Cardiff Ymca (1910) Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £294,469 (2024 income)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Quarterly trustee meetings (January, April, July, October)
• Grant Range: £250 - £5,000 (Tier 1), up to £30,000 (Tier 2 - currently closed)
• Geographic Focus: South Wales region (primarily Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan)

Contact Details

Primary Contact:

• CEO: Ms Jan Johnson
• Email: jan.johnson@ymcacardiff.wales
• Phone: 07980 772397
• Address: The Walk, Roath, Cardiff CF24 3AG
• Website: https://1910trust.co.uk
• Charity Number: 1163822

Overview

The Cardiff YMCA (1910) Trust was originally constituted under a Trust Deed in 1910 and registered by the Charity Commission on 17 October 2005. In October 2015, it was re-registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). The Trust aims to promote and support the educational, social, physical, and psychological development of the community, providing funding to organisations and individuals in Cardiff and the South Wales region in an inclusive, ethical, and transparent manner.

The Trust is funded primarily through its trading subsidiary, Green Willow Funerals, which was established in 1997. Trading surpluses from this social enterprise are gift-aided to the charity to support grant-making activities. The Trust has nine trustees and operates with no paid staff, with all grants approved by majority decision of trustees. The charity does not actively fundraise and focuses its resources on supporting the Cardiff YMCA's work and furthering charitable purposes in the South Wales region, particularly relieving homelessness and addressing the needs of young people.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Tier 1: Small-scale Funding (Currently Open)

• Grant Range: £250 - £5,000
• Application Method: Rolling basis with quarterly trustee review
• Target: Community organizations and voluntary groups

Tier 2: Larger Grants (Currently Closed for 2025)

• Grant Range: Up to £30,000 per year
• Status: Applications not currently being accepted

Priority Areas

The Trust focuses on grants that achieve one or more of these five outcomes:

1. Improving Quality of Life - For young people, groups, or communities
2. Promoting Community Inclusivity - Supporting diverse and inclusive communities
3. Supporting Vulnerable Individuals - Ensuring vulnerable young people and adults receive necessary support
4. Promoting Well-being - Mental, physical, and emotional well-being of vulnerable individuals or groups
5. Addressing Homelessness - Providing safe, supporting accommodation for homeless individuals

Preferred Funding Type:

• Primarily capital expenditure (buildings, fixtures, fittings, machinery, furniture, equipment)
• May consider revenue costs for specific charitable objectives

What They Don't Fund

• Profit-making organisations
• Organisations that received funding from The 1910 Trust within the past two years
• Projects outside the South Wales region

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (9 members):

• Roger Coombs (Chair)
• Gemma Louise Pearce
• John James Bettles JP
• Phil Williams
• Scott Keddle
• Gareth Ashfield
• Michael Hales
• John Littlechild MBE, JP
• Helen Gunter (Councillor)

Governance Principles:

• No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits
• Grants are approved by majority decision of trustees
• The Trust operates with comprehensive policies covering conflicts of interest, financial reserves, internal financial controls, risk management, and investment

Decision-Making:

“Decisions for approving grants can be made by a majority decision of the 1910 Trust.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Pre-Application Steps:

1. Review eligibility criteria and funding priorities
2. Consult with CEO (Ms Jan Johnson) regarding eligibility
3. Complete the eligibility checklist
4. Select appropriate funding tier (currently only Tier 1 is open)

Application Process:

• Complete the Application for Funding form available on the Trust's website
• Provide most recent financial statements
• Include detailed cost breakdown for the project
• Confirm details of other financial support received

Application Portal:

Applications are submitted through the online application forms at https://1910trust.co.uk/tier-1-application/

Decision Timeline

Review Schedule:

The Trust holds quarterly trustees meetings for application review:

• 2026 Meeting Dates: January 10, April 17, July 20, October 20

Application Review Stages:

1. Stage I: Applicant completes eligibility checklist and consults with CEO
2. Stage II: Complete appropriate application form
3. Stage III: Application checked; applicant notified of review status
4. Stage IV: Grants Applications Sub Group reviews applications
5. Stage V: Grants issued with potential monitoring requirements

Timeline from Application to Decision:

Applications are reviewed quarterly, so the timeline depends on when the application is submitted relative to the next trustee meeting. The Trust does not disclose specific processing timeframes.

Important Note:

The Trust may receive far more applications than it has funds to support. Even if a project fits within the criteria and priorities, the charity may be unable to provide a grant. Trustees are not obliged to provide an explanation for unsuccessful applications.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The Trust acknowledges that demand significantly exceeds available funding.

