THE South Wales Argus is teaming up with the Big Lottery Fund to dish out £25,000-worth of grants to five community groups in south east Wales.

Under the banner Grab a Grant, this exciting partnership will see the Big Lottery Fund awarding grants of up to £5,000 each to projects which will help change and improve the lives of people in their local communities.

VISIT our website – biglotteryfund.org.uk/grabagrant – to see examples of what we will and won't fund, read the application process and check whether you are eligible and register. If you are eligible, fill in the form and send it to us.

Through the pages of the South Wales Argus, Big Lottery Fund is appealing for community groups to send in their applications before the February 3 deadline.

The newspaper will then showcase shortlisted projects with readers voting for their favourite by post.

The five projects receiving the most support will then be awarded grants.

Grab a Grant is open to any community groups in the South Wales Argus’ readership area who have an idea for a project which meets at least one of the following: supports community activity, extends access and participation, increases skill and creativity or generally improves the quality of life of people in the area (list of eligibility criteria below).

Mike Theodoulou, member of the Big Lottery Fund’s Wales committee, said: “This is a unique opportunity to apply for grants which could make a difference to readers’ lives. I would encourage everyone to think about getting involved and apply today.

“Then it will be up to local people, through this great partnership, to decide on which community groups should get a share of this Lottery funding.”

South Wales Argus editor Gerry Keighley added: “We are delighted to team up with the Big Lottery Fund to offer the chance for our readers to benefit from Lottery good cause funding.

“You may not have scooped up a multi-million pound jackpot following the National Lottery draw but it’s good to know that local community groups and local people are already benefiting from good cause cash and can again through this competition.”

The successful projects would join the Gwent-based community projects, including support groups tackling disease and substance abuse and projects combating anti social behaviour, which have already been boosted by grants of up to £5,000.

Youth clubs, support groups, fitness classes, activities for older people and radio stations are also among a wide range of good causes benefiting other the last 12 months.

For ten years, Regeneration Association Somerton Community at Large (RASCAL) has been working with the Somerton community to help reduce anti social behaviour problems.

And this work, which includes sports activities, mentoring programmes, promoting health and wellbeing and educational workshops, has benefited from a small grant.

The Big Lottery Fund is helping communities most in need by awarding £100,000 a day in Wales. Some 28p in every £1 spent on Lottery tickets goes towards good causes, which means that across Wales, most of us live within a few miles of a Lottery-funded project.


Is your group eligible for a grant?

YOU may be eligible to apply for Grab a Grant if:

● You are a voluntary or community organisation or you are a community or town council, school or health body.

● You are based in and benefit Newport, Torfaen, Monmouthshire, Blaenau Gwent or the Islwyn area of Caerphilly.

● You have a UK-based bank or building society account in the name of your organisation (or for schools, a local authority bank account) that requires at least two unrelated people to sign cheques or make a withdrawal.

● You can spend the grant within one year.

● Your project meets at least one of our aims – supports community activity, extends access and participation, increases skill and creativity or generally improves the quality of life of people in the area – and you can meet out terms and conditions of grant.

To find out if your project or idea might qualify for the grant, discover what the money can and cannot be spent on and to access the application forms, visit biglotteryfund.org.uk/grabagrant or phone 0300 123 0735.


Howto apply for a Big Lottery Fund handout

VISIT our website – biglotteryfund.org.uk/grabagrant – to read the application process, check whether you are eligible and register If you are eligible, fill in the electronic application form and send it to us.

We recommend that you attend a briefing event.

Sessions are being held at the Newport Centre on January 16 between 2pm and 4pm and at the Llanhilleth Miners’ Institute in Blaenau Gwent, on January 18 between 2pm and 4pm.

If you would like to book a place tick yes when you register and we will be in touch. Any questions or problems phone 0300 123 0735 or e-mail grabagrant@biglotteryfund.org.uk

Remember the deadline for applications is February 3, 2012. We’ll then be in touch to tell you if you have been successful.

Readers of the South Wales Argus will then vote for their favourite project between Monday, March 12, and Friday, March 23, with five projects getting the most support sharing £25,000.

Examples of what we will and won’t fund

Full list on our website www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/grabagrant

● We will fund information technology equipment, sessional workers (those who work only as and when required), venue hire or transport costs.

● We will not fund day-today running costs (eg, utility bills, council tax, rent and insurance), existing activities and repeat or regular events, including those we have funded before or items that mainly benefit individuals (eg, equipment that is not shared).


EDITORIAL COMMENT: Chance to grab

WE encourage community groups to take advantage of our Grab a Grant scheme which we are launching in conjunction with the Big Lottery Fund today.

We have £25,000-worth of grants to give away and will pay out awards of up to £5,000 a time to community projects.

Our message to those of you running is to give it a go.

Anything from youth clubs to fitness classes, activities for older people or even community radio stations will be considered, as long as it improves the lives of people living in this area.

Remember if you don’t ask, you don’t get. So it has to be worth a try.