Gwynedd Warm Spaces and Support Fund

Warm Spaces activities can reach people who may not otherwise approach a formal service directly to ask for help.

This creates an opportunity to share information about available support and help people access assistance at an earlier stage.

This may include information or support relating to:

• the cost of living;
• benefits and income;
• energy bills;
• financial or debt advice;
• health and wellbeing;
• digital support;
• Council services;
• support for families;
• third-sector services; or
• other local activities and services.

Groups are not expected to become specialists in these areas.

Support may be as simple as:

• sharing up-to-date information;
• letting people know where they can go for help;
• helping someone find information;
• signposting someone to an appropriate service;
• inviting an organisation or service to visit a session from time to time; or
• hosting an information session or practical support session.

Organisations may apply for a grant of between £250 and £2,000.

There is no expectation that every project will apply for the maximum amount. The amount requested should be proportionate to:

• the size of the activity;
• how frequently the activity takes place;
• the number of sessions being delivered;
• the length of time the activity will run;
• the number of people expected to benefit;
• the level of local need; and
• the actual costs of delivering the activity.

Grants towards the upper end of the range, up to £2,000, will normally be prioritised for regular provision, such as a weekly activity, or for projects that can demonstrate a similar level of activity, reach, or need.

Applications for grants close to the maximum amount will be expected to demonstrate an appropriate level of activity and value for money.

Activities that take place less frequently, including fortnightly or monthly activities, may still be supported. However, the level of funding requested should reflect the scale and frequency of the provision.

The number of sessions alone will not determine the level of grant awarded. The Panel may also take local circumstances into account, including rural or remote communities where less frequent activities may play a particularly important role.

The Fund can contribute towards the direct costs of delivering a Warm Spaces activity.

This may include:

• heating and lighting costs associated with the activity;
• reasonable provision of hot drinks and light refreshments;
• activity costs;
• materials and supplies;
• venue hire costs;
• reasonable costs that help make the activity accessible;
• volunteer expenses, where appropriate; and
• other costs that are directly related to delivering the activity.

Appropriate evidence of expenditure will be required.

The Fund will not normally support:

• commercial activities or activities designed to generate profit;
• an organisation’s core running costs where there is no clear link to the Warm Welcome activity;
• activities that have already been fully funded from another source;
• activities that are restricted solely to members of a particular organisation or group;
• projects that duplicate existing local provision without evidence of additional need;
• costs for which appropriate evidence cannot be provided; or
• activities that are not available to the community in an open and inclusive way.

The following not-for-profit organisations may apply:

• charities;
• constituted community and voluntary groups;
• village halls and community centres;
• social enterprises;
• Community Benefit Societies, where no commercial gain is derived from the activity;
• faith organisations that provide activities which are open and inclusive to the wider community;
• similar non-profit organisations; and
• community and town councils.

The activity being funded must be open and inclusive and must not be restricted solely to existing members of the organisation.

Funded projects will be expected to:

• provide a welcoming and inclusive local activity;
• maintain contact with their local Community Support Officer and relevant local networks;
• share relevant information with the people who attend their activities;
• promote information about cost-of-living support and preventative assistance where appropriate;
• know where to signpost people who require further support;
• welcome reasonable opportunities for services or partner organisations to engage with the group;
• promote their activities through local networks; and
• ensure that information about their activity is available on Dewis Cymru, where appropriate.

These expectations should be proportionate to the size and nature of the activity. A small group meeting in a village hall will not be expected to provide the same level of activity or engagement as a larger organisation delivering multiple sessions each week.

When assessing applications, we will consider the following:

Local Need

Is there clear evidence that the activity is needed within the community?

Social Connection

Does the activity provide a genuine opportunity for people to come together and help reduce loneliness or social isolation?

Frequency and Reach

How often will the activity take place, over what period of time, and how many people are expected to benefit?

Accessibility

Is the activity accessible to the community, including people living in rural or remote areas?

Connecting People to Information and Support

Is the group willing to help ensure that information about cost-of-living support, preventative assistance, and relevant services reaches those attending the activity?

Local Connections

Is the project willing to be part of the local network of community groups, libraries, hubs, services, and partner organisations?

Value for Money

Is the level of grant requested reasonable in relation to the frequency, scale, cost, and reach of the activity?

We want to see Gwynedd Warm Spaces and Support activities as part of a wider network of local support.

Libraries and community hubs can act as local anchor organisations, helping to connect residents, community groups, Council services, and partner organisations.

This does not mean that every activity must take place in a library or community hub.

Activities held in village halls, community centres, and other local venues are a vital part of this network, particularly in rural communities where distance and limited transport can create additional barriers.

The aim is to ensure that local community activities bring people together while helping information and support reach residents within their own communities, enabling them to access additional assistance when needed.

The goal is not to expect everyone to travel to a single location, but rather to make use of the local networks that already exist to bring support closer to people.