THE Big Lottery Fund has announced four National Lottery grants in Ceredigion totalling just shy of half a million pounds.

Home Start Ceredigion will receive the lion’s share of the four grants for projects across the county after successfully bidding for £481,113 over three years.

The project will deliver support services for families with young children to prevent crisis and family breakdown. They will be extending perinatal support to new areas. The new services on offer will include outreach work and domestic abuse support and they will be providing advice on benefits and training.

Sharon Morris, manager at Home-Start Ceredigion, said: "Home-Start Ceredigion has been supporting families throughout Ceredigion for the last 26 years and this would not be possible without securing grants.

“We are so pleased that the Big Lottery continue to support our ethos, their support has enabled us to get match funding with other grants so that we can offer employment, volunteering opportunities as a way back into work, and let us bridge the gaps in the services our families need.

“On behalf of the families and staff we would like to thank the Big Lottery Fund for supporting us to reduce social isolation and bring communities together.”

Three more Ceredigion based groups were successful in applying for smaller grants:

• The Friendship Club in Cardigan will use £3,000 to hire a mini bus and driver, providing day and evening trips for the local community to combat isolation and loneliness.

• Llandysul Family Centre will spend £9,950 to develop an intergenerational project with joint activities with the local sheltered housing, will fund staff salaries, activities, transport and technology.

• Grwp Coffi Llanon Coffee Group successfully applied for £5,000 to take members on a series of trips intended to help integrate their bilingual community and foster good relationships.

Rosie Dent, manager for Mid and West Wales at the Big Lottery Fund said: "This month we are celebrating projects which benefit families and young people and we are delighted to announce the grant for Home Start Ceredigion which will support so many families.

“These four grants provide a substantial investment into Ceredigion and demonstrates that National Lottery funding continues to make a positive impact to people and communities of the county."