Archbishop of Wales Fund for Children

The Archbishop of Wales Fund for Children, established in 2001 by the Church in Wales following the Children’s Society’s withdrawal from Wales, was a child-centred grantmaker dedicated to relieving hardship, sickness, distress, and need among disadvantaged children and young people across the country. Administered by trustees appointed by the Bench of Bishops, it embodied Christian compassion, social responsibility, ecumenical inclusivity, and a commitment to grassroots, volunteer-led, and parish-based initiatives that often struggled for funding elsewhere. Over two decades, it distributed over £1 million, raised through church parishes, Christingle services, and community events, fostering early intervention, community inclusion, and tangible local impact.

The fund supported social, educational, and welfare projects delivering direct benefits to children, such as contact centres for separated families (e.g., in Brecon, Merthyr), holiday food and activity clubs tackling insecurity, innovative youth engagement like The Lab in Newport, church youth clubs, rural transport, and mental well-being programs. It prioritized initiatives linked to Church in Wales dioceses, CYTUN-affiliated Christian groups, or secular organizations like Barnardo’s and Ty Hafan, assessing applications on merit without religious bias.

Eligible applicants were UK-registered charities and Wales-based community groups, favouring smaller, grassroots entities with no strict income thresholds but requiring clear demonstration of benefit to disadvantaged Welsh children. Typical grants ranged from £1,000 to £5,000 (occasionally up to £10,000), funding project delivery and rare core costs via emailed or posted official forms. However, the fund is now permanently closed: it ceased accepting applications in 2024, held its final board in May 2024, and formally dissolved in January 2025. It excluded non-Wales projects, indirect benefits, or capital-heavy efforts, distinguishing itself through church-led, responsive support for hard-to-fund, community-rooted child welfare in Wales.