Cymdeithas Elusennol Ynys Môn

Charity Number: 1174536

Annual Expenditure: £0.7M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £696,185 (charitable expenditure for year ending September 2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: 12 weeks
  • Grant Range: £300 - £50,000
  • Geographic Focus: Isle of Anglesey (Ynys Môn), Wales
  • Total Fund Value: £22 million

Contact Details

Website: www.elusennol.org

Email: post@elusennol.org

Phone: 01248 750057

Charity Number: 1174536

For pre-application queries, applicants are encouraged to contact the charity via email if uncertain about eligibility.

Overview

Cymdeithas Elusennol Ynys Môn (The Isle of Anglesey Charitable Association) was established in 2017 as the successor to the Isle of Anglesey Charitable Trust, which was founded in 1990. The charity manages a £22 million capital fund originally negotiated with Shell (UK) following the closure of its oil terminal in Amlwch and associated tank farm at Rhosgoch. In September 2019, the new charitable association took control of all assets to safeguard the fund for public benefit. With charitable expenditure of approximately £696,185 annually, the organization supports community and voluntary projects across Anglesey through a grants programme focused on preventing community challenges, fostering innovation, and maintaining essential services. The charity has recently undergone significant governance reforms, transitioning to a fully community-led model that removes automatic council appointments, demonstrating its commitment to greater transparency and community representation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Prevention Stream: £300 - £50,000 (exceptionally higher amounts may be considered)

  • Supports projects tackling root causes of community challenges
  • Emphasizes prevention, early intervention, and long-term positive change
  • Multi-year funding proposals may be considered
  • Applications over £10,000 require an Expression of Interest (EOI) followed by site visit
  • Applications up to £10,000 can submit full application directly

Innovation Stream: Up to £3,000

  • Supports bold, creative projects with new and innovative solutions
  • Simple one-step application process
  • Encourages ideas that push boundaries and test new approaches

Essential Stream: Up to £5,000

  • Provides funding for ongoing essential support and running costs
  • Maintains essential services in the community
  • Simple one-step application process

All applications are reviewed via an online portal with a typical 12-week decision timeline.

Priority Areas

  • Public amenities and community facilities
  • Training and education initiatives
  • Environmental protection and conservation
  • Arts and cultural projects
  • Sports, recreation, and leisure facilities
  • Health and well-being programmes
  • Projects delivered through Welsh language
  • Preservation of buildings or land of aesthetic, historical, architectural, or scientific importance

What They Don't Fund

  • Political parties or primarily political activities
  • Non-charitable activities
  • Individuals (only organisations)
  • Companies limited by shares
  • Consumables
  • Vehicles
  • Organisations holding more than 12 months of running costs in unrestricted reserves
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The charity operates with a 12-member Board of Trustees comprising:

  • 6 Elected Trustees
  • 6 Appointed Trustees (independently recruited)

Chair: Dr Edward Jones (independently Appointed Trustee and Senior Lecturer in Economics at Bangor Business School)

Other Independent Trustees: Trefor Owen, Elen Jones, Deborah Chafer, Ann Tooze, and Dr Lowri Angharad Hughes

Chief Executive: Celyn Edwards (1 employee on record)

Leadership Philosophy

Chief Executive Celyn Edwards states: “This change is the next step in a long journey toward greater transparency and representation.” Edwards emphasized that "The trust placed in Y Gymdeithas by members has been central to the charity's development“ and that the transition ”reflects a shared understanding that as communities evolve, so too must the way we govern and serve them."

