Swansea Bay Foundation has awarded £13,750 to 31 community-led projects in its most recent grant round, supporting grassroots organisations making a positive difference to people’s lives across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.
The funding will support a wide range of volunteer led initiatives, including activities for children and young people with additional learning needs (ALN), mental health and wellbeing support, girls’ and women’s football, community meals and coffee mornings, outdoor and environmental education, and equipment for schools, youth clubs and community spaces.
Projects supported in this round range from therapy and inclusive activities for neurodivergent children, to walking and singing sessions for people living with dementia, emergency veterinary support, STEM and sports equipment, cooking and gardening programmes, and community cafés and gatherings that reduce isolation and bring people together.
Organisations supported include Inclusability, Fishguard Chess Club, Rockspur FC, alongside schools, youth clubs, sports teams, community centres and voluntary groups working at the heart of their local communities.
Anthony and Louise, Inclusability Swansea, said:
“The funding we received has made a meaningful and lasting difference to families across Swansea & NPT. It enabled us to provide inclusive, accessible events where children and young people with additional learning needs and different abilities can take part in their community in ways that feel safe, welcoming, and joyful.
For many families, everyday activities can feel overwhelming or out of reach. These funded sessions reduce isolation and loneliness by creating spaces where families feel understood, accepted, and supported. Friendships form naturally, siblings enjoy shared experiences, and parent carers connect with others who truly ‘get it’, building supportive networks that continue beyond the events themselves.
The impact extends even further through volunteering opportunities created by these activities. Our volunteers, including young people with ALN and different abilities, gain confidence, develop skills, and build valuable experience while contributing to their community. Watching them grow into supportive role models for younger children is incredibly powerful. This funding has helped strengthen a compassionate, inclusive community where everyone belongs and where we are, truly, better together.”
Stuart Warner, Fishguard Chess Club, said:
“We were delighted to receive a grant from Swansea Bay Foundation so we could purchase ten good quality chess sets. Our club is less than a year old but we already have over 50 members – young and old. Members were delighted to see the new sets last week at club night.”
Ryan, Rockspur FC, said:
‘’We are thrilled to receive support from the foundation to put towards the continued expansion of our ladies football section. Women’s football as a whole continues to grow from strength to strength and with so many young girls now regularly playing the sport on a week by week basis, we are confident it will continue to do so for many years to come’’
Dawn Lyle, Chair of Trustees at Swansea Bay Foundation, said:
“These grants reflect the incredible commitment, compassion and creativity of community organisations across the Swansea Bay region. From supporting children with additional needs to creating opportunities through sport, food and shared experiences, each project funded in this round will make a meaningful difference locally. We are proud to support the people and groups who work tirelessly to strengthen our communities every day.”
Since 2023, Swansea Bay Foundation has awarded more than £160,000 in grant funding to community projects across the Swansea Bay region, supporting grassroots organisations to respond to local need and deliver lasting community benefit.
The work of Swansea Bay Foundation is made possible through the long-term commitment of local and regional businesses who believe in strong, inclusive communities. Their continued support enables the Foundation to respond to local need, invest in grassroots projects and ensure funding reaches people and places where it can have the greatest impact.
Dawn Lyle added:
“Our business partners play a vital role in everything we do. Their ongoing support allows us to back community-led projects that improve wellbeing, reduce isolation and create opportunities for people of all ages and since 2023, we’ve been proud to invest more than £160,000 into communities across the Swansea Bay region. We are incredibly grateful to the businesses who choose to stand alongside us and support communities across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.”
Swansea Bay Foundation has thanked its recent contributors including Day’s Motor Group, CK Foodstores, Morganstone, Castell Howell,, Taylor Leisure Group, Morgan La Roche Solicitors, and Short Bros Homes.
