A lotto cash to handle (From Penarth Times)

A lotto cash to handle

A PENARTH youth worker will have joint responsibility for how 13.2 million of lottery money is spent on programmes for young people in Wales.

Lisa Nelmes, aged 24, the information manager at the Infoshop on Stanwell Road, has been selected as one of three young people to sit on the 10-person Big Lottery committee known as the Young People's Fund.

The Young People's Fund is a programme which has 13.2 million to commit to ten-19 year olds in Wales between 2005 and 2009 and aims to support young people by helping them to enjoy life, achieve their potential, develop skills, contribute to their communities, and choose positive activities that discourage anti-social behaviour.

The youngsters appointed to the committee will contribute by using their specific knowledge or expertise to help make decisions on which applications should be funded.

They will also give advice regarding the priorities and operations of programmes and ensure funding is distributed in line with the programme's agreed objectives.

Lisa said: "I wanted to join because I was determined to have a voice for young people in Wales and improve the services and amenities available to them.

"I'm delighted I've been appointed and it's amazing that I will be one of those who will actually decide where the money is best spent. I'm relishing the challenge ahead.

"One of the things to come through from the training is that when assessing applications we must look beyond good presentation.

"We are aware that some groups will have poorer communications skills but this should not detract from the merits of individual projects."

Lisa is a graduate in Sociology and Education of the University of Glamorgan.

She was a volunteer on a youth offending community panel in Cardiff and has also been manager of a National Kidney Research Fund charity shop.