Cardiff’s LGBT+ groups share £14,000 in funding

LGBT+ groups in Cardiff have shared in more than £14,000 of funding following a special round of Tesco’s Bags of Help community grant scheme.

To mark Pride celebrations, the store invited customers to vote for local LGBT+ community groups and charities to receive a cash boost.

Following voting in selected stores across the city in July and August, the National Eisteddfod of Wales was awarded £8,000, Glitter Cymru received £4,000 and Stonewall Cymru was awarded £2,000.

The Mas ar y Maes, or More on the Field, project by National Eisteddfod of Wales aims to involve the LGBT+ community in Welsh culture by hosting dedicated discussions, performances and readings at the event.

The hope is that the programme and those who are part of the project will be able to offer support and role models to LGBT+ Welsh speakers and learners, contributing positively to the wellbeing and happiness of the next generation of LGBT+ Welsh speakers and learners.

Tesco’s Bags of Help initiative sees the money raised from the sale of carrier bags awarded to thousands of local community projects every year. This special round put a focus on LGBT+ groups in London, Brighton, Manchester, Cardiff and Glasgow.

Since launching in 2015, the scheme has awarded £60m to more than 18,000 projects across the UK.

Iestyn Wyn, campaigns, policy and research manager at Stonewall Cymru, said: “Mas ar y Maes is an exciting new project established in partnership between the LGBT community, the National Eisteddfod and Stonewall Cymru. The project was first introduced this year as an additional element to the Eisteddfod and proved to be an outstanding success. Mas ar y Maes celebrates LGBT identities and Welsh culture. The initiative will now be included in the annual festival as an integral part of its offering.

“The grant received via Tesco’s Bags of Help scheme will ensure that the project can develop and evolve by widening its reach and presence in future. The funding will ensure that we can build on previous success and offer a more varied and ambitious programme of events for the LGBT community and allies throughout Wales.”