Pavo (powys Association Of Voluntary Organisations)

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £1.65 million+ (2024)
• Success Rate: Approximately 57% (122 applications, 70 projects funded in 2024)
• Decision Time: Varies by scheme (panels meet to review applications)
• Grant Range: £500 - £60,000
• Geographic Focus: Powys, Wales

Contact Details

Address: Unit 30 Ddole Road Industrial Estate, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 6DF

Alternative Address: PAVO, Plas Dolerw, Milford Road, Newtown, Powys, SY16 2EH

Phone: 01597 822191 (main) / 01686 626220 (Newtown office)

Email:

• General enquiries: info@pavo.org.uk
• Grant applications: grants@pavo.org.uk
• Finance/admin: admin.finance@pavo.org.uk

Website: www.pavo.org.uk

Pre-application Support: All applicants must engage with PAVO Development Officers before submission - contact grants@pavo.org.uk or call 01597 822191

Overview

Established over 30 years ago, PAVO (Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations) is the County Voluntary Council for Powys, serving as the umbrella body for the county's third sector. As a registered charity (1069557) and infrastructure organization, PAVO's core mission is "Helping organisations, improving people's lives" by acting as a catalyst for voluntary action, providing a voice for Powys communities and the third sector, and serving as a hub of essential information.

PAVO administers grant schemes on behalf of various funders including Welsh Government, Powys County Council, UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and Powys Health Charity. In 2024, PAVO distributed a record £1.65 million through various grant schemes - the largest grassroots infrastructure investment in Powys in almost twenty years. Between January and June 2024 alone, they distributed £1,342,581.06, marking their largest six-month funding total in their 30-year history. The organization is led by CEO Clair Swales and governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Jamie Burt.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Rebuilding Community Foundations in Powys: £500 - £60,000 (capital funding)

• Supports community buildings, community-operated toilets, and community sports facilities
• Covers repairs, maintenance, renewable energy, and energy efficiency measures
• Funded by UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund
• Rolling applications when funding available

Making a Difference in Powys Fund: No set limits

• Revenue costs only for health and social care initiatives
• Total fund value £150,000 (varies by funding round)
• Must contribute to Powys Health and Care Strategy
• Fixed application deadlines

Youth Led Grant Scheme: Up to £750

• Small grants for projects providing volunteering opportunities for young people aged 14-25
• Assessed by a panel of young people from Powys
• Currently running 2025-2027 funding period

Small Health Grants Scheme: Varies

• Funded by Powys Health Charity
• Supports health and wellbeing activities, cost of living interventions, and transport to wellbeing services

Powys Pennies: Varies

• Supporting dementia activities in Powys

Priority Areas

PAVO-administered schemes prioritize:

• Community infrastructure - Buildings, public toilets, sports facilities
• Energy efficiency and sustainability - Solar installations, renewable energy, sustainable transport (electric vehicles)
• Health and wellbeing - Mental health support (particularly for 16-25 year olds), exercise programs, dementia-friendly services
• Social inclusion - Activities for adults with learning disabilities, refugee support, lunch clubs for elderly residents
• Youth development - Volunteering opportunities, youth-led projects
• Rural community support - Services addressing isolation and accessibility challenges in rural Powys
• Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015 priorities
• Social Value initiatives as defined in section 16 of the Social Services and Well Being (Wales) Act 2014

What They Don't Fund

Explicitly excluded:

• Political organisations
• Statutory organisations
• Private organisations
• Individuals (except specific individual grant schemes like Powys Community Endowment Fund)
• Continuity funding (most schemes require new activities or clear extensions of existing activities)
• Projects duplicated elsewhere in the area of benefit
• Activities outside of Powys

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Governance and Leadership

Senior Leadership

Clair Swales - Chief Executive Officer

• Appointed CEO after serving as interim CEO and previously as Head of Health and Wellbeing since December 2019
• Previously Senior Officer for Community Connectors and Powys Befriending Service
• Quotes: “This milestone achievement supports critical infrastructure improvements while tackling key challenges facing the county” and "The social, wellbeing, and environmental impact of the investment in Powys communities can't be underestimated"
• Advocate for third sector sustainability, particularly regarding financial pressures on voluntary organizations

Board of Trustees

Jamie Burt - Chair of Trustees

• Brought up in Montgomeryshire area; studied politics and international relations at Keele University
• Youngest licensee in Powys while leasing the Lion Hotel in Caerhowel
• Director of Wales YFC for ten years; previously YFC county organiser in Montgomeryshire
• Also worked for National Lottery based in Newtown
• Holds four other trustee positions and actively encourages young people to take on voluntary non-executive roles

PAVO is governed by up to 9 trustees elected by PAVO members at the Annual General Meeting. The organization operates as both a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

MANDATORY Pre-Application Contact: All applicants MUST engage with PAVO Development Officers before submitting applications. Failure to do so will result in applications being deemed ineligible.

To begin the application process:

1. Contact grants@pavo.org.uk or call 01597 822191
2. Arrange a short meeting with the Social Value Development Officer or relevant Development Officer
3. Discuss your proposed project and receive guidance
4. Obtain the application form directly from PAVO staff

IMPORTANT: If you receive an application form link from any source other than PAVO staff, you must still contact PAVO to discuss your project - applications submitted without prior engagement are not eligible for consideration.

