Cymraeg / Welsh

Cymraeg / Welsh

  • enquiries@penycymoeddcic.cymru
  • Tel: 01685 878785
Apply For Funding$About The Fund$

Apply For Funding

About the Fund

Two years in the Open and Trusting Funder Network

Two years ago, we joined the Open and Trusting Funder Network, committing to a set of principles designed to make funding relationships more open, responsive, and trusting.
 
Those principles continue to shape how we work:
  • Not wasting time
  • Asking relevant questions
  • Accepting risk
  • Acting with urgency
  • Being open and flexible
  • Communicating with purpose
  • Being proportionate
Over the past year, we’ve been working internally to ensure these commitments are reflected not just in what we say, but in how we make decisions. As part of this, the PyC Board and staff recently undertook a review of our risk appetite in grant giving using the IVAR Risk Appetite tool. This helped us develop a shared and explicit understanding of how we approach different types of risk—and where we are comfortable taking more or less risk in pursuit of impact.
 
This work has resulted in a new Risk Statement, which sets out our approach across financial, reputational, governance, safeguarding, innovation, and outcomes risk.
 
In summary:
  • We have a relatively high appetite for financial and innovation risk
  • A moderate appetite for reputational and outcomes risk
  • A high appetite for governance and operational risk, particularly where there is strong potential and willingness to learn
  • A very low appetite for safeguarding risk, with clear expectations for robust practice
At the heart of this is a simple belief: meaningful change often involves uncertainty, and learning—especially from things that don’t go as planned—is essential to progress.
We hope this provides clarity and confidence for applicants, and encourages bold, thoughtful, and innovative approaches in the work we support.

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.

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