January 31, 2021 - 1662 views
Charitable and voluntary groups from across Conwy are hoping that supporters will vote for their special projects to help them land funding from North Wales Police Community Trust (PACT).
The deadline for votes is coming up soon.
Your Community, Your Choice is a regular initiative which aims to take the proceeds of crime and return it back into the community by shortlisting groups across Wales and asking members of the public to vote on the causes that mean the most to them.
Once again it is an incredibly difficult choice to make in the Conwy area. Five nominees have been chosen are now in the running for a share of £60,000 which is the funding pot for the whole of North Wales.
The Kind Bay Initiative - KBI Create and Express Community project
“The project we would like to run is to be able to offer free ‘Create and Express Community Sessions’ within our multi-purpose community space in Colwyn Bay where those that are struggling with isolation, mental health, a lack of direction and needing support can attend weekly sessions where they can connect and express through art practices, social interaction, and emotional support and work towards final pieces of writing, art, or creativity to be displayed, to help the community feel recognised and potential progression into education and work.”
NWAMI, North Wales Association for Multicultural Integration - Hate Crime Awareness project
"NWAMI aims to offer a place for people to come to discuss how hatred is harming them and to help them to find solutions for these problems. As a sympathetic but neutral listener, coupled with ideas, contacts and experience, we feel that this will allow people to come forward in relative privacy to resolve their issues.
"We will staff this unit with volunteers, so providing cover throughout the week and to run the service initially for twelve months, during which time we aim to determine future needs and how to provide for them.
"The strengthening of the individual, by the removal of stresses that they carry, is clearly an important goal in itself, and we see this as the crucial part of our operation. However, the knock on impacts of such interventions can be profound as the individuals involved can use their freed time and increased happiness to involve themselves more positively with their families, friends and the greater community."
St David’s Hospice - Youth Volunteer Program
"We would like to establish a program aiming to recruit young volunteers. We feel that this will bring numerous benefits to the local community as well as the individuals themselves, as we would expect these young people to become far less likely to engage in criminal activity having found the personal benefits of making a positive contribution to their local community.
"St David’s Hospice could not function without volunteers. From staffing our charity shops and cafes, to assisting us at a variety of events, to volunteering in our inpatient units, the time and skills that our volunteers donate to us is invaluable.
"This grant would fund IT equipment which will enable our team to communicate effectively from any location, as well as facilitating giving presentations where required. We would also use this funding to purchase polo shirts for our new volunteers, which bring a sense of belonging to their wearers."
Hope Restored - Hope Restored project
"Hope Restored offers a range of services to homeless and needy people with our community and the local district. A drop-in session is run twice weekly, offering freshly cooked hot meals and desserts, along with snacks together with hot and cold drinks. As well as providing a safe place, clothes, food and hot drinks we also offer a sympathetic ear, with help and advice filling in forms for personal and housing benefits.
"Our services are provided free of charge and the project is run completely by volunteers and is reliant on donations to keep going.
"Hope Restored project can help to turn the lives of less fortunate people around and keep them out of a criminal lifestyle."
Colwyn Bay Stingrays Rugby Club - The Stingrays project
"Colwyn Bay Stingrays has 39 members from all across North Wales. It is a mixed ability rugby club adapted for people with disabilities ranging from age 14 upwards and is the only disability rugby club in North Wales. The club is run solely by volunteers who assist with transporting and caring for the members so that they can take part and we are affiliated with Colwyn Bay RFC and also receive regular in-kind support from the Welsh Rugby Union. Our players come from a wide area ranging from Deeside to Dolgellau as well as Conwy.
"Colwyn Bay Stingrays Disability Rugby Club provides a valuable resource for young adults with disabilities who struggle to participate in many other social outlets. This project also engages with and supports vulnerable people who could be at greater risk of becoming victims of crime, modern day slavery or potentially domestic abuse by providing them with a therapeutic and supportive environment which will enable them to develop their confidence and form positive relationships with team-mates and volunteers."
To cast your vote visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/YCYC21
Votes need to be completed no later than February 2nd 2021.