Application method varies by scheme:

• Some schemes operate on fixed deadlines
• Some operate on rolling basis
• All require completion of PAVO application forms obtained through Development Officers

Decision Timeline

Applications undergo a two-stage process:

1. Due diligence checks - Conducted by PAVO staff before submission to panel
2. Panel review - Panels composed of Board members and voluntary sector representatives from across Powys counties assess applications

Timeline varies by scheme and funding round. Panels meet periodically to make funding decisions based on available resources and application merit.

Success Rates

In the 2024 Rebuilding Community Foundations scheme:

• 122 applications received (totaling £3.35 million)
• 70 projects funded across 60 sites
• Success rate: approximately 57%

For the Making a Difference in Powys Fund, CEO Clair Swales noted: “The fund was extremely competitive this year, with almost £1.8 million requested and just £290,000 available.”

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies are not publicly documented. For guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful application, contact PAVO Development Officers at grants@pavo.org.uk. PAVO offers support to all applicants, successful or otherwise.

Application Success Factors

PAVO's Explicit Requirements and Preferences

Mandatory engagement: The most critical success factor is engaging with PAVO Development Officers before application. This is not optional - it's a requirement for eligibility.

Organizational eligibility:

• Must be legally constituted with a governing document that is signed and adopted
• Constitution objectives must align with proposed project
• Requires at least 2 authorised signatories
• Must be categorized as Social Value Sector organisations (social enterprises, co-operatives, user-led services, third sector)

Project design:

• Demonstrate clear need in terms of Social Value
• Show how project addresses identified priorities
• Must be either wholly new activity or clear extension of existing activity (not duplication)
• Include sustainability plan showing how service continues beyond funding period
• Articulate scope, management, delivery approach, and measurable outcomes

Alignment with strategic priorities:

• Projects should align with Powys Health and Care Strategy (health schemes)
• Address Mid Wales Regional Investment Plan themes: poverty, connectivity, climate, town center revitalization
• Meet at least one priority of the Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015

Competitive elements: With demand significantly exceeding available funds (e.g., £3.35m requested vs £1.65m available), panels prioritize:

• Best use of available resources
• Projects with strongest community impact
• Organizations demonstrating clear capability to deliver

Funded Project Examples (What Works)

Recent successful applications include:

• Friends of Hay Swimming Pool - £60,043 for facility improvements
• Llandefalle School Hall - £59,780.02 for building works
• Montgomery Recreation Association - £60,000 for sports facility improvements
• Brecon Volunteer Bureau - Brecon Vaults Lunch Club - Weekly social lunch club providing affordable, nutritious meals in warm, welcoming environment
• Sidney Nolan Trust - Creative Sessions for Health and Wellbeing - Arts-for-health sessions supporting varied needs in rural Powys
• BCA Independent Advocacy Services - Inclusive Wellbeing Project - Supporting adults with learning disabilities to access walking groups, yoga, and mindfulness
• Aberhafesp Community Association - Use It or Lose It: Exercise for All - Community exercise programme improving mobility and wellbeing
• Mental health interventions for 16-25 year olds in Welshpool

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Pre-application engagement is mandatory - Contact PAVO Development Officers before starting any application; this support is free and failing to engage makes applications ineligible
• Demonstrate community impact - With 57% success rates, focus on clearly articulating social value, community need, and measurable outcomes
• Expect high competition - Funding is heavily oversubscribed (often 2-3x demand vs available funding), so applications must stand out
• Plan for sustainability - Show how activities will continue beyond the funding period; PAVO does not fund continuity
• Align with Welsh policy frameworks - Reference Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015, Social Services and Well Being (Wales) Act 2014, and Powys Health and Care Strategy where relevant
• Be Powys-specific - All activities must serve Powys communities; demonstrate local knowledge and community connections
• Leverage PAVO's expertise - As an infrastructure body, PAVO has deep knowledge of funding landscape; use their Development Officers as strategic advisors throughout the process

References

1. Charity Commission Register - PAVO (Charity Number 1069557): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/3949285/contact-information

1. “Historic £1.65m investment boosts Powys communities and spaces” - Brecon & Radnor Express: https://www.brecon-radnor.co.uk/news/historic-ps165m-investment-boosts-powys-communities-and-spaces-773013

1. “PAVO awards record-breaking £1.3m to Powys communities” - Brecon & Radnor Express: https://www.brecon-radnor.co.uk/news/pavo-awards-record-breaking-ps13m-to-powys-communities-in-six-month-period-715531

1. PAVO Website - Funding Section: https://www.pavo.org.uk/help-for-organisations/funding.html

1. “Nine Powys organisations awarded funding to boost community wellbeing” - Brecon & Radnor Express: https://www.brecon-radnor.co.uk/news/nine-powys-organisations-awarded-funding-to-boost-community-wellbeing-802722

1. "Former county councillor 'delighted' to be appointed PAVO CEO" - Brecon & Radnor Express: https://www.brecon-radnor.co.uk/news/former-county-councillor-announced-as-pavo-ceo-605998

1. PAVO Grant Schemes webpage: https://www.pavo.org.uk/help-for-organisations/funding/pavo-grant-schemes.html

1. InfoEngine Wales - PAVO Profile: https://en.infoengine.cymru/organisations/powys-association-of-voluntary-organisations-pavo

1. “Making a Difference in Powys Year 1 Funded projects” PDF: https://www.pavo.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Making-a-Difference-in-Powys-Year-1-Funded-projects-1.pdf

1. Third Sector Awards - Jamie Burt Profile: https://www.thirdsectorawards.com/finalists/jamie-burt-toksv2a6qpsj56i