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