Up to £150,000 to Prevent Gambling Harms in Welsh Communities: Wales Council for Voluntary Action
The Gambling Harms Voluntary Sector Grant offers up to £75,000 a year for two years to voluntary and community organisations in Wales. It is funded by Public Health Wales and administered by Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA).
This is a prevention fund. It backs community-led projects that tackle the social, economic and environmental factors behind gambling-related harm, rather than clinical treatment or recovery services.
Match funding is not required, and projects can be funded at up to 100% of eligible costs. The deadline is 19 October 2026.
About the Funder
WCVA is the national membership body for voluntary organisations in Wales and administers a range of grant programmes on behalf of public bodies.
This fund is part of a new public health approach to gambling-related harm in Wales. Alongside supporting delivery, Public Health Wales wants funded projects to generate learning that will shape future policy and practice, so evaluation is built into the programme.
What the Fund Supports
Projects should be prevention-focused, community-led and rooted in the Welsh context. The fund is looking for work that:
- Prevents gambling-related harms before they take hold
- Reduces inequalities in the communities most affected
- Strengthens community resilience
- Supports people most at risk of experiencing gambling-related harm
The guidance highlights at-risk and underserved groups including people in deprived areas, people with mental health conditions or substance use issues, ethnic minority communities and people in contact with the criminal justice system.
The fund will not support clinical treatment or recovery interventions, school-based education, or projects primarily focused on research.
How Much Funding Is Available
- Up to £75,000 per year for up to two years, a maximum of £150,000 in total
- Primarily revenue funding, with small capital items such as IT equipment or PPE allowed
- No match funding required, with up to 100% of eligible costs covered
- In-kind contributions and volunteer hours, valued at the living wage, should be included in your budget profile
Projects run from December 2026 to November 2028. Year 2 funding is provisional and depends on a performance review in month 10.
Who Is Eligible
- Voluntary sector organisations and registered charities
- Community Interest Companies
- Voluntary and community groups
- Not-for-profit social enterprises
Partnerships, formal or informal, are welcome as long as there is a named lead applicant.
You must also:
- Be independent of government and the private sector
- Be constituted, with governing documents
- Have an organisational bank account with at least two unrelated signatories
- Have a quorate board of at least three unrelated trustees or directors
- Have a fit-for-purpose safeguarding policy
- Be able to show independence from gambling industry funding or influence
- Deliver the project in Wales
Political organisations, statutory bodies, private for-profit organisations, individuals and sole traders cannot apply.
What Makes a Strong Application
Applications are assessed against six criteria:
- A credible, realistic proposal with a clear public health and prevention approach, defined target groups, activities and outcomes
- Evidence of need and a focus on at-risk or underserved groups
- Strong delivery plans and governance, with clear roles for staff and partners
- A proportionate budget that shows value for money
- Clear data collection plans and a willingness to take part in evaluation
- Meaningful involvement of people with lived experience of gambling-related harm
The lived experience criterion is the one many applicants will underestimate. Show how people affected by gambling harm have shaped the project design, not just how they will take part in it.
The independence requirement is also a hard line. If your organisation has taken money from, or partnered with, the gambling industry, check the guidance carefully before applying.
Documents You Will Need
- Constitution or governing documents
- Recent financial statements or audited accounts
- Bank statement
- Safeguarding, Equal Opportunities, Environmental and Welsh Language policies
- Relevant permissions for your activity
- Up to five letters of community support
If you are missing a Welsh Language or Environmental policy, start on those now. They are easy to overlook and can hold up a submission.
How to Apply
- Read the full applicant guidance on the WCVA website
- Register on WCVA’s Multipurpose Application Portal (MAP)
- Complete and submit your application online before the deadline
For questions, contact the WCVA Grants Team at phwgrants@wcva.cymru or call 0300 111 0124.
Key Dates
- Deadline: 19 October 2026
- Project period: December 2026 to November 2028
- Year 2 performance review: month 10
