BBC CHILDREN IN NEED has awarded a total of over £59,800 in new funding to two local groups working with disadvantaged children and young people across Pembrokeshire.

This latest boost, from the charity’s small grants programme, is the second round of funding awarded to projects so far in 2018 and brings the total invested in Pembrokeshire to more than £483,400.

Clynfyw Community Interest Company (C.I.C.) will use over £29,800 in new funding from BBC Children in need to provide ocean-based activities for children and young people with a variety of additional needs. Through attending the three-year project the children and young people will improve their emotional wellbeing, be more physically active, and make friends.

Shon Devey, Development worker with the Tonic Surf Therapy programme at Clynfyw C.I.C. commented: “We are delighted to have secured new funding from BBC Children in Need. The children we work with will have a mixture of challenges including being disabled, experiencing mental health issues, and behavioural issues. The new funding will allow us to provide engaging ocean-based therapeutic activities to help support local children and young people.”

Action For Children Wales has been allocated over £29,900 to deliver training opportunities for disabled young people. They will be involved in helping to run a sandwich and refreshments bar, based in Haverfordwest. This will encourage long-term outcomes for young people with disabilities by introducing them to entrepreneurialism and enhancing their prospects for employment and development.  Among the skills they will learn will be stock rotation, cash handling and customer service. The aim of the three year project is to increase the young people’s self-esteem, give them opportunities to make friends, and increase their skills.

Speaking of the new grants, Jemma Wray, BBC Children in Need’s National Head, Wales, said: “Thanks to the generous donations from the British public, projects like Action For Children – Wales and Clynfyw Community Interest Company will go on to make a huge difference to children and young people who need it most. These new grants means there is currently £10.6m allocated to 168 projects working hard across Wales to support disadvantaged children and young people.”

BBC Children in Need’s Chief Executive, Simon Antrobus added: “We’re delighted to be able to award these grants, thanks to the generosity of the British public. This funding will help to support disadvantaged children and young people right across the UK, giving them the chance to overcome the challenges in their lives and to reach their full potential.”

BBC Children in Need awards grants at seven points during the year and funds two types of grants, both of which are open to new or existing applicants. A Main Grants Programme is for grants over £10,000 per year to support projects for up to three years. Meanwhile, our Small Grants Programme supports projects for up to three years, and includes grants up to and including £10,000 per year. Both of these programmes are currently open to applications.

Alongside the main and small grants programmes, we are continuing to develop Curiosity – our partnership with Wellcome – which awards grants to organisations using inspiring science activities to create change for disadvantaged children and young people. 32 organisations have already been funded by the Curiosity programme and more information will be available this summer about further funding opportunities.

To find out more about any of BBC Children in Need’s grant programmes or for information on how to apply for funding visit bbc.co.uk/pudsey/grants.

BBC Children in Need relies on the generosity and creativity of the thousands of supporters and fundraisers who raise millions of pounds for the charity every year. To date the UK public has raised over £950 million for children and young people facing disadvantage across the UK.