Heritage in Action: ALABARÉ awarded National Lottery Community Fund Wales grant
ALABARÉ has been awarded £19,788 towards projects to boost veterans’ involvement in preserving Welsh heritage.
Homelessness charity ALABARÉ is proud to have received a grant from The National Lottery Community Fund Wales for efforts to strengthen links between veterans and local heritage.
The grant, totalling £19,788, will be used to expand the charity’s existing Boots on the Ground wellbeing programme, incorporating more activities that preserve the rich history of Wales.
Increasing engagement from the veteran community will also foster a sense of ownership in Welsh heritage, ensuring access for future generations to learn from and enjoy.
How heritage helps our veterans
ALABARÉ has seen the benefits of giving homeless former military personnel opportunities to get outdoors, take part in physical activity, and make a difference in their community.
67% of participants in Boots on the Ground activities report improved emotional wellbeing, increased resilience, and greater optimism.
The programme also teaches new skills that can boost employability opportunities, encourage teamwork, reduce isolation and build confidence for an independent future, helping to break the cycle of homelessness.
The funding received by ALABARÉ from The National Lottery Community Fund Wales will mean the charity can coordinate more conservation work for veterans in the country, working alongside partners such as heritage bodies, museums and universities.
Examples of these efforts so far have included:
- Clearing an area of scrubland to improve access to a slate cutting shed in the UNESCO North West Wales Slate Landscape, with support from Bangor University.
- Regular volunteering at Margam Country Park, Port Talbot, to maintain public areas for visitors, and help prepare the site for events.
- Working with the national Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience to give veterans horsemanship skills to remove bracken in South Wales, reducing the risk of wildfires and cutting carbon emissions.
Kirsty Scullion, Director of Fundraising at ALABARÉ, said:
“Our thanks go out to The National Lottery Community Fund Wales for their support of our heritage and well-being projects within the country, and the clear benefits we’re seeing in veterans taking part.
“We’re very proud of the deep and varied heritage across Wales and delighted to be able to do our bit to protect that for the future, while also helping our residents to improve their own skills, regain the camaraderie many of them miss after serving in the armed forces, and push towards our mission of breaking the cycle of homelessness.
“ALABARÉ is keen to build strong partnerships with more conservation and heritage groups within Wales and offer our clients a chance to give hands-on help to the community.”
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