Reapplication Policy

Strict Two-Year Rule:

• Groups are not eligible to reapply for two years after their application has been submitted
• This applies regardless of whether the funding application was successful or unsuccessful
• Organisations that received funding within the past two years cannot apply

Additional Restriction:

If successful applicants fail to provide requested monitoring materials (case studies, photographs, quarterly reports), any further applications made two years after the original successful application will not proceed to full review panel.

Application Success Factors

Evidence Requirements:

The Trust emphasizes “delivery, impact and sustainability.” Successful applications must clearly demonstrate:

• How the grant will make a measurable difference
• Alignment with one or more of the Trust's five priority outcomes
• Evidence of community need in the South Wales region
• Clear project planning and cost breakdown

Recent Funded Projects:

These examples illustrate the types of projects the Trust supports:

• Sight Life Cardiff Blind (£5,000): “Encouraging healthy living and providing 1:1 support and advice; home visits; daily courses and technology support”
• Duffryn Community Centre (£5,000): “A deprived area of need inclusive of crime prevention and hygiene”
• Cefn Fforest Miners Welfare Hall (£5,000): “Revitalising a run down community asset for community use”
• Cathays & Central Youth Community Project (£5,000): “Good community involvement working with deprived members of the community”
• The Speak Easy Law Society (£5,000): “Excellent project serving disadvantaged people who cannot afford this kind of service”

Other Successful Projects:

• Keep Wales Tidy: Equipment purchase (litter pickers, gloves, bag hoops) enabling volunteers to collect 20,997 bags of litter across 5,418 activities with 22,928 volunteer hours
• TAVS Centre Maintenance (£2,000): Facility improvements including toilet/shower room, laundry facilities, and carpet replacement
• Jake Moore - YMCA World Council: Individual funding to attend YMCA World Council meeting in Thailand; “The funding from Cardiff 1910 Trust to support Jake has had a profound impact on Jake and has empowered him to believe in himself more than ever”

Common Themes in Successful Applications:

• Clear focus on serving disadvantaged or vulnerable populations
• Community-led initiatives with measurable impact
• Capital projects that enhance community infrastructure
• Support for essential services for people who cannot afford them
• Projects demonstrating value for money and sustainable outcomes

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic Specificity: Applications must serve the South Wales region (primarily Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan); projects outside this area will not be considered
• Capital Preference: The Trust prioritizes capital expenditure over revenue costs; equipment, building improvements, and physical assets are most likely to be funded
• Two-Year Exclusion: The strict two-year reapplication rule applies to ALL applicants, successful or not; plan accordingly and ensure you won't need additional funding within two years
• Outcome Focus: Frame applications around the Trust's five specific outcomes; use their language and clearly map your project to at least one priority area
• No Explanations for Rejections: The Trust does not provide feedback on unsuccessful applications, so ensure your first submission is as strong as possible
• Post-Award Obligations: Successful applicants must provide monitoring materials (case studies, photographs, quarterly reports); failure to do so will disqualify future applications
• Quarterly Decision Cycle: Time your application to align with quarterly trustee meetings (January, April, July, October) to maximize efficiency
• Demonstrate Value to Vulnerable Communities: Successful applications clearly articulate how they serve disadvantaged populations, whether young people, homeless individuals, or those unable to afford essential services
• Limited Funding: Acknowledge in your planning that demand far exceeds available funds; the Trust receives more eligible applications than it can support

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Monmouthshire County Council Welsh Church Act Fund
• John Andrews Charitable Trust
• Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust
• Welsh Church Act Fund within the Areas of Rhondda Cynon Taff, Bridgend and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Councils
• The Austin Bailey Foundation
• Pobl Trust
• The Mary Homfray Charitable Trust
• Rehoboth Trust
• Powys Welsh Church Fund
• Cymdeithas Elusennol Ynys Môn

References

• Cardiff YMCA (1910) Trust official website: https://1910trust.co.uk
• Grant Making Policy: https://1910trust.co.uk/apply-for-a-grant/grant-making-policy/
• Application Review Process: https://1910trust.co.uk/apply-for-a-grant/application-review-process/
• Start Your Application: https://1910trust.co.uk/apply-for-a-grant/start-your-application/
• About the Trust: https://1910trust.co.uk/about/
• UK Charity Commission Register, Charity Number 1163822: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=1163822
• January 2025 Successful Applicants: https://1910trust.co.uk/helping-the-community/success-stories/january-2025-successful-applicants/
• Keep Wales Tidy Success Story: https://1910trust.co.uk/helping-the-community/success-stories/keep-wales-tidy/
• TAVS Centre Maintenance Success Story: https://1910trust.co.uk/helping-the-community/success-stories/tavs-centre-maintenance/
• Green Willow Funerals - About the 1910 Trust: https://www.greenwillowfunerals.com/about/1910-trust/