Wales

PATHWAYS OUT OF POVERTY

Poverty continues to be a deep-rooted and urgent challenge across Wales, affecting
individuals and families in both urban and rural communities. As the cost-of-living
crisis persists and public services face mounting pressures, many households are
grappling with rising prices, insecure employment, and a welfare system that often
fails to meet basic needs.

In the face of this growing crisis, charities and community groups are playing an
increasingly vital role. As statutory support shrinks and demand for help rises, these
organisations step in to provide immediate relief and long-term solutions. They offer
hope, dignity and practical pathways out of poverty—rooted in local knowledge and
built on trust. Backing this work is not only a moral imperative; it is an essential
investment in the resilience and fairness of Welsh society.

The Pathways out of Poverty grant fund supports local, grassroots organisations
tackling the root causes and everyday realities of poverty within their communities.
Recognising poverty as complex and multi-dimensional, the fund prioritises
charities deeply embedded in their communities offering multiple interventions which tackle both the symptoms and underlying causes of poverty.

Applications are invited from charities offering a broad range of services that support
people to navigate their way out of poverty. This might include access to food and
essentials, clothing support, welfare benefits advice, debt counselling, employment
support, skills training and digital inclusion. Recognising that progress rarely comes
from a single intervention, we will not be accepting applications for a single
provision, the fund is aimed at organisations delivering wraparound support or
working collaboratively with others to ensure no one falls through the cracks.

Strong applications will demonstrate:

• Multiple interventions that reflect the complexity of poverty
• A holistic, person-centred approach to support
• Collaboration with other services and organisations to prevent people falling through the cracks
• A strong understanding of local context and need
• Clear evidence of impact, with a focus on improved outcomes for the people you support