The County Council Of Dyfed Welsh Church Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Data not publicly available
• Geographic Focus: Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, and Pembrokeshire only
• Grant Range: £150 - £10,000
• Application Method: Rolling basis (varies by county)
• Charity Number: 506583

Contact Details

Main Contact:

• Address: Carmarthenshire County Council, County Hall, Carmarthen, SA31 1JP
• Phone: 01267 224180
• Email: AParnell@carmarthenshire.gov.uk

County-Specific Contacts:

Pembrokeshire:

• Email: WCAF@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
• Church applications: jenny.ruloff@pembrokeshire.gov.uk

Ceredigion:

• Phone: 01970 633331
• Email: communitygrant@ceredigion.gov.uk

Overview

The County Council of Dyfed Welsh Church Fund (charity 506583) was registered on 3 August 1977 and represents one of Wales's historic charitable funds. Established under the Welsh Church Act 1914, this fund originated from the proceeds and assets of the disestablishment of the Church of England within Wales. When the former county councils in Wales were reorganized and divided between Welsh Unitary Authorities in 1996, the original Dyfed fund was distributed among the successor councils.

Formerly known as the Dyfed Welsh Churches Fund, the charity now operates across three counties: Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, and Pembrokeshire. The fund provides grants to help towards the advancement of education and religion, relief of poverty, support for libraries and museums, and other purposes beneficial to the community. Each of the three counties administers its portion of the fund with slightly different procedures and grant amounts, though all share the common charitable objectives established under the Welsh Church Act.

The charity maintains robust governance with policies in place for financial reserves, internal charity financial controls, internal risk management, trustee conflicts of interest, and complaints procedures. The charity owns and/or leases land or property and maintains up-to-date reporting with the Charity Commission.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The fund operates through three county-level programs, each with distinct funding levels:

Carmarthenshire Welsh Church Fund:

• Churches/Chapels: £750 - £10,000 (25% of capital costs up to £3,000; enhanced assistance up to £10,000 for projects exceeding £100,000)
• Village Halls/Community Facilities: Up to £3,000 (12.5% of revenue or capital costs)
• Organizations: Up to £3,000 (10% intervention rate for revenue or capital projects)
• Individuals: Up to £150 (for specific activities, apprenticeships, or work placements within the county)

Pembrokeshire Welsh Church Act Fund:

• Maximum award: £5,000 per application
• Churches, chapels, and places of worship limited to building/capital works only
• One application per organization per financial year
• Quarterly review process by assessment panel

Ceredigion Community Grants (Welsh Church Fund financed):

• Capital Grants: Maximum of 50% of project costs or funding deficit, capped at £10,000
• Policy Grants: £250 - £2,000 (depending on event type)
• Major events (Gŵyl Fawr Aberteifi, RTJ Pantyfedwen eisteddfodau): £2,000
• Community newspapers (Papurau Bro): £500 annually for first 5 years; £250 thereafter
• Local eisteddfodau and agricultural/horticultural shows: £250
• Specified regional shows and festivals: £500

Priority Areas

The fund supports projects addressing:

• Advancement of education: Educational activities, apprenticeships, work placements
• Advancement of religion: Church and chapel repairs, renewals, and capital works
• Relief of poverty: Projects benefiting those experiencing financial hardship (current priority in Pembrokeshire)
• Libraries, museums, and art galleries: Cultural institutions serving the community
• Community facilities: Village halls, community centers, and gathering spaces
• Other community-beneficial initiatives: Projects demonstrating broad community benefit

Pembrokeshire Additional Priorities:

• Community building refurbishment
• Projects benefiting those with protected characteristics
• Projects demonstrating community support and sustainability

What They Don't Fund

Carmarthenshire exclusions:

• Projects already commenced before application submission
• Work subject to insurance claims
• Organizations with statutory council support responsibilities
• Groups proposing licensed bar facilities
• Councils eligible for self-precept
• Twinning associations
• National Government-funded bodies

Pembrokeshire exclusions:

• Private sector organizations
• Individual applicants
• Party-political purposes
• General funding for churches/faith groups (capital works only)

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Governance and Leadership

The County Council of Dyfed Welsh Church Fund is registered as an “Other” organization type with the Charity Commission. The charity was established on 3 August 1977 and operates under the Welsh Church Act 1914 (under the Welsh Church Fund Acts 1914-1945 and the Local Government Act (Wales) 1993).

