THE Big Lottery Fund (BLF) in Wales is inviting the general public to help shape a new £13.5 million programme for rural communities, including Monmouthshire.

Monmouthshire’s rural programme team is reaching out to the county’s communities to encourage them to access a new source of support. BLF has announced funding under its Rural Programme initiative for nine Welsh counties which provides an opportunity for communities in Monmouthshire to apply for grant aid. The rural programme initiative is expected to start in summer 2016, and complements the Welsh Government’s Rural Development Programme.

The programme aims to enable people living in rural areas to work together to bring about positive changes. It will allow groups to support people to make changes that improve their lives through building on the existing strengths, skills, assets and energy within communities.

The programme is being developed following BLF’s extensive consultation with the public about how it should support communities and people in Wales up until 2021. The fund has also held discussions with organisations and agencies covering rural areas to seek their views.

One of the key findings of the consultation was the need to support people and communities in rural areas with tackling the issues that were most important to them.

Monmouthshire County Council’s Rural Programmes Manager Michael Powell said: “The Big Lottery Fund invites the county’s social enterprises, cooperatives, mutuals, community interest companies and local councils as well as voluntary and community groups to help shape the new rural programme, so that as many people from diverse backgrounds can benefit.”

Rob Roffe, Senior Policy and Learning Manager at the fund said: “The programme aims to enable people living in these rural areas to work with their communities to bring about positive changes.

“We anticipate that this will allow groups to support people to make changes that improve their lives; through building on the existing strengths, skills, assets and energy within communities.”

The BLF is eager to understand more about the barriers that have prevented rural communities from seeking lottery funding in the past and is encouraging people to complete the online survey.

The survey will be open until Monday 7th December. To receive the survey by email or in the post contact the Big Lottery Fund either by email at [email protected] or by calling 0300 123 0735.