BBC Children in Need has awarded a total of £52,224 in new funding to three local groups working with disadvantaged children and young people across Cardiff. 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 Cardiff to more than £1.2million.
NoFit State Community Circus Ltd has been allocated £16,206 over two years to provide circus-based sessions for children and young people living in areas of deprivation. Through attending the project the children and young people will grow their skill-set, improve their physical fitness, increase their confidence, and learn how to manage their feelings.
Bethan Touhig-Gamble, Head of Development at NoFit State Community Circus Ltd commented: “The new funding from BBC Children in Need will allow us to offer children and young people living in areas of deprivation in Cardiff access to circus skills workshops throughout the year. Aimed at engaging the children and young people in a confidence-boosting and stimulating way, the project will bring this creative physical activity right into the hearts of the community.”
The University of South Wales is also celebrating a recent grant of £6,018 over one year to provide support for young people in care, helping them to understand and access higher education opportunities. The “Confident Futures and Residential Programme” will combine group activities with individual support to raise aspirations and improve confidence of local looked after young people. The sessions will equip young people with the skills they need to make informed choices about their future. Sessions will include social trips, university taster days and workshops to support studies and applications to university, colleges and/or jobs. Through attending the project, young people will increase their skills, be better able to make independent decisions about their futures, and strengthen their sense of self.
In addition, Cardiff City Community Table Tennis Club is celebrating a recent grant of £30,000. The three year project will provide inclusive table tennis sessions for children and young people facing disadvantage. Through attending the project the children and young people will make more friends, improve their fitness, and grow their self-esteem.
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 NoFit State Community Circus Ltd, The University of South Wales and Cardiff City Community Table Tennis Club 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.
Running alongside the main and small grants programmes this year is Curiosity, a new partnership with Wellcome, which awards grants to organisations using inspiring science activities to create change for disadvantaged children and young people. Applications will reopen to the programme in autumn 2018.
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.
