A LAMPETER-BASED charity will receive the lion’s share of Lottery grants totalling £499,063 going to four groups scattered across Ceredigion, it was announced on Thursday.

Home Start Ceredigion will receive a £481,113 Big Lottery Fund grant over a three-year period enabling them to deliver support services for families with young children to prevent crisis and family breakdown.

They will be extending perinatal support to new areas and the new services on offer will include outreach work and domestic abuse support, as well as advice on benefits and training.  

“Home Start Ceredigion has been supporting families throughout Ceredigion for the last 26 years and this would not be possible without securing grants,” said Home-Start Ceredigion’s Sharon Morris.

“We are so pleased that the Big Lottery continue to support our ethos which has enabled us to match fund with for other grants so that we can offer employment, volunteering opportunities as a way back into employment and bridged gaps in services needed by our families.”

Ceredigion MP Ben Lake welcomed the grant to a charity, based in his home town.

“It’s wonderful to see that Home Start has been recognised for the important contribution it makes to local families and that it has been given further funding to continue with its invaluable work,” he told the Cambrian News.

Three more Ceredigion-based groups were successful in applying for smaller grants: Gr?p Coffi Llanon Coffee received £5,000 to take members on a series of trips intended to help integrate their bilingual community and foster good relationships. 

Llandysul Family Centre will spend £9,950 to develop an inter-generational project with joint activities with the local sheltered housing, will fund staff salaries, activities, transport and technology.

And The Friendship Club in Cardigan will use £3,000 to hire a mini bus and driver, providing day and evening trips for the local community to combat isolation and loneliness.

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