The Monmouthshire County Council Welsh Church Act Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £262,076 (2023/24)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Applications considered 7 times per year
• Grant Range: £500 - £1,800 (recent examples)
• Geographic Focus: Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Torfaen, and Newport
• Application Method: Rolling basis (7 review periods annually)

Contact Details

Address: County Hall, The Rhadyr, Usk, NP15 1GA

Phone: 01633 644657

Email: davejarrett@monmouthshire.gov.uk

Website: www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/welsh-church-fund/

Overview

The Monmouthshire County Council Welsh Church Act Fund (Charity Number 507094) was established on 1 April 1996 following the Welsh Church Act 1914, which disestablished the Church of England in Wales in 1920. The fund was created from assets transferred when the Church was disestablished, with Monmouthshire County Council serving as the Corporate Trustee. The charity operates across five administrative areas in South Wales (Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Torfaen, and Newport), with Monmouthshire designated as the host Authority. In the 2023/24 financial year, the fund distributed £262,076 in grants: £103,374 to churches and religious establishments, £115,647 to community organizations, and £43,055 in essential equipment and furnishings to individuals and families in poverty. The fund provides grants for educational, social, recreational, and other charitable purposes, maintaining the legacy of its historical origins while serving contemporary community needs.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The fund offers two primary types of grants reviewed seven times per year:

• Capital Grants: Support for furnishing and upkeep of buildings. Recent examples include £1,000 for Cross Ash Village Hall for storm damage repairs, and £1,800 to St Mary's Church, Tregaer for industrial freezer purchase.

• Revenue Grants: Support for operational costs and activities. These are “only considered in exceptional circumstances” according to fund guidance. Recent examples include £750 to Caldicot Youth Group for internal re-decoration, and £500 to Portskewett and Sudbrook Junior Football Club for coaching course costs.

• Individual Support Grants: Essential equipment and furnishings for families in poverty relief.

The annual budget is split between the five administrative areas on a population basis, with applications considered at seven points throughout the year.

Priority Areas

The fund supports projects across a wide range of charitable purposes:

• Education and Training: Educational programs and skill development
• Health: Health-related projects and facilities
• Disability Assistance: Support for people with disabilities
• Poverty Prevention and Relief: Direct support to families and individuals in need
• Religious Activities: Church buildings and religious establishments
• Arts and Culture: Cultural programs and facilities
• Amateur Sports: Community sports facilities and coaching programs
• Environmental Conservation: Environmental protection projects
• Social and Recreational Facilities: Community centers, village halls, and youth facilities

Target Beneficiaries: Children and young people, elderly people, people with disabilities, charitable organizations, and the general public across the five participating authority areas.

What They Don't Fund

While the fund has broad charitable purposes, specific exclusions are not explicitly documented in publicly available materials. However, the emphasis on “exceptional circumstances” for revenue grants suggests a strong preference for capital projects. Applicants should note that funding decisions are at the discretion of the Cabinet and Committee, and there is “no guarantee that all applications will be successful.”

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Governance and Leadership

Trustee: Monmouthshire County Council serves as the Corporate Body and sole Trustee of the fund, established under the Welsh Church Act Funds (Designation and Specification) Order 1996.

Committee Structure: A Committee appointed by the Trustee reviews and approves grant applications. Members are appointed for the term of the Council and meet on a basis aligned with full Council meetings or as required by the participating authorities.

Fund Administrator: Dave Jarrett, Finance Business Partner – Central Finance, serves as the primary contact and has authored the fund's annual reports and financial statements. His email is davejarrett@monmouthshire.gov.uk.

Auditors: Audit Wales were appointed as auditors to the Welsh Church Act Fund in 2007/08 and continue to audit the fund's annual financial statements under the Charities Act 2011.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and considered seven times per year. The process involves:

1. Obtain Application Form: Download the “Welsh Church Fund Application Form 2025-2026” from www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/welsh-church-fund/

1. Prepare Financial Documentation: Organizations and groups must include a copy of their financial statements with their application. Applications without financial statements will not be considered.

1. Submit Application: Send completed application form and financial statements to davejarrett@monmouthshire.gov.uk or to the address: County Hall, The Rhadyr, Usk, NP15 1GA

1. Committee Review: Applications are reviewed by the Welsh Church Fund Working Group Committee, which makes recommendations to the Cabinet for approval.

Eligibility: Monmouthshire residents and any organization operating within the county (and the wider administrative areas of Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Torfaen, and Newport) are eligible to apply.

Decision Timeline

Applications are considered seven times per year at Committee meetings scheduled throughout the year. While specific timelines between submission and decision are not publicly stated, the frequency of review periods suggests relatively regular processing. Based on comparable Welsh Church Funds in other Welsh councils, decision timeframes typically range from 4-6 weeks, though Monmouthshire's specific timeline may vary.

