THOUSANDS of pounds of grant money has been awarded to projects in Ammanford and Penygroes.

The Ammanford Hard of Hearing Group and Penygroes Indoor Short Mat Bowls have both been chosen to receive a share of £557,000 of National Lottery Grants.

Ammanford’s Hard of Hearing Group supports deaf and hard of hearing people in the area, and will benefit from £6,500 in funding from the National Lottery.

Derek Preston-Hughes, funding manager, said: “The group will use the grant to run a series of events tailored to the requirements of people with hearing difficulties which will increase their confidence and provide opportunities to socialise.

“The £6,500 will fund administration costs, coach fees, and meal costs.”

The bowls club will receive almost £8,000 in funding to help with new equipment.

Mr Preston-Hughes added: “Penygroes Indoor Short Mat Bowls will purchase new equipment, encouraging more members to join, and increasing the potential for intergenerational cohesion with the local schools.

“In total, £7,926 will fund an electro-wind vertical machine and the purchase of two vertical machine mats.”

The money provided to the hard of hearing group and the indoor bowls club was part of £500,000 of funding in West Wales.

A large proportion of that has gone to Llandysul a Phont Tyweli Ymaen, who will use the money to bring a new accessible minibus for volunteer groups to Ammanford.

The group successfully applied for £98,300 to expand their Transport for All project by buying another adapted 16-seat minibus.

The project’s development officer will recruit and train volunteer drivers and co-ordinate the use of the minibus with various groups and sheltered accommodation venues in the area.

Tom Cowcher, chairman of Llandysul a Phont Tyweli Ymaen, responded to the news of the award saying: “We are delighted that the Lottery were able to support us with this funding bid, it’s really good news.

“The funding will allow us to place a much-needed accessible minibus in the Ammanford area.”

The minibus will made available to any group who are otherwise without transport, including youth groups, pensioner’s groups, and sheltered accommodation groups.