Volunteering Wales Grant Scheme

 

Volunteering Wales Grants is a scheme funded by the Welsh Government to promote and improve volunteering in Wales.

Volunteering Wales is about ‘…the kind of country we want to be’.

A volunteer is someone who commits time and energy for the benefit of society and the community, and volunteering can take many forms. It is undertaken freely and by choice without concern for financial gain.

Volunteering is one of the national wellbeing indicators tracking Wales progress against the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act goals.  To embed volunteering, create high quality volunteering opportunities, and engage young people, Welsh Government have funded three key schemes under Volunteering Wales.

VOLUNTEERING WALES MAIN GRANT SCHEME – NEW ROUND NOW OPEN!

GRANT AIMS

• Increase volunteer engagement and satisfaction by removing barriers to volunteering for people of all ages and from all parts of society.
• Support the creation and development of high quality and positive volunteering opportunities in Wales.
• Promote changes in beneficiary organisations to embed volunteering into their working practices and culture eg obtaining the Investing in Volunteers Award.

Funding is available for not-for-profit organisations proposing projects up to two years, for up to £25,000 per annum.

For more information please read the full scheme guidance here

To apply please visit https://map.wcva.cymru

VOLUNTEERING WALES STRATEGIC GRANT SCHEME

During the pandemic we have seen some excellent examples of where the voluntary sector has worked in partnership with the public and private sectors to meet identified needs at a time of crisis.

The pandemic has also meant that there is a continuing need to develop new partnerships and ways of working with volunteers.  An excellent example of the fund being put into action is the work being carried out by the British Red Cross in Wales.

Grant aims

This fund will enable a small number of strategic investments (between five and eight) to build on and learn from new or enhanced approaches or initiatives. Enabling the progress that has been made during the pandemic to be further explored and ‘hard wired’ into ongoing work.

The organisations that were successful under the 2021/22 grant round can be found can be found here.

If you would like to here about potential future rounds please sign up here.

YOUTH LED GRANTS

Youth Led Grants is an initiative funded by the Welsh Government to support a range of volunteering projects and activities that are led and carried out by young people.

Youth Led Grants give young people a platform to become decision makers, allocating funding for youth-led volunteering that takes place in communities across Wales.

The initiative enables young people to develop skills and gain experience in youth leadership by joining grant making panels and leading local projects.

How it works

Each year a sum of money is distributed to the 19 County Voluntary Councils (CVCs) across Wales for a grant panel of young people (14-25) to allocate to youth-led volunteering projects in each local authority area.

Each panel decides how their application and awarding process will run and there are differences in the eligibility criteria and the size of grant awards. In some areas young people will need to be linked to an existing organisation, while in others young people can have more direct access to funding to deliver their projects.

Applications for funding should be completed by young people themselves, with support from a relevant adult where required.

YOUTH LED PROJECTS

Here are some examples of the types of activities that have been funded by the Youth Led Grants.

Impact of Youth Led Grants: Castle Clean Up Project

Impact of Youth Led Grants: Torfaen Youth Forum

From a Student Volunteer to a Youth Led Project Champion

Volunteer opportunities for young people made possible with Youth Led Grants

YOUTH LED GRANTS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

In 2021/22 the Youth Led Grants panels across Wales will be striving to support the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act (2015) by improving practice and funding youth-led projects that contribute towards one or more of the wellbeing goals.

• A prosperous Wales
• A resilient Wales
• A more equal Wales
• A healthier Wales
• A Wales of cohesive communities
• A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving welsh language
• A globally responsible Wales

GET INVOLVED

If you would like to find out more about the Youth Led Grants in your local area get in touch with your local CVC – the full list of the CVCs in Wales can be found at thirdsectorsupport.wales/contact.