SwansAid winners revisited

With SwansAid applications now open for the Autumn round of funding, we checked in with the winners from Spring 2017 to find out how the funding has helped them and their members.

The Play and Leisure Opportunity Library (PLOL) offer a unique opportunity for children with additional learning needs, and their families, to meet others, learn, and play together in a supportive environment.

After winning £10,000, PLOL used their grant to purchase specialist equipment to facilitate their tailored approach of helping to build the skills of the children, and ensuring their full enjoyment in the process.

“The children we support experience great difficulty participating in play due to the barriers associated with their particular condition,” said project leader, Judy Lynch.

“The equipment that the children need is expensive and families just cannot afford to buy it and give their children the chance to try them out.

“With the support of SwansAid we are now able to give everyone a fair chance to benefit from the specialist equipment we’ve purchased.”

She added: “We’ve bought a squeezy machine which is designed to regulate the sensory system allowing children to settle, focus and play. We’ve also bought a sound beam machine – a tool for experimenting with sound through movement.”

The Community Trust have granted funding totalling over £140,000 to an assortment of organisations through SwansAid since its inception in September 2013.

Applications for Autumn’s funding are open until November 25 for groups operating within Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion or Carmarthenshire.

The SwansAid initiative run by the Community Trust, aims to financially support clubs, charities, organisations or projects that encourage young people, or those with disabilities, to enhance their involvement within sport.

Made up of three separate categories, the Autumn round of funding will award the following:

· One large grant of up to £10,000

· Five small grants of up to £2,000

· One disability/inclusion grant of up to £5,000 for organisations making a concentrated effort to improve opportunities for disabled people to be active.

Check your eligibility to apply for funding HERE. Please take the time to read the guidance notes on each category before applying.

Please note that if you have previously been awarded SwansAid funds, please wait three years before applying again.