The charity is committed to being “open, fair, and clear in how decisions are made” and emphasizes that “the community is not simply a recipient but an active participant in articulating its needs and aspirations.” Their mission is rooted in the belief that “the best decisions for our island start in the community itself.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  • Online Portal: Applications submitted through www.elusennol.org
  • Application Periods: Rolling applications throughout most of the year
  • Closure Period: Portal closes annually between certain dates to process applications
  • Pre-application Support: Contact post@elusennol.org with queries about eligibility

Application Requirements:

  • UK-based organisation working for Ynys Môn's benefit
  • Governing document
  • Committee with unrelated members
  • Organisational bank account
  • No active or unspent previous grants from the charity
  • Evidence of significant change or development if applying annually

Two-Stage Process for Larger Grants:

  • Grants up to £10,000: Direct full application
  • Grants over £10,000: Expression of Interest (EOI) first, then invited to submit full application and participate in site visit

Decision Timeline

  • Typical Review Period: 12 weeks from submission
  • Notification Method: Not specified in public materials

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. However, with charitable expenditure of approximately £696,185 annually and grant ranges from £300-£50,000, the charity supports a significant number of community projects across Anglesey each year.

Reapplication Policy

  • Applications may be submitted annually
  • Each submission must showcase evidence of significant change or development
  • Organisations with active grants or unutilised funds from previous grants cannot reapply
  • Organisations holding more than 12 months of running costs in unrestricted reserves are not eligible

Application Success Factors

Direct Guidance from the Funder

The charity emphasizes community-driven priorities and expects applicants to demonstrate how their project responds to genuine local needs. The organization believes that “the community is not simply a recipient but an active participant in articulating its needs and aspirations.”

Recent Funded Projects

  • Holyhead and Anglesey Weightlifting Fitness Centre: Financial support to create a functional gym catering to sporting elite and broader community
  • Menai Bridge Heritage Sailing: Funding to purchase boats for restoration by apprentices, preserving one of the oldest complete yacht fleets in the world
  • Welsh Language Programmes: Funding for training courses in partnership with Screen Wales about work in the film and TV industry for children and young people
  • Croeso Cynnes (Warm Welcome) Spaces: Partnership funding for community support during cost of living crisis

Key Terminology

The charity uses terminology emphasizing:

  • “Prevention” rather than reaction
  • “Community-led” rather than top-down
  • “Root causes” and “long-term positive change”
  • “Early intervention” and “strengthening community well-being”
  • “Bold, creative, and innovative solutions”
  • “Essential ongoing support”

Standing Out

  • Demonstrate genuine community need and participation
  • Show how the project addresses root causes, not just symptoms
  • For Community Prevention Stream, emphasize preventative approaches and long-term sustainability
  • For Innovation Stream, highlight creative and boundary-pushing elements
  • Provide evidence of community consultation and support
  • Consider multi-year proposals for preventative work
  • Ensure alignment with Anglesey's specific needs and context
  • Projects delivered through Welsh language may have particular resonance

Common Pitfalls

  • Applying while holding active or unspent grants from the charity
  • Applying with more than 12 months of running costs in unrestricted reserves
  • Failing to demonstrate significant change when reapplying annually
  • Not providing evidence of community consultation or need

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Community-centric approach: This charity prioritizes community voice and participation. Applications should demonstrate genuine community need and involvement, not imposed solutions.
  • Prevention over reaction: The Community Prevention Stream (largest funding available) specifically seeks projects addressing root causes. Frame your application around long-term change and early intervention rather than crisis response.
  • Know your funding stream: Match your project to the appropriate stream (Prevention £300-£50k, Innovation up to £3k, Essential up to £5k) and tailor your application accordingly.
  • Financial health matters: The strict policy on reserves (no more than 12 months of running costs) and active grants means your organisation's financial position is scrutinized. Be transparent about your financial situation.
  • Build relationships: Contact post@elusennol.org before applying if uncertain. The charity encourages pre-application dialogue and for larger grants requires site visits, suggesting relationship-building is valued.
  • Be patient with governance changes: The charity has undergone significant governance reforms toward community-led decision-making. This demonstrates their commitment to transparency and local accountability, which should be reflected in your application approach.
  • Evidence of impact: When reapplying, you must show “evidence of significant change or development,” indicating that reporting on outcomes and demonstrating impact is crucial for future funding relationships.

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References

All sources.