Four Powys-based groups have begun the festive season with early celebrations after hearing they have been successful in getting grants totalling £33,717.00 from the Big Lottery Fund. Grants are available thanks to people playing the National Lottery.

The Radnorshire Wildlife Trust Limited in Llandrindod Wells spend £9,950 to help local people of all ages to restore their well-being, reconnect with nature and take part in a series of creative workshops to design new nature reserve information resources.

Julian Jones, director Radnorshire Wildlife Trust, welcomed the award, saying: “We are delighted that the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All Wales scheme has funded the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust ‘Finding Your 3 R’s in Wild Radnorshire’ project.

“This grant will ensure local communities can learn much more about their local nature reserve – perhaps visiting it for the first time. We also hope people of all ages and backgrounds will develop new creative skills, helping to show-case Radnorshire’s fabulous suite of nature reserves.”

Cruse Bereavement Care Powys successfully applied for £8,904 to recruit and train volunteers to provide support and advice to bereaved people. The grant will fund foundation training courses for volunteers interested in becoming Cruse Bereavement Support Volunteers. The course teaches 10 trainees the necessary skills, awareness and knowledge to offer free and confidential support to bereaved people in Powys when they need it. One course has very recently finished, with eight trainees graduating successfully, a new course will begin in spring 2019 at Llandrindod Wells.

Sue Westley, the chair of Cruse Bereavement Care – Powys said: “The National Lottery grant has helped to ensure there is somewhere to turn to for bereaved people in Powys at the time they need it.’

Llangorse Common Community Toilets in Powys will put their £10,000 towards rebuilding the toilets at the site to provide an improved facility for users. John Price, treasurer of Llangorse Common Community Toilets was delighted:

“This was the best day of the year, when we received the news that our group had been awarded a grant of £10,000.00 to help replace the existing community toilets on Llangorse Common.

“It was a dream which we have been working on since 2012 and now this has become a reality. We are truly most grateful and excited that our dream will, in 2019 come true”.

Llangunllo Community Hall Management Committee successfully applied for £4,863 to improve the kitchen facilities in the local village hall for users.

Anna Jones, chairman of Llangunllo Community Hall Management Committee, said: “We can now install the new kitchen equipment in our community hall to benefit the people of Llangunllo and the surrounding areas.”