Llanarthne’s Urdd Section has safeguarded the future of clog dancing in Carmarthen having scooped a £620 National Lottery grant from the Sports Council for Wales’ Community Chest programme.

The Urdd, a dynamic movement for children and young people that organises a range of different activities across Wales, was awarded the money to fund clogs for children and young people in the community as well as venue hire.

Rhiannon Dafis, the leader of Llanarthe’s Urdd Section, explains, "We’re very grateful to the Sports Council for this grant which will help us to buy the latest equipment, attract more young people to the Urdd and take part in more competitions such as the Eisteddfod.

"In the past, we have had to borrow clogs and equipment for training and competing purposes, which was not ideal by any means. Having our own equipment will help a great deal and give us the security we need to move forward, develop and expand.

"We currently have around 10 young people attend weekly sessions and aim to increase that number, especially boys aged between 10-18 years old. We want to keep this craft alive and the grant awarded will help us do so."

If you have an idea that could get more people, more active more often – you may even be in line for a cash grant from the Sports Council for Wales.

Projects up and down the country have been reaping the rewards of the Community Chest scheme since 1999.

As a result of the popularity and undoubted success of the scheme, the Sports Council for Wales is raising the level of grant. Organisations keen to develop sport & physical activity in Wales can now receive up to £1000 for a qualifying project over a 12 month period.

The scope of the scheme has also been widened. Grants have traditionally been awarded to sports clubs and sporting bodies. Now most organisations seeking to develop physical activity and sporting projects will be eligible for an award.

The Community Chest has recently been infiltrating additional areas of work such as the voluntary sector (e.g. Voluntary Youth Clubs, Women’s Institute) and the workplace, as well as continuing to support projects in the health and education arenas. So while funding the local football club might get the younger members of the community moving, backing a walking group will encourage more adults to get active.

Chair of the Sports Council for Wales, Philip Carling, said:

"Community Chest has been and continues to be a huge success and is very popular throughout Carmarthenshire. The increase in funding and the greater scope of the scheme will increase its effectiveness.

"Panels based in each of the 22 local authorities in Wales hold the purse strings and have delegated authority to award grants to worthwhile projects. We want to hear of bright ideas and projects that will get more people in Carmarthenshire more active, more often."