🌟 GAVO Youth Volunteers Fund 2025–26 – Now Open for Applications!
- Kelly Sullivan
- Jun 2
- 4 min read
GAVO is proud to once again offer funding of up to £2,000 to community and voluntary groups in Newport, Monmouthshire, Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent through the 'Youth Volunteers Fund, supported by the WCVA. This is a youth-led grant designed to inspire young people (aged 14-25) into volunteering and help develop youth-focused community services across Gwent.
📝 Apply Now
Submit your applications by 31st August 2025.
👉 Click here to access the Youth Volunteers Fund Application Form or by using the QR code below.
📧 Need help? Our friendly Youth Volunteering Officers are here to support you- find their contact details here: Volunteering | GAVO
📄 Be sure to check the Funding Guidance Document before applying.
💡 What Can This Grant Support?
To inspire your own ideas, here are some amazing examples of previous youth-led projects across Gwent:
🎉 Llan Fusion Group – Blaenau Gwent
This vibrant group delivered three community parties for children (ages 11 and under) celebrating Welsh culture through St Dwynwen’s Day, St David’s Day, and a recent Easter event. These events created safe, inclusive spaces for children to connect and celebrate.
🚴 The Parish Trust – Caerphilly
Held a Bike Safety Workshop to teach safe cycling. Participants earned certificates and received free helmets – promoting both safety and confidence.
🎾 Caerphilly Tennis Club
Used the fund to support youth leaders through Level 1 Coaching Assistant and Safeguarding Training, ran a Tennis Leader course, and recruited 20 new young volunteers.
🦔 Be Hedgehog Aware Campaign – A Case Study
Written by Chris Irving, GAVO Monmouthshire Youth Volunteering Officer
Dylan initially applied for youth funding which was approved.
With these funds, he was able to purchase t-shirts and hoodies with his project logo on. These were used for his volunteers to wear when out and about at events and giving talks and presentations.
The funds were also used to purchase a projector which Dylan has been using at numerous presentations that he delivers in schools and to other community groups.
Dylan was also awarded 'Volunteer of the Year' at GAVO Monmouthshire Awards Event. Then Dylan was invited the following year to present an award at the MVA event. Dylan has been interviewed on the BBC's One Show and is constantly being interviewed by the media.
Dylan is a true inspiration to anyone thinking about volunteering and continues to make a significant difference in protecting and raising awareness of Hedgehogs.
A wonderful Case Study that shows an example of how the youth-led funding can provide young people with media recognition.
👗 KidCare4U – Newport
This group celebrated cultural diversity through a vibrant Cultural Fashion Show. The success led to a feature in the South Wales Argus and a prestigious invitation to repeat the show at the International Convention Centre Wales (ICC). This youth-led project shows how this funding can provide new opportunities and a recognised platform for young people.
🏏 Newport Girls Cricket Club – Newport
Received funding for winter venue hire, new equipment, and training for a young volunteer coach. Coach Mike Knight shared:
"The Girls winter Coaching Programme was an outstanding success. On behalf of the Girls, I'd like to say a huge thank you for the Cash 4U Grant (now known as the Youth Volunteers Fund), without it, the programme wouldn't have been possible. The Girls and Vinny /Jack really enjoyed the sessions and I'm sure will all benefit from it - a very enjoyable winter for us all".
You can watch a short video interview with the young volunteer who supported this project here: https://youtu.be/Uycms48ICOY
If you would like to learn more about these community groups and the projects they ran, please contact your local Youth Volunteering Officer.
👥 Join the Youth Volunteers Fund Panel!
Help decide where the funding goes in your community! We're always looking for new panel members aged 14-25 to shape the future of volunteering in all 4 areas of Gwent- Monmouthshire, Caerphilly, Newport and Blaenau Gwent.
As a Panel Member, You Will:
Increase the amount of volunteering opportunities for young people
Support creativity, innovation and develop community youth provision
Enable young people to learn new skills, gain experience and build confidence through delivering a project
Benefits of being a panel member:
You will receive training on how to scrutinize project applications and the decision-making processes
You will meet other young changemakers
You will have opportunities to travel and represent GAVO Gwent-wide or even nationally (travel expenses covered)
Here are some photos of previous panel members.
If you would like to be part of this exciting work, please get in touch.
Feeling inspired to recruit young volunteers? Here's a helpful resource outlining the benefits of involving young people as volunteers:
✅ Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible, your group must:
Have a young volunteer aged 14-25.
Have a lead member over the age of 18 OR be supported by an adult that is part of a group.
Be legally constituted with a signed governing document
Have a bank account, in the name of the group, which requires at least two signatures
Be independent of government and private sector
📅 Deadline: 31st August 2025
Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to turn your ideas into impactful community projects!
Let’s empower young people to lead, inspire, and make a difference in their communities.
