DR SIMONE Lowthe-Thomas, Chair of Wales Committee, The National Lottery Community Fund Wales, visited several National Lottery-funded projects in Pembrokeshire this week (Oct 21) to see first-hand the difference that National Lottery funding is making in helping people live healthier lives and become more environmentally sustainable.

In the last five years, The National Lottery Community Fund has awarded 181 grants worth £7 million in Pembrokeshire. This includes £4 million for health and wellbeing projects, over £400,000 for environment-related activities, £600,000 for children and young people’s projects, and over £400,000 for projects supporting people with disabilities.

Dr Lowthe-Thomas, joined by members of the Wales Committee, began her tour at the Preseli Rural Transport Association, which received £348,802 for its Green Dragon Wellbeing Connections project. This initiative provides accessible, low-carbon travel solutions, offering a wheelchair-accessible minibus and MPV car for low-cost transport to groups and individuals.

TOGETHER FOR CHANGE

The next stop was Solva Care, where the Committee learned about its Together for Change project, supported by a five-year grant of £309,961. The funding allows Solva Care to expand services that boost social interaction and promote green wellbeing models across Pembrokeshire communities.

Dr Lowthe-Thomas said: “It has been a real pleasure seeing and hearing more about the fantastic work happening in Pembrokeshire, thanks to money raised by National Lottery players. I’d like to thank Preseli Rural Transport Association, Solva Care, Blue Horizons, and Cariad Pet Therapy for their warm welcome.”

“The National Lottery Community Fund’s strategy, ‘It starts with community,’ focuses on four key missions: supporting communities to come together, promoting environmental sustainability, helping children and young people thrive, and enabling healthier living.”

“It’s fantastic that our Wales Committee has had the opportunity to visit groups that are helping us deliver on our missions through their incredible work.”

SURFING FOR ALL

The tour also included a visit to Blue Horizons and its Surfing for All project, which received a one-year grant of £16,603. This initiative provides accessible surfing and surf therapy for people with disabilities and additional needs across South West Wales.

CARIAD PET THERAPY

To conclude their visit, the Committee met with Cariad Pet Therapy. With a three-year grant of £222,420, the organisation is expanding its pet therapy services across South and West Wales, reaching isolated individuals in the community and in care settings, hospitals, mental health units, schools, and workplaces. The grant also supports training new volunteers and expanding the Robot Pet Service and Pet Food Bank service, which was established during the Covid-19 pandemic to meet rising demand.

This year marks 30 years since the first National Lottery draw in 1994, with £30 million raised each week for good causes. More than £1 billion has been awarded to communities across Wales through 23,096 grants over this period.