Successful applicants are notified of their grant award, with funds distributed according to the Committee's approval schedule.

Success Rates

Specific success rate statistics (percentage of applications approved versus rejected) are not publicly disclosed. However, the fund's guidance explicitly states: “There is no guarantee that all applications will be successful,” indicating competitive selection.

In the 2023/24 financial year, the fund made grants totaling £262,076 across churches, community organizations, and individuals, demonstrating active and substantial grant-making activity. Recent published examples show that applicants sometimes receive partial awards rather than their full requested amounts (e.g., Caldicot Youth Group requested £1,000 but received £750; Portskewett and Sudbrook Junior Football Club requested £1,500 but received £500).

Reapplication Policy

The Monmouthshire Welsh Church Fund's specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants is not explicitly documented in publicly available materials. Other Welsh Church Funds in Wales typically have restrictions ranging from preventing reapplication within the same financial year to requiring three-year gaps between successful applications.

For clarification on reapplication eligibility after an unsuccessful application, contact Dave Jarrett at davejarrett@monmouthshire.gov.uk.

Application Success Factors

Based on the fund's documented priorities and recent grant awards, the following factors appear important for successful applications:

Capital Projects Preferred: Recent grants show a strong emphasis on capital projects. As stated in the fund guidance, “Grants for revenue expenditure will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.” Successful applications include building repairs (Cross Ash Village Hall - £1,000), equipment purchases (St Mary's Church industrial freezer - £1,800), and facility improvements (Caldicot Youth Group re-decoration - £750).

Community Benefit Focus: Projects demonstrating clear benefit to the local community receive funding. Examples include Lanvapley Sports & Social Association's audio equipment (£500) “for community use” and facilities that serve multiple beneficiary groups.

Specific Examples of Funded Projects:

• Youth facilities and programming (Caldicot Youth Group - £750)
• Sports coaching and development (Portskewett and Sudbrook Junior Football Club - £500)
• Community venue repairs and improvements (Cross Ash Village Hall - £1,000)
• Community equipment purchases (Lanvapley Sports & Social Association - £500)
• Religious establishment facilities (St Mary's Church, Tregaer - £1,800)

Financial Documentation Required: All organizational applications must include financial statements. This requirement is mandatory, suggesting the Committee values financial accountability and organizational stability.

Realistic Budgeting: Recent examples show applicants sometimes receive partial funding rather than full requested amounts. Applications with well-justified budgets and clear itemization of costs may fare better.

Geographic Coverage: While the fund operates across five authority areas, grants are allocated on a population basis, meaning competition for funds may vary by geographic area.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Prioritize capital projects over revenue requests; operational funding is only considered in “exceptional circumstances”
• Include complete financial statements with organizational applications, as this is a mandatory requirement
• Demonstrate clear community benefit across target groups (children, elderly, people with disabilities, general public)
• Be prepared for partial funding: Recent grants show awards often below requested amounts, so budget flexibility is important
• Apply throughout the year: With seven review periods annually, timing flexibility exists to align with project planning
• Geographic considerations matter: Funds are allocated across five authority areas on a population basis
• Small to medium-sized grants predominate: Recent awards range £500-£1,800, suggesting realistic expectations for grant size

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Cardiff YMCA (1910) Trust
• Welsh Church Act Fund within the Areas of Rhondda Cynon Taff, Bridgend and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Councils
• Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust
• The County Council of Dyfed Welsh Church Fund
• The Austin Bailey Foundation
• Powys Welsh Church Fund
• Cymdeithas Elusennol Ynys Môn
• Pobl Trust
• John Andrews Charitable Trust
• The Mary Homfray Charitable Trust

References

• Monmouthshire County Council - Welsh Church Fund: https://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/welsh-church-fund/
• Charity Commission Register - Charity 507094: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/507094
• News Dot Wales - “Welsh Church Act Fund Grants Awarded to Youth Club and Football Team”: https://news.wales/south/monmouthshire-council/welsh-church-act-fund-grants-awarded-to-youth-club-and-football-team-2024-08-48060.html
• Monmouthshire County Council Democracy Portal - Welsh Church Fund Applications 2024/25: https://democracy.monmouthshire.gov.uk/documents/s40718/1a.%20Copy%20of%20ICMD%20Appendix%201%20WCF%20Working%20Group%20Meeting%203%202024-25.pdf
• Monmouthshire County Council Democracy Portal - Audited Welsh Church Act Fund Financial Statements 2020-21: https://democracy.monmouthshire.gov.uk/documents/s30823/APPENDIX%201-%20Audited%20Welsh%20Church%20Act%20Fund%20Financial%20Statements%202020-21.pdf
• Welsh Church Act 1914 - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_Church_Act_1914