NEWPORT MP Alan Howarth (pictured) says his constituency is not getting its fair share of lottery cash - because not enough people are applying for it.

So, in a bid to boost the cash coming to Newport East, he invited more than 60 people representing Newport-based voluntary organisations to meet leading representatives of the five major lottery funding organisations and discuss ways to access funds.

The meeting took place at the Ringland Labour Club, Newport, last Friday. Mr Howarth said: "Newport East has not been getting its fair share of the resources available from the five national lottery distributors.

"Organisations in Newport East have received £1.94 million from the National Lottery compared with an average of £15.5 for all constituencies, ranking us 635 out of 659. "I want to see Newport East benefiting substantially more from the National Lottery and that is why I invited representatives of some 50 voluntary organisations serving my constituents to attend this meeting in the hope that they will gain valuable advice."

After short presentations by the officials from the Awards for All Wales, The Arts Council for Wales, the Community Fund, The Heritage Lottery Fund, the New Opportunities Fund and the Sports Council of Wales, a question and answer session followed where local voluntary group representatives asked a wide range of questions about funding opportunities.

After the formal part of the meeting closed, Wyndham Conniff of the Newport-based Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations said the get together had been very worthwhile.

He said: "This meeting has been very helpful. It's given people the opportunity of meeting those who make the decisions and developing the relationships with the funders and that will help deliver better quality applications."

Ian Hennah of Newport Crossroads Care Attendance Scheme and the South Gwent Children's Association said: "Generally, I thought the meeting was very good and informative. But I was disappointed that disability wasn't mentioned up front because there's a massive number of disabled people in Newport.

He said the beauty of the meeting was not only in bringing lottery funders to meet representatives but that representatives were able to meet each other. He added: "I have talked to people I would not normally meet and got their views."