Wales Fund – Pathways out of Poverty Projects Supported
Brighter Futures Rhyl is a small but impactful charity operating in one of the most deprived communities in Wales. Since its establishment in 2018, it has become a trusted hub for local residents, delivering a range of activities and support services that promote healthier lifestyles, reduce social isolation, and build confidence. Despite its modest size, Brighter Futures is highly regarded in the region for its collaborative, hands-on approach and has already achieved a great deal with limited resources.
We are supporting their Grow, Cook & Eat project, which runs five weekly sessions – each lasting two to four hours and tailored to different groups such as children, older men and women, young people, and families. Activities include growing food at allotments or in home-growing kits, cooking nutritious meals together, engaging in gentle exercise, and building practical skills in areas such as woodwork, numeracy, and literacy. Beyond the practical, these sessions provide crucial emotional support, building confidence, friendships, and a sense of belonging. For some participants, the impact has been transformative – empowering them to disclose domestic abuse or homelessness and enabling Brighter Futures to link them to specialist services.
Running 50 weeks a year, the project is designed to deliver long-term, measurable outcomes:
- Greater independence and self-sufficiency through skills in gardening, woodwork, and cooking.
- Reduced financial hardship by enabling people to grow and prepare affordable, healthy meals.
- Improved mental wellbeing and reduced isolation through peer support and community connection.
- Over 100 residents engaged annually in regular, life-enhancing activities.
- Weekly provision of more than 100 nutritious meals.
- Creation of at least 40 home-growing units for those without garden space.
This is a practical, well-run, and deeply human project, built around the voices and needs of the local community. By funding this project, we will be directly contributing to poverty reduction, community cohesion, and long-term positive change in one of Wales’ most deprived areas. Our support will enable Brighter Futures Rhyl to continue transforming lives, one meal, one skill, and one connection at a time.
Faith in Families (FiF) is a trusted, grassroots charity founded in 1999, working in some of the most disadvantaged areas of Swansea to improve the lives of children and families. Through its Community Cwtches – open-access community hubs – FiF delivers affordable childcare, parenting support, nutritious food, wellbeing activities, and therapeutic services in a warm, non-judgmental environment. Their trauma-informed and person-centred approach has made them a lifeline for thousands of people navigating poverty, poor mental health, and social isolation.
The demand for their services has skyrocketed in recent years, the cost-of-living crisis is worsening, with local families cutting back on essentials like food, heating and clothes – often with devastating consequences for children’s health and wellbeing. We are supporting Faith in Families with a multi-year, unrestricted grant to help them continue their vital work in the face of rising demand and financial strain. This flexible funding model is intentionally designed to give the organisation room to breathe: to respond to community needs as they arise, maintain their staff and core operations, and avoid having to reduce or close key services.
The impact of their work is profound, FiF provides over 10,500 hours of therapeutic support each year, helping children manage anxiety, trauma, and emotional distress. Their Inspiring Futures programme supports parents and adults with training, confidence-building, and wellbeing support – engaging hundreds each year and helping families move forward together. Their Teilos Tots nursery delivers over 37,000 hours of affordable childcare, enabling parents to work or study while ensuring children receive high-quality early years care. By backing Faith in Families with flexible, reliable funding, we’re helping to keep open the doors of trusted community spaces, reduce the harm caused by poverty, and give children and families the tools to thrive.
Manage Money Wales C.I.C. is a small, grassroots charity based in Porth, Rhondda Valleys, dedicated to addressing poverty, improving financial capability, and fostering community resilience. Their flagship initiative, the Community Sharing Shop, operates from a two-storey community hub that provides a wide range of complementary services to meet the diverse needs of local residents. This includes distributing free donated essentials such as clothes, household items, and sports equipment, running a food bank in partnership with the Trussell Trust and Pontypridd Food Bank, and offering a Community Café and Winter Warm Space to provide not just physical warmth but also social connection and support. The shop also delivers engaging community activities, including children’s holiday programs and upcycling classes, alongside practical training courses in money management, scam awareness, IT, first aid, and employability skills.
Our support for Manage Money Wales focuses on helping them expand the reach and effectiveness of the Community Sharing Shop by supporting their salary costs delivering personalised one-to-one financial guidance, facilitating training sessions, coordinating community outreach, and managing day-to-day operations. The impact of the Community Sharing Shop has been significant. By combining practical resource provision with skills development and social support, the project empowers individuals to reduce debt, increase income, and improve their overall wellbeing. Its collaborative approach, working alongside local partners such as Cwtch Baby Bank and Marauders Men’s Health, strengthens the wider support network available to vulnerable residents. Moreover, the initiative contributes to environmental sustainability by diverting waste from landfill through the redistribution of donated goods.
Looking ahead, Manage Money Wales aims to deepen its community engagement and broaden its services to reach even more people facing financial hardship and social isolation in the Rhondda Valleys. With the added capacity from our funding, they hope to sustain and grow their impact – helping more individuals gain financial confidence, access essential resources, and build resilient, connected communities. This aligns closely with our priorities to tackle poverty, promote social inclusion, and support climate action through sustainable practices.