Business support grants provide financial lifeline to struggling charities

The Welsh Government’s business support grant scheme has provided vital support to thousands of small charities in the retail, leisure and hospitality sector, Finance Minister Rebecca Evans has announced.

Since its introduction in May, the scheme has awarded grants worth £10k to thousands of charity run shops, sports premises and community centres across Wales to help them respond to the financial challenges of the coronavirus crisis.

Abertillery RFC, a community sports club in Blaenau Gwent, was one of the many clubs to welcome this much-needed financial support.

At the start of lockdown Abertillery RFC was facing a very uncertain future. With the club closed and fees frozen the rugby club’s revenue came to a stop overnight, leaving them struggling to pay bills and overheads. But thanks to the help provided by the Welsh Government’s grant scheme, the club survived the early lockdown period and is now looking forward to a much brighter and stable future.

Abertillery RFC Club Secretary Rhys Davies said:

“We cannot thank the Welsh Government enough for the support we received through the business support grant scheme. Before we heard about the help available we were facing some difficult decisions around the club’s future.

“The grant has provided us with a much-needed lifeline, giving us the time to reflect and start putting in place plans to turn our club into a much-loved facility that is at the heart of our community and one that we can be proud of.”

Finance Minister, Rebecca Evans said:

“I am pleased that our scheme has provided charities and sports clubs with the vital funds they need to help them manage the financial pressures they are facing as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

“We recognise the huge contribution this sector makes to the wellbeing of Wales, its people and communities and I am pleased that we were able to provide support at a time when it was needed the most.”