MONMOUTH-based charity The Ark is celebrating a surprise seasonal stocking filler, thanks to a donation of £2,000 from the Lloyds TSB Foundation.
The organisation is one of more than 60 charities in the region to share a total of £239,895 in the final round of grants made by the Lloyds TSB Foundation last millennium.
The Ark Community Centre was established by the Overmonnow Community Church in 1997 to provide facilities and resources for the local community of Monmouth.
They aim to help people in areas of social depravation and difficulties by offering young people a safe place to meet at the youth club, parent and toddler sessions and playgroups, senior citizens' lunchclubs and counselling advice facilities on debt, alcohol and relationship issues.
Despite recently losing their premises, the youth work will continue in partnership with the Chatterbox Café and hopefully the church will provide a new community centre on the growing Rockfield housing estate.
The new funding will support the church and its youth work with the 50-plus under-18s it has made contact with, by assisting them to purchase a new computer video projector and putting on youth trips and events.
Scout groups, family advice centres, community groups and a wide range of disability charities throughout the region have also received grants between £250 and £36,000.
Throughout 1999 the Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales, one of the UK's largest grant-making trusts, has supported more than 240 charities in Wales with grants totalling over £937,220.
Raymond Biddiss, church minister and co-ordinator of The Ark, said: "This is brilliant news.
"Like many other charities, we rely on donations to keep our work going and support the local community.
"This has given everyone at the charity another excuse to celebrate this Christmas, and what better way to begin a new millennium."