Monmouthshire’s rural programme team is reaching out to the county’s communities to encourage them to access a new source of support.

The Big Lottery Fund has announced funding under its Rural Programme initiative for nine Welsh counties which provides an opportunity for communities in Monmouthshire to apply for grant aid.

The Rural Programme initiative is expected to start in summer 2016, and complements the Welsh Government’s Rural Development Programme.

The programme aims to enable people living in rural areas to work together to bring about positive changes.

It will allow groups to support people to make changes that improve their lives through building on the existing strengths, skills, assets and energy within communities.

Monmouthshire County Council’s Rural Programmes Manager Michael Powell said, “The Big Lottery Fund invites the county’s social enterprises, cooperatives, mutuals, community interest companies and local councils as well as voluntary and community groups to help shape the new Rural Programme, so that as many people, from diverse backgrounds, can benefit.”

Details of the Rural Programme initiative may be obtained from biglotteryfund.org.uk/ruralprogramme

The Big Lottery Fund has also asked people to fill in a short survey to help them effectively communicate with rural communities: surveygizmo.com/s3/2347389/RuralProgramme