Plas Madoc residents are being supported during the cost-of-living crisis thanks to a National Lottery-funded project.

We Are Plas Madoc has received £43,725 of National Lottery funding to further develop their electric vehicle community transport scheme.

They provide an affordable and environmentally-friendly transport option to residents in and around the area of Plas Madoc - an isolated community - so that they can access essential services, food, and recreational activities.

As a result of the funding, they will also expand their provision at their premises to further develop their Kettle Club breakfast and lunch club to support their community during the cost-of-living pressures by providing a warm, safe space and access to a range of local services. 

New figures released this week through The National Lottery Community Fund’s latest Community Research Index shows that over half of people in Wales (54%) believe that supporting people with the rising cost-of-living is most important for the wellbeing of their local community, with half in Wales (50%) intending to volunteer in 2023 with young people (18 to 24) leading the way (74%).

Claire Pugh, Plas Madoc Community Manager, has worked in the community for 16 years and believes the current economic climate is as perilous as it has ever been.

“People have inevitably really struggled due to the rising cost of living,” she said.

“Our community is eight miles from the town centre. There is a lack of affordable, good quality food available within our community.

“Residents have to travel outside the community to access shopping and we've also lost our GP practice, so people have to travel to access health services and medical appointments – that is really expensive.

“So in response to that, we put in this application to support the establishment of a community transport scheme so we secured the use of the community vehicle.

“The scheme has allowed people to get to the places that they might not otherwise have been able to and really opened up the world to them.

“The Kettle Club has been great because we know that our parents do everything for their children, making sure they’re warm and fed, but sometimes they may not have that same opportunity.

“It's lovely because we are connecting people together and that helps make them stronger, more resilient and inevitably that's what we want.”

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The £30 million raised each week by National Lottery players for good causes is at the forefront in supporting communities who need it the most in the face of cost-of-living pressures.

Organisations throughout the UK facing increased demands, challenges, and hardships as a direct result of the pressures are being supported in various ways, as National Lottery funders throughout the UK have responded with new priorities to help communities with an approach that centres around flexibility and support.

Many existing funding programmes have been adapted by National Lottery funders to prioritise cost of living support.

All funding will be kept open and available, and ready to adapt, as part of its We’re Here for You commitment.  

Claire fears the situation would be much bleaker if it were not for the support of The National Lottery.

She added: “People would definitely be more lonely, isolated and detached from the community and from each other if it wasn’t for The National Lottery’s support.

“Their bottom-up approach is so important. They recognise that and support us and fund us.

“It's imperative because we're integrated, we're embedded in this community and there's lots of other organisations like us in different communities that are the same and also benefit."