building will also be able to accommodate three other community groups.
Mr Franks said: “The Big Lottery Fund money will be a major boost to various groups that have been successful in their applications.
“Nearly £1 million has been distributed in the region I represent over the last month. I have no doubt it will have a significant impact during the coming months and years.”
Ms Wood said: “The grants will go towards strengthening the communities within my region and that is something I welcome. Over the next few years communities and local initiatives will take on a new importance as the Westminster Government implements its austerity measures.
“Funding from sources such as the Big Lottery Fund has the potential to build up some resistance to the cuts that are coming our way.”
She added: “I am particularly happy that the NoFit State Community Circus has been successful in their bid for funding. They carry out many workshops in schools and this money will extend their good work in the community.”
