Community fund
As a not-for-profit company, our customers are at the heart of everything we do. That’s why in 2017 we launched The Welsh Water Community Fund. Since the launch of the fund, we are pleased to have donated over £500,000 supporting hundreds of local community initiatives.
We know that our work can sometimes cause disruption in the communities we are working and want to give our customers and local groups the opportunity to make a difference in the communities they live, by offering funding towards a community project of their choice. Community groups can apply for a grant up to £5,000 towards their project.
How to apply?
We will open our online application process 3 times during the year for 8 weeks. The dates for 2024 are:
- 1st May – 30th June
- 1st September – 31st October
- 1st January 2025 – 28th February 2025
The community panel will meet to decide on successful projects within 2 weeks after the closing date and applicants will be informed of the outcome by the end of the month once all the relevant documentation is received and in order.
Examples of projects that could receive funding include:
- Improvements to the environment or local community initiatives promoting health, wellbeing and environmental objectives.
- Activities undertaken by registered community groups - specifically with health, wellbeing, cost of living support and environmental objectives.
- Improving and supporting local education activity for example water efficiency, environmental, innovation benefits.
Priority will be given to those projects where Welsh Water are, or have been, working.
Examples of charities eligible to apply:
- Charitable Trusts – Registered Charity
- Housing associations, sporting clubs, co-operatives
- Friendly Societies – working men’s clubs, benevolent societies Unincorporated Association – Self – help groups, small organisations Excepted Charities – Boy Scouts/ Girl Guides/ Beavers/ Brownies Voluntary Sector service providers – Volunteer Centres
- Schools
NB – This is not an exhaustive list
What we can’t fund:
- Staff funding – unless the funding is to train existing staff to improve the quality of what the group can achieve.
- Multiyear funding
- Unregistered charities
- Other funders or grant makers
- Shortfall funding
- Party political activities
- Specifically religious groups
- Events, conferences of sponsorship
NB – This is not an exhaustive list
How it works
- Interested parties will complete an online application form available on the Welsh Water website. A copy of the terms and conditions for this funding will be available on the website and applicants must read those before applying as the award of funding shall be governed by those terms and conditions.
- The community panel will consider the application and make a decision on whether the application is successful or not.
- If the application is successful, the project contact will be informed following the community panel meeting which will take place 3 times during the year.
- The successful applicant will need to complete and sign a letter of Agreement and be responsible for the project delivery.
- The successful applicant will be responsible for attaining all permissions and consents and be legally responsible for all risks associated with the project.
- Funding awards are subject to participation in Welsh Water publicity materials.
Please note: The decision to award funding is entirely up to the discretion of the community panel.
Welsh Water will not take any role in organising an event or manage any risks involved. Community groups will need to undertake their own assessment of risk in relation to any activity / event undertaken.
Once the allocated annual fund has been spent the fund will close until the following financial year.
Frequently asked questions
Any non-profit organisation can apply for the Fund. The project must be based within the communities we serve, and priority will be given to the communities where we are, or have been, working.
All you need to do is complete our online application form. Our community fund panel will consider your application and make a decision on whether your project is successful or not. (Please see timelines when the community fund is open throughout the year).
Successful applications can receive up to a maximum of £5,000 funding per project.
Following the submission of an application, applications will be considered by a dedicated Community Fund panel 3 times during the year.
- The Community Panel will consider the application and make a decision as stipulated in the timeline guidance s on whether the project is successful or not.
- If the application is successful, the project contact will be informed following the Panel meeting which will take place every 3 months.
- The successful applicant will be sent a Letter of Agreement which will need to be signed and returned before the funds will be released. They will also be responsible for the project delivery.
- The successful applicant will be responsible for attaining all permissions and consents and be legally responsible for all risks associated with the project. Welsh Water will not undertake any organisational or management role in the delivery of the project/activity.
- Funding awards are subject to agreement to participation in Welsh Water reasonable publicity activities. A payment will be paid via baccs to the successful applicant on return of the Letter of Agreement once the relevant checks have been approved. Please note it may take up to 4- 12 weeks for the payment to be issued.
- Successful applications may be subject to audit by arrangement following completion of the project to ensure that the project has been delivered in accordance with the application that was approved.
The Fund will allow groups to improve their communities through a range of areas:
- Improvements to the environment or local community initiatives promoting health, wellbeing and environmental objectives.
- Activities undertaken by registered community groups - specifically with health, wellbeing, environmental objectives.
- Improving and supporting local education activity for example water efficiency, environmental and innovation benefits.
The delivery of the project must be completed within 12 months of the application being approved and funding being provided.
The funding provided must not be used to fund a specific project which is conditional on obtaining additional funding or consents.
Yes, but priority will be given to those schemes where Welsh Water are, or have been, working.