The Welsh Charity Awards are back! The awards, organised by WCVA, recognise and celebrate the fantastic contribution charities, community groups, not-for-profits and volunteers make to Wales by highlighting and championing the positive difference we can make to each other’s lives.

Taking part in the Welsh Charity Awards lets you shout about your favourite voluntary organisation or volunteer and gives them the chance of getting some well-earned recognition and a night to remember! Even if they don’t make it to the finals, being nominated for an award shows an organisation or individual that their work is valued and makes a huge difference.

THE CATEGORIES

There are nine categories in this year’s Welsh Charity Awards, including a brand‑new category for 2026:

• Volunteer of the Year (26 and over)
• Young Volunteer of the Year (25 and under)
• Fundraiser of the year
• Champion of diversity
• Use of the Welsh language
• Most influential small organisation
• Health and wellbeing
• Organisation of the year
• Graham Benfield Outstanding Achievement Award (new for 2026, honouring individuals who have made an exceptional and lasting impact on the voluntary sector in Wales)

 TAKING PART

Making a nomination is easy, simply visit the Welsh Charity Awards website and, read the rules and complete the online form.

The deadline for nominations is 30 June 2026. For more information and to nominate, visit www.welshcharityawards.cymru.

21st May 2026, 10am-12pm

Town Centre Hub, 3 Newmarket Walk, Merthyr Tydfil , CF47 8EL

The Cwm Taf Morgannwg Regional Partnership is exploring what meaningful engagement and involvement looks like in practice – what supports it to happen, and where the barriers may be.

This workshop focuses on how people experience being valued, heard and understood within the system, and what helps engagement feel worthwhile.

We would like insights from this work to support the development of a clear and consistent regional pathway for co-production, showing the different ways people can get involved and influence decisions.

Purpose of activity

We want to hear from people with dementia and their carers about what helps them feel heard, valued and respected when sharing their experiences.

How to get involved

We will be undertaking a closed group activity, and would value if people could register their interest in advance so we can stay in touch afterwards.

Please register here.

Together with WCVA and BCT, New Local are working to develop a framework for a communities policy for Wales. As part of this, we’re running a series of engagement sessions for voluntary and community sector partners, public sector partners, County Voluntary Councils and infrastructure organisations to help us create a compelling set of findings and recommendations for policy makers working locally and nationally across Wales.

During these sessions, we’ll reflect with participants on current practice and learning on current practice and learning and take a deep dive into our early findings, helping us both build on and step beyond current approaches.

Drawing on the collective experience and expertise of participants, these sessions will offer an opportunity to help identify what it would take to turn the vision of a future communities policy into a practical reality.     

If you’re  part of a voluntary or community sector organisation in Wales, you can register your attendance for one of two online sessions by filling in the form below. 

Tuesday 2^nd June at 2pm

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/l0I1gT-dRl-wXQ4LZv1QcQ#/registration

Friday 5^th June at 10am

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/mxA11dbsQHCUPW4cMGCcVw#/registration

Group B Safeguarding Training is designed for anyone who comes into contact with adults, children and families who may be at risk of harm. It explains the basics of safeguarding and what to do if you need to report on to Social Services and/or the Police. 

It's taking place on :-

Tuesday 9^th June 2026 -  9:30 to  4:30

at the Voluntary Action Merthyr Tydfil, Voluntary Action Centre, 89-90 High Street, Pontmorlais, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8UH.

This training is specifically for Voluntary and Charity organisations.

To book your FREE place on the training contact karen.vowles@vamt.net