Russell Commission Youth-led Grant

Acting on the recommendations of the Russell Commission to make volunteering truly youth-led, CAVS Volunteer Centre has set up a small grant scheme. The grant will support a range of small volunteering projects and activities, led and carried out by young people.

Groups who work primarily with 16-25 year olds with an idea that involves youth volunteering can apply for the grant.  These can be school groups, youth groups and constituted groups.  Projects can be one-off events or ongoing activities, but must benefit the local community in some way.  If a group isn’t constituted, the panel will consider paying the grant to an eligible organisation that will support them.  Priority will be given to groups from Communities First areas, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities and young people with disabilities.

CAVS Volunteer Centre has put together a panel of young people, who will be responsible for assessing project applications and deciding which projects get funding, and how much they get!

Fflur Hughes, Children & Young People’s Volunteering Officer said ‘This is a great opportunity for the young people involved in the panel to gain experience of grant allocation as well as for the youth groups within the county to develop more volunteering projects within their organisations for the youth of Carmarthenshire’.

The total fund available is £4,000, with a maximum of £400 per grant. The closing date for applications is Monday 15th September 2008.

Application packs can be obtained by contacting CAVS on 01267 236367 or downloaded from this page, see below. You can download Word or PDF versions.

The Russell Commission was established to develop a new national framework for youth action and engagement - Link to Russell Commission

Carmarthenshire People First Funding Success!

Opportunities for people with learning disabilities in Carmarthenshire have been given a massive boost thanks to a £115k grant.

Carmarthenshire People First, the award-winning advocacy support group, has been given the money by the Big Lottery Fund to provide valued employment opportunities for four people with learning disabilities to help run the project.

The cash, which will be paid over three years, will also fund a full-time admin support worker at the group’s Carmarthen office. Carmarthenshire People First will also use part of the money to continue funding its numerous support and training activities.

Carmarthenshire People First chairman Meredith Pugh said: “This grant is fantastic news for people with learning disabilities in Carmarthenshire and will help us to help even more people. Carmarthenshire People First makes a huge difference to the lives of so many people and this money means that our efforts to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities are being recognised. Hopefully, people with learning disabilities will now be taken seriously”.

Janice Martin, advisor for the group, said: “We at Carmarthenshire People First would like to thank the Big Lottery Fund for this grant and their continuing support. Carmarthenshire People First plays a vital role in assisting people with learning disabilities to play a full and active role within their communities. This grant means that Carmarthenshire People First can continue in its efforts to change society’s attitudes towards people with learning disabilities and the insights they can offer.”