Charity Commission aims to release £25 million for charities in Wales

The programme is run in partnership with Community Foundation Wales, with funding from the Welsh Government.

The Commission plans to contact over 200 charities in Wales to release a target of £25 million that is currently lying idle in dormant accounts.

The programme works by identifying charities in Wales that are either inactive (meaning they have had no income or expenditure over the last 5 years) or ineffective (having spent less than 30% of their total income over the last 5 years).

The Commission then gives the trustees an option to act – with support to help the charity get back up and running if needed.

Otherwise the funds are redeployed to causes in line with the aims of the dormant charity or the trust is transferred to Community Foundation Wales to be managed for the long-term benefit of local communities. In the latter case, the money is granted to charities in need, as well as used to create a regular income stream that will sustain their work to help communities for years.

Where charities can no longer operate, they will be wound up and removed from the charity register. Since its launch in 2018, the English version of the programme has revitalised over £32 million for charity with more than 1,800 charities participating.

For example, in January 2019, the Charity Commission identified the Berwick Upon Tweed Nursing Amenities Fund as a dormant trust eligible for the programme. After deciding to wind up, over £42,500 was transferred to the Northern Angel Fund at the Tyne and Wear Community Foundation. This fund supports charitable activity that improves the skills of local people, enhances community cohesion, and contributes to the unique and diverse culture of Berwick. Health and Wellbeing was also added to this fund’s aims, to keep in line with those of the Berwick upon Tweed Nursing Amenities Fund.

Helen Stephenson, CEO of the Charity Commission, said:

I’m very pleased that we’re rolling out this successful programme to support charities and the communities that they work with across Wales. We have so far exceeded our initial targets and released over £32m to aid charities in England and now, with funding from the Welsh Government, we want to deliver similar success for charities in Wales – especially during this time of heightened need.

The Charity Commission is therefore calling on the trustees of charities in Wales, who may be eligible for the scheme, to come forward either for assistance to get up and running again or so that funds currently lying idle in accounts can be transferred to best help active charities and those they benefit in Wales.

Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Wales, said:

We are delighted to be working with the Charity Commission and Welsh Government to bring this programme into Wales.

The grants that will be generated by the Revitalising Trusts Programme will be a lifeline to grassroots charities as they strive to recover from the Coronavirus pandemic whilst continuing to support communities across Wales.

Jane Hutt, Deputy Minister and Chief Whip of Welsh Government, said:

The voluntary sector in Wales, including charities and trusts, has been a vital part of the response to Covid-19 and they will also be a vital part of achieving a fair, just and green recovery. In order for this to be achieved, grant support for small voluntary sector organisations will be crucial.

The Welsh Revitalising Trusts Programme will help charities and trusts to bring vital resources back into play in supporting our communities in Wales.

The programme has also seen us build on our existing relationship with Community Foundation Wales, an excellent organisation which has delivered funding from the National Emergencies Trust to support organisations throughout the pandemic.

We will continue to work with our partners to ensure support is available through recovery. We hope the Welsh Revitalising Trusts programme will form an important part of the longer-term picture.

Ends

Notes to editors:

1. Charities falling within the programme’s criteria and seeking support in helping to get their charity operating again can contact the Revitalising Trusts Programme for advice and support at: CSrevitalisingtrusts@charitycommission.gov.uk
2. Funds are distributed as grants via Community Foundation Wales, which also has further information about applying for these grants.
3. The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. Its purpose is to ensure charity can thrive and inspire trust so that people can improve lives and strengthen society.