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More than £200,000 will be available in grants for community, voluntary, and sporting groups across Gwent this year – nearly £65,000 of which will be spent in Caerphilly County Borough.

The cash comes from the Welsh Church Fund, which was set up with proceeds and assets following disestablishment of the Church of England in Wales in 1920.

At the end of March last year, the fund had a balance of £5.2 million. 

Monmouthshire Council became the sole trustee for the fund in Gwent – including Caerphilly – following local government reorganisation in 1996.

Monmouthshire Council is responsible for distributing the annual funding in line with population figures used by the Welsh Government. 

Senior councillors in Monmouthshire have approved the investment and fund strategy for 2026/27, which has recommended £220,000 be made available for grant funding. 

Caerphilly Borough Council will have £64,667 to distribute in grants.

Meanwhile, Newport will get £61,391, Monmouthshire will get £34,713, and Torfaen will receive £34,411. Blaenau Gwent’s allocation will stand at £24,819. 

The value of the fund had decreased by just under £8,000 from March 2024 and as a result, the total amount available for distribution as grants this year is £5,000 less than in 2025/26. 

A wide range community groups, including sporting clubs, are entitled to apply for grants – with applications considered by the councils, in line with the charitable objectives of the fund. Councils are also required to publicise the fund on their websites.