A grant to encourage and support people in standing for election in Wales.
Contents
What funding is available?
£200,000 is being made available, per year, to support candidates standing for election in Wales. The funding is to benefit candidates from underrepresented groups.
About the grant
Our ‘Programme for Government’ includes an aim to “Celebrate diversity and move to eliminate inequality in all of its forms”.
This grant supports our aim to remove barriers that prevent citizens from standing for elected office.
We aim to fund a range of organisations to ensure all groups can be reached. We will also be looking to ensure a geographic spread. The grant panel will consider value for money in their decision making.
Who can apply for the grant?
- Welsh based organisations that are registered with The Charity Commission
- 'Not-for-profit' organisations
We welcome applications that propose partnership and collaborative working. There should be one lead applicant who will act as the grant holder and data controller.
We will not accept applications from any organisation with a party-political affiliation. The scheme will not provide funding directly to individuals seeking elected office.
Required criteria
Successful applicants will join a Welsh Government discussion forum. The forum will meet on a regular basis.
Successful applicants will provide an evaluation at the end of the grant term.
How to apply
Apply by completing the application form.
You can submit extra information you consider useful in support of your application. This can be project plans, communication plans, organisational and relationship diagrams.
Email your completed application to: Etholiadau.Elections@gov.wales
We will write to the lead applicant of each application of the outcome.
Timeline and further information
The grant application window will be open for 4 weeks. Bids for funding must be received during the application window.
Following the closure of the application window, our Welsh Government officials will meet to assess bids. Organisations will then be informed of the decision as well as next steps.
Dates and key information for consideration:
- 26/09/2025: grant application window opens
- 24/10/2025: grant application window closes
- 10/11/2025: applications assessed by officials