Gwent High Sheriff’s Community Fund

Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport, and Torfaen

Applications for this grant are open

This fund is open to applications. The closing date is midday on Tuesday 4th November 2025.

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The Gwent High Sheriff Community Fund exists to support young people (up to 25) across Gwent to live safer, more positive lives.

The fund aims to support community groups and projects that prevent crime, reduce risks for young people, offer alternatives to becoming involved in antisocial behaviour, and build trust between communities and the police.

The fund aims to support groups working on projects and services that fit at least one of the following fund themes:

Prevention
The fund aims to support projects that help stop problems before they start. This could include:
– Giving young people positive opportunities, role models and skills for the future.
– Addressing the challenges that can put young people at risk (e.g. online safety, substance
misuse, or peer pressure).
– Creating safe spaces and activities that encourage and teach young people about safety,
looking after others and making healthy choices with confidence.

Involvement in crime
The fund aims to support groups and projects that reduce both the risks of offending and the harms of being a victim. This could include:
– Raising awareness of the impact and consequences of crime and anti-social behaviour.
– Supporting young people who may be at risk of offending, or who have already been involved in crime.
– Providing help for those affected by crime, including victims and vulnerable groups.

Perceptions of the police in the community
The fund aims to strengthen trust and understanding between young people, their communities, and the police. This could include projects that:
– Create opportunities for positive interaction between young people and the police.
– Help young people feel heard, respected and supported by local services.
– Promote community-led solutions that make neighbourhoods feel safer.

What kind of projects will be supported?

The following list is not exhaustive, but is intended to illustrate the types of projects the fund seeks to support.

– Activities that give young people safe, fun things to do, like youth clubs, play schemes, arts, sports, outdoor spaces, or cadets.
– Projects that help young people and the wider community stay safe and avoid crime, such as advice on healthy relationships, domestic abuse, drugs and alcohol, or positive parenting.
– Opportunities that give young people positive role models, skills, and confidence for the future.
– Community safety projects, like road safety, fire awareness, tackling litter, or reducing anti-social behaviour.
– Safe spaces and activities that encourage young people to make healthy choices, care for others, and feel confident.
– Support for challenges that put young people at risk, such as online safety, substance misuse, or peer pressure.
– Mentoring and support to help young people build self-esteem and become active, responsible members of their community.

Grants Available

Grants for one year

Groups are invited to apply for grants of up to £7,500 to spend in 2026-27 on a range of costs which could include:

Piloting a new project
Running costs for a programme of activities
Purchasing equipment and materials

Multiyear funding

A small number of multi-year grants may also be awarded (up to 3 years, which would be a maximum of £22,500 over the 3 year period). These awards will be decided by the fund panel at the participatory grant making event, based on the project and strength of the funding pitch at the event.

What is participatory grant-making?

Grants will be awarded at the participatory grant-making event; Your Voice, Your Choice on Saturday 21 March 2026 in the Blaenau Gwent region.

Participatory grant-making is about handing decisions back to the local community. It gives local people the chance to choose the projects they feel will make the biggest difference in Gwent.

The event is run in partnership with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, and all shortlisted applicants will be invited to join our annual grant-making event, where community groups come together to decide which projects to fund. Please note that if you are not able to attend the grant-making event, your application will be withdrawn.

Who can apply?

The Fund is open to community and voluntary organisations working in Gwent (Newport, Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen, Monmouthshire, Caerphilly), including:

– Registered charities
– Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs)
– Voluntary and community groups
– Community Interest Companies (CICs)
– Not-for-profit companies (limited by shares or guarantee)
– Social enterprises

We particularly welcome applications from grassroots organisations where volunteers play a key role.

How to apply?

Applications must be made online through the Community Foundation Wales website. If you’re unsure about your application, you can book a call with a Grants Officer for advice before applying.

Key dates for 2025/26

– 30 September 2025 – Fund opens to applications. Use the ‘Book a Call’ button available
on the fund webpage to speak with a Grants Officer about any queries.
– 4 November 2025 (12pm) – Fund closes to applications.
– Week commencing 19 January 2026 – Applicants notified if they have been shortlisted.
– Saturday 21 March 2026 – Your Voice, Your Choice participatory grant-making event.

Things to keep in mind:

– Grants awards will not be made until the grant making event in March 2026, so please bear this in mind when planning your project timescales.
– Successful grantees must host a visit from the High Sheriff during the year of funding as part of their grant conditions.
– Grants should be spent in full within the funded period.
– We encourage organisations to think about their long-term impact and how they can work with others to add value.

We cannot fund:
– Costs already incurred before the grant is awarded.
– Fundraising for other charities or groups.
– Projects that can’t be completed within one year (unless awarded multi-year funding).

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Gwent High Sheriff's Community Fund fund criteria

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Please ensure you read the minimum expected standard before apply

These are the minimum standards an organisation must meet to be eligible for funding from Community Foundation Wales.

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By young people, for young people

Please read the following text to ensure your eligibility before beginning your application:

Is your organisation a non-profit making organisation such as a Charity, a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, a Community Interest Company (CIC) with a named asset lock in place, a Private Company Limited by Guarantee (Not for private profit), a Social Enterprise or a Voluntary/community group with a dissolution/winding up clause included with the rules or constitution of your organisation? (if your organisation is not registered with the Charity Commission or with Companies House we will require you to attach a copy of your rules/constitution to your application).

Does your organisation have a minimum of 3 unrelated trustees, committee members or directors? (We will be checking this against your entry on the Charity Commission or Companies House as applicable)

Are you able to provide official accounts or an income/expenditure sheet signed and dated by the Chair or Treasurer of your governing body or a Director? The document should not be older than 18 months old. If your organisation is within the first 12-18 months of operation, a projected financial forecast is acceptable.

Does your organisation have a bank account in its own name? (Grant payments are made by BACS transfer, therefore a recent bank statement or paying in slip will be requested to evidence this for any successful grant applications)

Does your organisation have an active Safeguarding Policy in the applicant organisation’s own name? (By active we mean that the policy should be reviewed and amended as necessary at least annually)

Does your organisation have at least one named person with responsibility for safeguarding? It could be a trustee/committee member or a director, or a member of staff.

Does your organisation have adequate insurance cover in place?

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