Community Chest is a Sports Council for Wales grant-aid scheme funded by the National Lottery. It aims to support the development of sport and physical activity at grass roots level. Decisions on grants are made by a panel of local sporting people in each of the 22 local authorities across Wales.

Carmarthenshire has a budget of £62,500 per annum and the panel meet six times in any one financial year April – March.

Main Purpose of the Grant

The main purpose of the Community Chest grant is to support good projects which create or sustain sport or physical activity opportunities in the community that are in addition to what is already in place and would not be possible without a grant.  

Community Chest offers grants of up to £1,000 in any 12 month period for activities that:

• Encourage more people to be more active, more often
• Raise the standards of existing activities

The scheme is open to any group as long as they hold a bank account in the organisation’s name.

Community Chest will normally consider all the costs associated with ensuring a project is successful. Normally grant aid is only provided for up to 20 sessions of a project, after which time projects are expected to become self-sustaining.  

WHAT CAN BE FUNDED:

• Walking or cycling projects
• Projects that encourage people to become more physically active
• Recruitment and training of volunteers, leaders and coaches
• New group or team start up costs
• Sports and physical activity events
• Transport schemes in special circumstances to overcome barriers to participation
• Hire of venue costs for up to 20 weeks for a new activity

WHAT THE SCHEME DOES NOT SUPPORT:

Community Chest is not open to individual members of the public, primary schools or associated bodies arranging activities for children, or secondary schools who are part of the 5x60 scheme.

In addition the following activities cannot be funded:

• Physical activities such as gardening, DIY, environmental improvements, performance dance or circus skills
• Existing activities
• Mainstrea activities funded by central or local government
• Projects that are considered to be part of an organisation’s normal day to day running costs.

Or the following project elements:

• Financial support for individuals
• Personal items of clothing, equipment or kit
• Ongoing administration costs
• Catering and hospitality
• Medals, certificates or trophies
• Domestic or foreign tours
• Replacement, repairs or ongoing maintenance of existing equipment.

To apply for Community Chest you should submit an application to your Local Authority Community Chest Officer. You can download an application form from our downloads page.

Available here are the Community Chest panel dates for your area.

If you are in any doubt please contact your Local Authority Community Chest Officer