The fund maintains comprehensive governance policies including:

• Financial reserves policy and procedures
• Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
• Internal risk management policy and procedures
• Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
• Complaints policy and procedures

The charity is not recognized by HMRC for gift aid purposes and owns and/or leases land or property. Specific trustee names are not publicly listed on the main Charity Commission pages, as the fund operates through the administrative structures of the three successor county councils.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The application process varies by county:

Carmarthenshire:

• Applications accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year
• Council staff available to support project development and application completion
• Application form must be submitted before project commencement
• Contact AParnell@carmarthenshire.gov.uk for application forms and support

Pembrokeshire:

• Quarterly review process by assessment panel
• Standard application form for most organizations
• Separate application form for churches/chapels/places of worship
• Submit to WCAF@pembrokeshire.gov.uk (church applications to jenny.ruloff@pembrokeshire.gov.uk)
• Applications accepted throughout the year (note: 2024-25 fund fully allocated except for church capital funding)

Ceredigion:

• Capital Grants: One annual application window (occasionally two at Panel's discretion)
• Policy Grants: Open for applications year-round
• Separate online forms for Capital and Policy applications
• Applications accepted in Welsh with no disadvantage
• Review Guidance for Applicants document before applying
• Contact communitygrant@ceredigion.gov.uk or call 01970 633331

Decision Timeline

Carmarthenshire: Rolling basis - applications reviewed as received

Pembrokeshire: Quarterly review by assessment panel

Ceredigion:

• Capital Grants: Annual review cycle aligned with financial year
• Policy Grants: Ongoing throughout the year (applicants encouraged to apply early)

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. Due to limited funds, particularly in Carmarthenshire, the degree of support offered is at the council's discretion.

Note: Pembrokeshire's 2024-25 fund was fully allocated during the year except for capital funding designated for churches, chapels, and places of worship, suggesting competitive demand.

Reapplication Policy

Carmarthenshire: Applicants eligible to reapply within each financial year once grant has been spent and final claim approved

Pembrokeshire: Only one application per group or organization permitted per financial year

Ceredigion: Specific reapplication policies not publicly detailed

Application Success Factors

Carmarthenshire Priorities

• Start early: Grants will not be awarded to projects that have commenced prior to receiving an application form
• Seek support: One of the team can support you to develop your project and complete an application form
• Stay within boundaries: All projects must be delivered within Carmarthenshire
• Complete properly: Submit final claims before reapplying

Pembrokeshire Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate:

• Charitable objectives and proper governance: Clear organizational structure and charitable purpose
• Sound financial management: Robust financial controls and accountability
• Local community support: Evidence of community backing for the project
• Project sustainability and clear planning: Well-thought-out projects with long-term viability
• Benefit to those with protected characteristics: Consideration of equality and inclusion

Current priority: Poverty relief

Proof of expenditure may be required via receipts or invoices.

Ceredigion Considerations

• Review guidance first: Applicants should review the Guidance for Applicants document before applying
• Capital projects: Must demonstrate value for money and community benefit
• Welsh language: Applications accepted in Welsh with no disadvantage to the applicant
• Timing for capital grants: Projects must be completable within specified timeframes (typically by March 1 of the relevant year)

General Success Factors

• Geographic eligibility is absolute: Projects must benefit communities within Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, or Pembrokeshire only
• Match funding helps: Particularly for larger projects, demonstrating other funding sources strengthens applications
• Clear community benefit: All applications should articulate how the project benefits the local community
• Avoid insurance-claimable work: In Carmarthenshire, work subject to insurance claims is ineligible

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Know your county: Each of the three counties has different maximum grant amounts, application processes, and specific requirements - ensure you apply to the correct county fund with the right procedures
• Apply before you start: Across all three counties, it is critical that you do not commence work before applying - this is a disqualifying factor in Carmarthenshire and likely applies across all jurisdictions
• Churches have special rules: Faith organizations can typically only apply for capital/building works, not general running costs, with specific forms and processes
• Limited funds mean competition: With discretionary funding levels and evidence of full allocation (Pembrokeshire 2024-25), applications need to be well-prepared and demonstrate clear value
• Seek pre-application support: Particularly in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, staff are available to help develop your project and application - use this resource
• Plan your timing: Understand whether your county operates on rolling, quarterly, or annual cycles and plan accordingly
• One chance per year: In Pembrokeshire, you only get one application per financial year, so make it count

References

• The County Council of Dyfed Welsh Church Fund - Charity Commission Register
• Carmarthenshire Welsh Church Fund - Carmarthenshire County Council
• Welsh Church Act Fund 2024-25 - Pembrokeshire County Council
• Community Grants - Ceredigion County Council
• Welsh Church Act Funds - National Churches Trust
• Charity Commission Governance Page - The County Council of Dyfed Welsh Church Fund