While the coronavirus has been a challenge for all of us in Wales, charities in particular are being hit hard by the crisis.
With fundraising events cancelled and charity shops closed, charities have seen their income streams dry up.
One organisation helping charities in need during these unprecedented times is the all-Wales lottery, Loteri Cymru.
Already £40,000 has been earmarked to support Welsh charities struggling to survive the coronavirus pandemic thanks to its lottery players.
Loteri Cymru, which is operated by Sterling Lotteries, was created to support Welsh charities and causes close to the hearts of the people of Wales.
Charities including LATCH – the Welsh Children’s Cancer Charity, Welsh Hearts, The Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales, Youth Cymru, and NCAR are all supported.
For just £1 a week, players can help raise vital funds for charities in Wales, as well as try their luck at scooping the £25,000 weekly jackpot cash prize.
Since the coronavirus outbreak and lockdown, Loteri Cymru has sprung into action to support struggling charities across Wales, aiming to help those whose funding has been impacted.
Phil Gerrish, marketing manager for Loteri Cymru, said it was a pleasure to help make a difference to worthwhile causes at this worrying time.
He said: “Lockdown has been an extremely challenging time for many of us, and for charities which provide invaluable services to millions of people, this concern has been even greater.
“Despite facing hugely concerning funding challenges due to social restrictions, they have continued to provide a vital lifeline to people in need.
“We wanted to show our gratitude to these dedicated charities with a donation of £40,000, which we hope will enable them to continue the life-changing work they undertake. We’re grateful to our lottery players who have made this donation possible and to the charities in Wales for their endless dedication.”
Carers Trust Wales is one of the charities to receive an unprecedented donation of £10,000 from the lottery.
Through its network partners, local charities that provide services to unpaid carers, the charity supports up to 36,000 carers a year in Wales from the ages of five to over 100.
Carers Trust Wales provides support, services, and recognition for those caring for family and friends with dementia, addiction, ill health, and mental health issues.
In order to support carers during the coronavirus pandemic, it has established an Emergency Fund, which will provide grants to cover the costs of vital food, travel and repair costs.
Simon Hatch, Director of Wales at Carers Trust Wales, said: “We are delighted to be supported by Loteri Cymru. Their generous donation will help us continue to support unpaid carers across Wales in a variety of ways including through our recently launched Emergency Fund.
“The pandemic has had a significant impact on unpaid carers and the support services they rely on. Carers are increasingly reporting that they are struggling to cope with the growing physical, emotional and financial pressures of caring. This donation will make a huge difference for unpaid carers and will help us continue to work nationally to create a better landscape for carers of all ages.”
Another charity to benefit from a £10,000 Loteri Cymru donation is North Clwyd Animal Rescue (NCAR) – an animal sanctuary in North Wales which is home to nearly 300 animals.
The charity has been forced to cancel fundraising events, stop rehoming animals and close its shelter, charity shops and café, which has left it struggling to meet daily running costs covering animal food, staff costs and veterinary bills.
With NCAR facing a “crippling” financial situation, Nicky Owen, Media Relations and Fundraising Manager at the charity, said they were hugely grateful for the donation.
She said: “Due to the fact the centre isn’t open, we have no customers or adoptions. Our charity shops and café are closed, and our fundraising events have been cancelled. Quite literally every stream of income we had has stopped overnight, which is crippling us as we still have animals to look after, staff to pay and bills.
“This is why we can’t put into words how grateful we are to Loteri Cymru for their generous donation as it will ease the pressure significantly and help us keep our animals safe.
“We appreciate this is a difficult situation for everyone right now which makes this donation even more meaningful. We want to say the biggest thank you to Loteri Cymru and its lottery players here in Wales who have made this donation possible.”
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