A Brecon group where people with and without learning disabilities live and work alongside each other has been awarded a grant of nearly £10,000.

L’Arche Brecon has been awarded £9,735 from The National Lottery Community Fund.

L’Arche Brecon is a commnunity of around 40, including people with and without learning disabilities, support assistants, volunteers, friends and neighbours. Since it opened in 1988, it has built deep links with neighbours, local churches and other community groups.

The group will use the money to build on the pilot scheme and create a volunteer befriending scheme for people with learning disabilities.

L'Arche sees to grow by building mutual relationships across our diversity and differences, and to work together for a more human society. 

Alice, who helps at L’Arche Brecon, said: “I only planned to come for a year - as a lot of people do, but I fell in love with the community and that is why I stayed.

“I found a family here, friendships, a sense of community and relationship.”   

Meanwhile Builth Wells Outdoor Bowling Club has also been awarded a grant from the fund.

The club is planning to address climate change and their heating bills by using £9,999 to install solar panels on the clubhouse roof and change all lighting to LED.

Club Captain, Rob Wall said: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund was able to support our project and as our centenary year draws to a close, this will benefit our members in the years to come. Thanks must go to National Lottery players for making our project possible.

“It will help to greatly reduce our energy cost which will benefit our bowlers and all the other users of our bowling club."

The work has already started and was anticipated to be completed by Christmas.

Oriel Davies Gallery, an independent charity in Newtown, is offering all comers a warm welcome this winter with a £9,134 grant.

Established through an endowment from the Davies Memorial Fund, Croeso Cynnes / Warm Welcome is a creative programme running through the first few wintry months of 2024. The gallery celebrates the talents of artists, musicians and performers across Wales.

Kate Morgan-Clare, Creative Producer at the Gallery explained: “You don’t need to have a reason to come to Oriel Davies to spend time and keep warm – just come in, make yourself comfortable and let staff know if you need any help (staff maybe wearing a sweatshirt with DAVIES written on the back). Activities are free, bookable or drop-in. 

“Workshops, movement sessions, daytime and evening music, storytelling and dance performances and community get-togethers will be on offer and everyone is welcome. We have exhibitions to see and a cafe with underfloor heating. You’re welcome to sit in here as long as you like. We have an accessible, gender-neutral toilet. We provide warm fleece blankets made from 100 per cent recycled material.

“You are welcome to bring your own portable devices to charge them and use our Wi-Fi for free. We will share all the activities on our What’s On page.”  

Elsewhere, Accessibility Powys Ltd received £9,700 to support people with disabilities who are experiencing problems with access to built environment. It will also provide advice and travel to relevant sites to assess what is needed to be done.  

The fifth and final Powys recipient for this round of funding is Berriew Community Centre in Welshpool. The £10,000 grant will be used to make improvements to the centre, offering an improved facility for 2024. 

Andrew Owen, Head of Funding at The National Lottery Community Fund in Wales, said:  “Thanks to National Lottery players, community groups across Powys will be able to take advantage of different community activities paid for by grants.

“The National Lottery awards over £30 million a week to good causes across the UK. We hope other groups will be inspired by the plans underway in Brecon, Builth and Newtown and consider applying for a grant for their own communities during 2024.”