The CABWI Charity is offering grants to support young people aged 16+ and adults to gain additional skills and confidence to enter the labour market and develop their careers, throughout the UK.

We are looking for projects that work with individuals who face complex barriers to employment, enabling them to move closer or into apprenticeships and jobs. Projects must offer life skills, employability support, new qualifications, work experience, and training.

In line with our heritage, we are also keen to support projects with a particular focus on the water, utilities, and construction industries

Projects can bid for up to £40,000 subject to eligibility requirements.

The next round of funding will open on Monday 5 January 2026. For more information please visit the website www.cabwi.org.uk

We will be hosting a webinar to outline the application process on Wednesday 7 January 2026 at 10:30-11:15 am.  To register and receive a link, send an email with “webinar” in the heading to grants@cabwi.org.uk

CABWI 6 Bevis Marks London EC3A 7BA registered charity 1157706 registered company 02638349

🎅 Don’t miss out on a sleigh-load of extra donations this season - sign up to easyfundraising for free, and get daily chances to win £100 or £200 donations for your organisation this Christmas! 🎁

Simply search for the Christmas Cracker on easyfundraising’s site each day from 8–21 December for your chance to win festive funding for your organisation.

✨ Join easyfundraising to take part:

https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/merthyr-tydfil

WCVA have now launched a new free Partnership offer for the voluntary sector in Wales — replacing the old paid membership model with an open, values-led community for all working within or alongside the sector.

There are two ways to get involved:

• Voluntary Sector Partner– for voluntary organisations in Wales
• Affiliate Partner– for public and private sector organisations and individuals who share WCVA’s values and want to stay connected to the sector

Partners enjoy discounts on WCVA training and gofod3 events, monthly policy updates, and opportunities to take part in forums and campaigns — all free of charge.

You can find out more and apply here https://wcva.cymru/become-a-partner

Our colleagues at WCVA have invited VAMT members to join them on Human Rights Day, 10 December, for an online information / mini-training and question and answer session on Understanding Human Rights in Wales.

The session will cover:

• The additional benefits that incorporation of international human rights law into Welsh law brings
• How incorporation works
• What is progressive realisation and how it works
• How use of maximum available resources works
• How law and policy can be used to ensure everyday rights for everyone in practice
• Lots of time for questions from participants

This session will be held through the medium of English.

We welcome any voluntary sector or civil society organisation in Wales to attend this free session. You do not need to be a human rights expert or working on human rights issues specifically to attend.

Date: 10 December 2025

Time: 1 pm to 3 pm

Venue: Online (Zoom)

Please register by clicking the link here: https://luma.com/3utfk68z

If you’re unable to register online or have any questions please email ehicks@wcva.cymru

New Horizons is seeking to work with trusted community organisations in supporting the mental and emotional wellbeing needs.

In addition to our Recovery College courses we have more recently been trialling Virtual Reality courses working with Arts Factory  - see the ITV news item: 

https://www.itv.com/watch/news/virtual-reality-headset-project-offers-a-new-way-to-support-mental-health/hvnjlbj?brid=xMiSn_6rlVgvfpYkJf1H-w

We are looking to expand this and other work in communities so we're now asking people to complete a 5-minute survey online survey telling us their views on demand/needs and support they know about and what they might like to see offered:

https://forms.office.com/e/XSNx7PV6ju

Closing date is Friday December 19^th