Fforwm Anabledd Taran Cyf, based in Mona, have been awarded £149,346 under the Big Lottery Fund's People and Places programme, which aims to bring people together to make communities stronger and to improve rural and urban environments.

The money will be used to run the Reachout project, which will enable disabled people to gain confidence, skills and training to prepare them to take up either volunteering, employment or further education. In turn, this will help them overcome barriers and help change attitudes towards people with disabilities and disabled workers in the community.

Pam Davies, of Fforwm Anabledd Tafarn Cyf, said: "The project will revitalise communities by enabling people with disabilities, sight impaired people, older people and long-term unemployed people to develop confidence and skills which may lead to volunteering, further education or paid employment.

"It will also improve community relations through increased community participation and improve family relationships by reducing stress and dependency levels."

Through OCN accredited training, the project will deliver ICT skills for hard to reach groups and improve their skills, confidence, employability and reduce isolation.

The target groups are those with disabilities, the long-term unemployed, older people and people who are rurally disadvantaged, with training delivered on-site, in the home or at other accessible ICT suites across the island.

Big Lottery Fund Wales committee member and chair of the People and Places committee, Janet Reed, said: "Programmes like People and Places are making a difference to the lives of so many people in communities across Wales.

"I'm sure this project will have a positive impact on the lives of many people in the community and will continue to do so for years to come."

The £66 million People and Places programme awards grants of between £5,001 and £1 million for a broad range of community projects.

nFor further information about the People and Places programme and how you can apply for funding, visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk and use the 'Wales' specific search facility.