Popham Kidney Support secures National Lottery Funding
Popham Kidney Support receives The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
A Swansea-based charity has secured almost £20,000 in new funding, which will allow it to help more people in Wales who suffer with kidney disease.
Popham Kidney Support, the Swansea-based kidney charity, has announced that it has secured funding, a total of £19,875, from the National Lottery Community Fund. The funding will be used to help the development and expansion of the charity’s ‘Kidney Café’ initiative throughout Wales, providing vital support to individuals facing kidney disease and their families.
The Popham Kidney Support Kidney Cafés are support groups designed for people living with kidney disease to connect face-to-face, offering patients mutual emotional and practical support. Run by individuals who are living with kidney disease themselves, these cafés provide a welcoming space for patients, families, and caregivers to gather informally in various locations across Wales, exchanging practical advice drawn from personal experience.
Currently, Popham Kidney Support has Kidney Café’s in four locations, including; Aberafan, Llynfi Valley, Swansea and Wrexham, with plans to open Kidney Cafés in each council ward in Wales.
Since its launch in 1994, The National Lottery has raised £49 billion, funding over 690,000 individual grants across the UK – equivalent to approximately 240 grants for every postcode district. Each week, £30 million is raised for charitable causes across the UK, by National Lottery players, supporting thousands of projects that transform lives within local communities.
The funding awarded to Popham Kidney Support will not only support immediate project goals but also contribute to the charity’s long-term vision of creating lasting, positive change within the kidney community.
Joanne Popham, CEO of Popham Kidney Support, said:
“We are incredibly grateful to the National Lottery Community Fund for this invaluable support. This funding empowers us to extend our reach, allowing us to provide even greater support to those affected by kidney disease across Wales. With this grant, we can bring our Kidney Cafés to more communities, helping to ensure that no one facing the challenges of kidney disease feels alone.
“Our vision is to have Kidney Cafés accessible throughout Wales, where individuals, families, and caregivers can find a compassionate, understanding network and share in the strength that comes from connecting with others who truly understand their journey. This funding brings us one step closer to making that vision a reality.”
Since 2013, Popham Kidney Support has been dedicated to supporting the kidney community by offering vital resources and assistance aimed at improving the quality of life for renal patients in Wales. Through peer mentoring, fundraising campaigns, counselling services, educational workshops, and community outreach initiatives, the charity strives to provide comprehensive support and foster a stronger support network for those affected by kidney disease.