Investing in Impact: Building Stronger Charities in RCT and Beyond
AUGUST 6th 2025
As part of our commitment to strengthening the voluntary sector in the South Wales Valleys, we’ve been proud to support a three-year programme helping small charities and CICs across RCT, Neath Port Talbot, and Bridgend become more resilient and sustainable.
Now at the end of Year 2, the programme — delivered by Cranfield Trust — has provided tailored consultancy, mentoring, and strategic support to over 20 organisations, including:
- Hot Jam Music CIC (Aberdare) – business planning and financial guidance
- INFORM Cwm Taf Morgannwg (Aberdare) – strategic planning and leadership mentoring
- Penderyn Community Centre – governance development and succession planning
Organisations consistently report high levels of satisfaction and learning, and many have already taken major steps forward in their sustainability journeys.
Importantly, insights gathered from this work have also highlighted key sector-wide challenges:
- Lack of capacity to plan long-term
- Heavy reliance on grants
- Gaps in digital and financial confidence
In response, the programme will offer a series of open-access themed learning events in Year 3, focused on areas where local organisations need the most support:
- Fundraising & financial planning
- Impact and evaluation
- Marketing and branding
- Digital transformation
The Fund was established by energy company Vattenfall to benefit the communities hosting the Pen y Cymoedd wind farm across the upper Neath, Afan, Rhondda and Cynon Valleys. It exists to support local people, groups and organisations to invest in themselves, their ideas and their communities.
The Community Fund has a substantial annual budget that is index-linked, meaning it increases in line with inflation. As an example, this equated to around £2.5 million in 2025. The Fund will continue to support communities until 2043, creating long-term opportunities for growth, resilience and positive change.
The Fund is managed by an independent, locally based not-for-profit Community Interest Company. It is overseen by a Board of Directors with strong local connections and delivered by a small but dedicated staff team with extensive community engagement experience. We are here to help ensure the Fund delivers on the vision and priorities of local communities.
Over the next 10 years, the Fund is focusing on investment in people, places and businesses — helping the Valleys to thrive, driving bold ideas, supporting transformation and creating lasting impact for current and future generations.