'Save rural schools with new lottery'.

Byline: ERYL CRUMP

FARMING leaders yesterday urged people to join to pounds 1-a-week lottery to help save small rural schools.

The scheme is about to be rolled out across Wales after being run successfully in the west.

The Small Welsh School Fund has already helped fiught school closure plans.

Now, backed by the Farmers' Union of Wales, leaders want hundreds more to pay pounds 1 a week to the fund for a chance to win pounds 500 and help save schools.

Speaking at the National Eisteddfod in Bala Farmers' Union of Wales vice president Glyn Roberts said the first task would be to fund research to fund hard facts to keep schools open.

"With local education authorities and the Welsh Assembly Government devoting huge sums of money to closing small schools, it is important we fund an independent piece of research that campaigners can use to show hard facts for keeping open small schools and not just anecdotal emotional evidence," he said.

He welcomed the Association of Communities in Wales with Small Schools (ACWSS) decision to set up a partnership with a new group Hyrwyddo Ysgolion Bach - Promoting Small Schools (HYB).

HYB spokesman Ffred Ffransis said: "The only research carried out so far has been deeply flawed.

"We believe it is unfortunate small schools are closed but disgraceful they are closed without adequate research into the effects of their closure."

Cris Tomos of the Small Welsh School Fund said: "It is great to see people willing to put pounds 1 a week into the draw fund to save small schools but also it is important to note that people can and have won a substantial amount of prize money.

"Since launching the Small Schools fund in 2005 we have paid out prizes worth pounds 12,600 to the members of the fund, which is run as a local lottery.

"The Small School fund is a worthwhile cause to be involved with and we hope the research document will be regarded as independent evidence when communities conduct consultation exercises to save small schools."

Llais Gwynedd councillor Alwyn Gruffydd said: "We welcome any move to highlight the plight of rural schools and the communities they serve - communities that have the agricultural industry at their core.". Further details about the lottery on 01239 831962.