Comic Relief and WCVA recognise that lasting change often begins at a local level. Community organisations are uniquely placed to understand the needs of the people they support and to respond quickly and compassionately to challenges within their communities.

Through Cwtch Communities, grants of between £15,000 and £35,000 are available to organisations working to create small cwtches of support within their communities. The programme aims to strengthen the work of organisations whose mission is to address one or more of the three priority themes.

Funding is exclusively for organisations with missions that align with the following themes. These themes focus on the essential things people need to feel secure, supported, and able to thrive:

• Basic needs – supporting individuals and families facing cost-of-living pressures, poverty, or lack of access to essential goods and services
• Health (early childhood development) – supporting the wellbeing and development of young children and their families, particularly in the early years
• Safety – support organisations working with individuals and communities affected by violence, displacement, or marginalisation

Grants of between £15,000 and £35,000 are available for organisations seeking to strengthen their impact on communities through direct services and tangible interventions.

Successful projects will be expected to demonstrate the impact of the grant through storytelling and publicity activities.

To apply for a Cwtch Communities grant, you will need to register with WCVA’s Multipurpose Application Portal (MAP). If you have previously registered with MAP, you can log in by entering your username and password on the home screen.

Organisations can register by visiting the website map.wcva.cymru.

If you need help registering on MAP, please follow this video.

This guidance document is designed to help applicants understand more about the Comic Relief Cwtch Communities Grant.

For additional support please contact your local County Voluntary Council.

The fund focuses on work that helps people meet their basic needs, boosts the wellbeing of young children and families, and creates safer, more inclusive communities.

This could include food banks or community kitchens tackling hunger, projects providing essentials like warm clothing or hygiene items, or community hubs offering crisis support.

We are also interested in early‑years activities such as parent‑and‑toddler groups, community‑run learning sessions, or peer‑support projects led by parents with lived experience.

Under our safety theme, we’re looking to support women’s centres, refugee and asylum seeker groups, and safe, welcoming spaces for women, LGBTQ+ people, and others who may be at risk.

If you have any questions or would like to speak to us about your project idea, please contact the Grants Team on 0300 111 0124 or email us at comicreliefgrants@wcva.cymru.