‘We are here for you’ say the National Lottery distributors as millions of pounds are awarded to help communities with the pressure of the rising Cost of Living.

Welsh charities, and organisations supporting communities bearing the brunt of the cost-of-living pressures are being given access to vital support from The National Lottery distributors – as new research announced this week shows people across the country are predicting mounting difficulties for local services due to the impact of the current economic pressures.

Thanks to The National Lottery players, thousands of projects throughout the UK are being supported to keep vital local facilities and services running this winter, with the money helping some of the most vulnerable people impacted by the cost-of-living pressures in our communities.

National Lottery funding distributors (encompassing sports, arts, heritage, and community) collectively awarded over £1 billion pounds to support communities throughout the UK during the Coronavirus pandemic, to help them cope and recover. Now the £30 million raised each week by National Lottery players for good causes is being placed at the forefront of supporting communities who need it the most during the cost-of-living pressures.

New figures released this week through The National Lottery Community Fund’s latest customer research - ** the Community Research Index shows that over half of people in Wales (54%) believe that supporting people with the rising cost-of-living is most important for the wellbeing of their local community, with half in Wales (50%) intending to volunteer in 2023 with young people (18 to 24) leading the way (74%).

Organisations throughout Wales facing increased demands, challenges, and hardships as a direct result of the crisis are being supported in various ways, as National Lottery funders have responded with new priorities to help communities with an approach that centres around flexibility and support.

Many existing funding programmes have been adapted or tailored by National Lottery funders to prioritise cost of living support. The National Lottery Community Fund alone is making £75 million available UK wide immediately, to help those most in need – providing community groups with greater certainty at this critical time. All funding will be kept open and available, and ready to adapt, as part of its We’re Here for You commitment.

Whether it’s funding to improve the thermal efficiency of heritage sites, providing energy efficient floodlights for community sports clubs faced with the burden of increased costs, providing thousands of free hot meals and food parcels, warm places for the community to come together during the winter months, or supporting with money management and mental health initiatives – The National Lottery is making life that little bit easier by providing a wide array of support across sports, arts, community and charity, heritage, education, environment, and sports sectors during these challenging times.

One such project receiving much-needed support is Llanelli-based Foothold Cymru, a social justice charity working to create strong communities where individuals can thrive and not just survive.

The National Lottery funding will continue to enable families struggling to pay their bills access low-cost food, as well as ensuring that people have access to practical facilities like kitchens, laundries and tools, warm clothes and school uniforms, career advice and experience and certified training in a variety of lifestyle subjects such as gardening and cookery.

In Carmarthenshire, where Foothold operates, nearly 38 per cent of households are in poverty, with children accounting for 31 per cent of those in poverty and in-work poverty growing quicker than the charity can cope with.

One anonymous service user said: “They are good to me and a real godsend.

“I couldn’t manage without them. I often stay on [after shopping] and have a chat and a cup of tea. I like the company and seeing everyone.”

And another project to benefit is Powys-based Llanbister Ti a Fi, who will use £8,000 of National Lottery funding to purchase new toys, crafting materials, and equipment for their play group and create a toy library for families that are rurally isolated or affected by cost-of-living pressures.

Lilly Thomas, Chairman at Llanbister Ti a Fi, said: “We’re extremely grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund for this grant toward our playgroup in Llanbister.

“It will support our children’s development through a wide variety of toys as well as families in the surrounding areas who will have access to them, that may not have otherwise.

“It will also aid parents through support services we will bring into group.”

Highlighting the importance of the support from The National Lottery, David Knott, the Chief Executive of The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, we are here to support communities through good times and bad. The money they raise provides much-needed funding to incredible organisations that are making an important difference to people’s lives. This now includes helping people in a range of ways as they deal with the impact of the rising cost of living.

“In these challenging times, National Lottery funding takes on even greater significance and our message to communities, groups and volunteers working tirelessly throughout the UK is that we are here for you, and we will continue to listen and be flexible and responsive to the challenges and pressures you are facing.”

The National Lottery Community Fund is the largest funder of community activity in the UK and supports people and communities to thrive.

National Lottery players raise more than £30 million a week for arts, education, environment, health, heritage, sport, and voluntary projects across the UK; see the difference it’s making near you at www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk

** NB: Research conducted on behalf of The National Lottery Community Fund by Savanta ComRes between 2nd and 28th November 2022, amongst 8,968 UK adults, including 1,285 in Wales, weighted to be representative of UK adults by gender, age, region, social grade and ethnicity. 8,059 UK adults were previously surveyed between 7th and 22nd September 2021 and 7,009 UK adults were interviewed between 27th November and 8th December 2020.