Our 2024/25 annual report tells the story of how we worked towards the ambitious goals we’ve set ourselves, and the difference we made.
This year, Wales’ voluntary sector showed up, again and again.
In 2024/25 voluntary organisations in Wales kept their doors open, services running, and communities connected, even as costs soared and resources stretched thin. We stood with them every step of the way, and our 2024/25 annual report outlines just some of the things we did as we strive towards our ambitious 2022-27 plan.
OUR THREE GOALS
- THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR IS MORE DIVERSE AND RESILIENT
Faced with the challenges of the cost of living crisis, soaring energy prices, and tightening budgets, the voluntary sector showed incredible resilience, but needed support to keep going strong. That’s where we stepped in. We empowered organisations with the vital resources and skills they needed not only to meet today’s demands but to thrive into the future.
In 2024/25, 15 vital voluntary organisations kickstarted their digital journeys thanks to £35,000 in small grants we distributed through Newid – a first-of-its-kind investment.
Our Social Investment Cymru team awarded £301,000 in loans to support organisations across Wales to develop.
In addition to this, we distributed £2,160,017 Volunteering Wales Grants to promote and improve volunteering practices in Wales.
- VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS ARE EQUAL PARTNERS IN ACHIEVING WELLBEING IN WALES
2024/25 saw increases in running costs for voluntary organisations while a struggling healthcare system needed the sector’s involvement more than ever. We shouted loud about the importance of the 45,000 plus organisations in our amazing sector, campaigning on their behalf to government and connecting with public sector partners to work together to make change happen.
We joined forces with the sector to shape a voluntary sector maniffesto built by and for the communities we serve. Looking ahead to the 2026 Senedd elections, together with our partners, we tested ideas, shared insights, and raised awareness of Senedd reform and what it means for voluntary organisations across Wales.
- WCVA IS MORE RESILIENT
This year, WCVA began a major internal transformation. In 2023/24, Phase 2 of our change programme was all about action and strengthening our commitment to staff wellbeing, pay and benefits, and truly embedding equality, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism in everything we do.
We stepped up in our journey to becoming an anti-racist organisation. This year we published our anti-racism commitments and rolled out training in anti-racism and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion to all staff. We reimagined how we support and reward our staff, and an independent review of our pay and benefits ensured we’re not only competitive, but fair and forward-thinking.
CASE STUDIES
The annual report includes a variety of case studies, including this one focusing on the incredible work of Innovate Trust, funded by our Volunteering Wales Strategic Grant.
Through the Volunteering Hub, which is part of Innovate Trust’s ‘Insight’ app, people with learning disabilities, autism, and other additional needs are discovering volunteering opportunities that are accessible, empowering, and built with them, not just for them.
A key success of Innovate’s Volunteering Hub was involving service users to co-produce content for the site. Scott had been part of a supported conservation project that came to an end, leaving him feeling lost. But when he joined the Volunteering Hub project, everything changed. He helped shape content, shared his ideas, and found a new sense of purpose.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
You can see the full case study and others in our 2024/25 Annual Report.
For more information about the impact of WCVA please visit our impact page.
Thank you to all our members and partners who have worked with us in 2024/25, to make a bigger difference together.