More children in Trimsaran will now have the chance to swivel, shoot and score thanks to a National Lottery cash investment worth £1,000 from the Sports Council for Wales.

The Trimsaran Tigers Netball Team successfully secured a Sports Council grant to form a new under 14s netball team after it was revealed that children in the community wanted to participate in more sports activities on their door step.

The money awarded to the Tigers will fund the provision of new bibs, balls, venue hire and kit as well as paying for some members to attend coaching courses. The club’s chairperson, Shirley Griffiths, explains, "We’re delighted with the grant from the Sports Council which will help us to kick-start sports activities in the area."

Griffiths, who has an eight-year-old daughter, adds, "It was clear from the feedback that we got from local children, girls in particular, that they wanted more sports activities and competitions in the area. A group of us parents decided to take this forward and form a new netball team.

"The objective is to provide more opportunities for young people in Trimsaran and to increase physical activity in the area. Netball sessions have already started and take place at Trimsaran Leisure Centre once a week. Those who are interested in joining us should get in touch."

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."