WCVA’s Volunteering in Wales Fund now open

Volunteering in Wales has been given a boost with confirmation that a leading grant scheme has been extended to 2014.

WCVA’s Volunteering in Wales Fund has received continued support from the Welsh Government meaning that organisations will be able to apply for funding to support projects for the next year.

Funding of up to £25,000 is available for third sector organisations across Wales to support and develop new volunteers through covering the cost of the volunteer expenses and training; and through the recruitment of specialist staff to help recruit and support new volunteers.

Currently, the Fund is supporting over 70 organisations throughout Wales and project applications that involve volunteers from under-represented groups are being particularly encouraged.

Organisations can apply for support towards the cost of new volunteer recruitment  and examples include the salary of a volunteer coordinator / development worker, volunteer expenses , training and certain running costs . 

Mark Bendon, Senior Grant Assessor for the Fund, said: ‘Charities across Wales rely on volunteers who need training and support so that they can offer maximum support to their communities and service users.

‘The Fund is helping to ensure that there is professional support for these volunteers and in the last year alone, the scheme has helped recruit over 5,329 new volunteers who have contributed more than 380,000 hours to the benefit of Welsh communities.

‘This work would otherwise cost over £4.25m in economic terms.’

The deadline to apply for funding is Friday 22 March 2013 at 5.00pm.

For further details and an application pack, contact the WCVA Helpdesk on 0800 2888 329, email help@wcva.org.uk or visit the WCVA website.

(Source WCVA)