Centre barking for joy after grant award
BRIDGEND Animal Rescue Centre CIC are based at the heart of their community in North Cornelly.
Known locally as BARC (from the acronym for their name), their successful application for £95,500 will mean that local people are able to gain valuable training and work experience. As well as learning to care for the injured and abandoned animals at the centre, they also work with a local dog groomer and a veterinary practice. These opportunities mean volunteers can gain recognised qualifications, helping them to find paid employment or move on to further education.
Rebecca Lloyd and Ceri Auld initially created the centre because of their dedication to ending suffering for animals. Starting as a small project in the kitchen, the number of animals in need of help almost immediately outstripped the time and money available to care for them. Rebecca and Ceri turned to the community for support and advice. At a meeting, the community decided to volunteer at the project, supporting the centre to care for the animals, but also learning new skills that could help them into employment. It is no coincidence that the centre sits at the heart of the housing estate. It is providing a place where the community can come to learn, socialise at the afternoon drop-in, and gain a sense of pride and selfworth from the positive experience of healing and working with the animals.
Engaging Through Creativity (ETC) Dance have successfully applied for £10,000 for a Porthcawl-based project.
Lizzie Davies-MacMillan welcomed their grant saying: “Engaging Through Creativity Dance are thrilled to be able to deliver ‘Dance to Health Porthcawl’ with funding from The National Lottery Community Fund. The sessions will be a valuable resource for older people in our community. The evidence-based, falls prevention programme which we will deliver through weekly dance classes will increase participants’ strength, fitness, balance and flexibility. The dance classes will focus on creative expression and foster a sense of belonging which will increase social networks for more isolated participants. We are excited to be able to develop Dance to Health here in Porthcawl.”
These are just two of the 77 grants given this month by the National Lottery Community Fund across Wales.