Wrexham Funds

The Wrexham Area is covered by two Funds, the Wrexham Community Endowment Fund and the Wrexham Welsh Church Act Fund.

The Wrexham Community Endowment Fund is an umbrella of Funds and donations dedicated to enhancing education and strengthening communities in Wrexham.

The  Fund has two main objectives:

• Fund Objective 1 – to encourage, support and promote non-statutory educational attainment and lifelong learning, including early years. Applications should meet at least one of the following priorities:
  • Projects that support the educational development of school aged children and young people
  • Projects that support the educational development of children in the early years
  • School based projects that support health matters and healthy living
  • Educational attainment projects including lifelong learning
  • Education inclusion projects with support for talented individual students in the form of scholarships, prizes for attainment and educational materials or other resources
• Fund Objective 2 – to encourage, support and promote spiritual wellbeing and improve the lives of people with limited resources. Applications should meet at least one of the following priorities:
  • Projects that promote safer and more inclusive communities
  • Sustainable environment and neighbourhoods
  • Supporting older people
  • Working with children and young people
  • Projects to encourage improved health and wellbeing
  • Culture, heritage and sport

The Wrexham Welsh Church Act Fund is a Charitable Trust Fund which is administered by Community Foundation Wales. The Trust Fund is governed by the Welsh Church Act 1914. The fund supports:

• Projects that contribute to the refurbishment and upkeep of churches, chapels and community/village halls within the county.

• Projects working to address disadvantage to benefit Wrexham residents.

• Projects providing social and recreational activities for Wrexham residents

In 2020 Community Foundation Wales published the findings of a piece of research undertaken with more than 100 community groups across Wales. Our Loud and Clear report highlighted that charities and community groups in Wales want funders to prioritise core funding and longer-term partnerships. We have used the learning in this report to help us to shape our Wrexham Funds and to show groups that we believe in their core purpose and want to support them to work more effectively in their community’s longer term. We recognise how important it is for community groups to be able to plan for the future and that having secure funding can give you the confidence and reassurance to develop your project over the long-term. Wrexham Funds now offers groups the opportunity to apply for multi-year funding of up to 3 years but will also continue to offer 1 year project or small capital item funding.

We hope to be able to make at least one three-year grant per year. To be considered for a three-year grant please complete the additional section of the application form indicating how you plan to develop your project over the period of funding being applied for. NB. Your application will still be considered for one year funding if you are not successful with a three-year grant.

We also recognise the challenge of finding core funding, especially longer term. Community groups can now apply for funding towards core costs for up to 3 years, providing the group can provide accounts for at least the last 12 months and the amount being applied for is less that 50% of your annual turnover. EG. To apply for a grant of £1,000 per year, your annual income should be at least £2,000.

• Individuals can apply for grants of up to £500. The application must show a clear need for financial support, financial hardship or additional support needs
• Organisations can apply for grants up to £1,000

• Individual students who are currently full time residents of the Local Authority area of Wrexham, provided that the initiatives do not fall within statutory provision, can apply under Objective 1 only.
• Groups and organisations in the Local Authority area of Wrexham running grass roots community projects are welcome to apply under Objective 1 or Objective 2. For example local charities and community groups, scouts/guides & boys/girls brigade, projects organised by churches and/or using the facilities of faith-based organisations, and community projects eg. senior lunch clubs, youth clubs, mums & tots groups.
• Churches and organisations working with residents of the Local Authority area of Wrexham can apply for grants up to £1,000 Preference will be given to applicants who can demonstrate exactly how they will meet the Fund’s objectives and priorities, and who have not previously received support from this Fund.