Before applying, there are some basic requirements that your organisation should meet. Consider these essentials before applying:

1. A governing document, such as a Constitution

   This document should set out the name and purpose of your organisation, together with how it is run and how decisions are made. If you need help drafting a governing document, contact our local voluntary sector council, Medrwn Môn.

2. Committee or Board with Related Members

   Your committee or board must include at least two unrelated members. 'Relatives' means individuals who are not members of the same family, such as parents and children, brothers and sisters, married couples or civil partners, or individuals who live at the same address.

   This helps to ensure sound governance arrangements and independent decision making.

3. A bank account in the organisation's name

   Your organisation must have a bank account in its own name, as set out in your governing document.

   There should be at least two authorised signatories, who are not related, on the account.

4. Historical grants with the charity

   Before applying, please ensure that your organisation has no active grants or unspent funds from previous grants received from this charity.

   Although applications can be made on an annual basis, each new application must demonstrate a change, development or significantly different proposition. This ensures accountability and helps us make the best use of our limited resources.

Not sure if you are eligible to apply?

Contact us by emailing post@elusennol.org, and we will be happy to help you.

Our funding can support a wide range of charitable activity on Ynys Môn. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Community amenities and facilities, such as playgrounds and community spaces

• Training and development that supports people into skilled or semi-skilled employment, trades or professions

• Work that supports the health and wellbeing of people living on the island

• Societies and voluntary organisations providing sporting, recreational or leisure activities

• Schools, playgroups and places of worship that serve their local communities

• The arts, including festivals, museums, galleries and libraries

• Educational activity and research that benefits the wider community

• The protection and safeguarding of the natural environment and countryside

• The preservation and conservation of buildings or land of aesthetic, historical, architectural or scientific interest

This list is intended to be illustrative rather than exhaustive. All applications are considered in line with our charitable purposes and current funding priorities.

Types of Funding We Can Offer

We welcome applications for a range of funding needs, including:

• Capital costs, such as building works, repairs or improvements

• Revenue costs, including project delivery and staffing

• Running costs, where appropriate within the relevant grant stream

For capital projects, we normally require two quotations for the proposed works to demonstrate value for money.

For revenue or running cost requests, applicants should provide a clear breakdown of the costs they are seeking support for. Where funding is requested for ongoing costs, we may also ask for information about costs incurred in the most recent financial year, to help us understand financial sustainability and operational need.

This information supports proportionate and informed decision-making and helps ensure our funding is used effectively.

A Note on Demand and Decision-Making

In most years, we receive more applications than we are able to fund. Trustees must therefore make difficult decisions and can only support those projects that most closely align with our charitable purpose, funding priorities and available resources.

An unsuccessful application does not necessarily reflect the quality of your work.

We are unable to fund the following:

• Political parties or activity that supports a political party

• Party-political campaigning or lobbying

• Non-charitable activity or activity that does not deliver public benefit

• Any project that does not comply with charity law

• Lobbying campaigns or activity intended to influence legislation or public policy in a way that is not compatible with charitable status

• The purchase of vehicles

• Consumable items, such as clothing, sports kits, food or refreshments

• Organisations whose primary purpose is to award grants to others

Who Cannot Apply

We are unable to accept applications from:

• Individuals

• Sole traders

• Companies limited by shares

• Organisations based outside the UK, or organisations that do not operate for the benefit of communities on Ynys Môn

• One organisation applying on behalf of another

We are a place-based funder, committed to strengthening the social fabric of Ynys Môn. Our funding supports the community spaces, relationships, services and early interventions that help people to thrive.

We recognise that smaller, locally rooted organisations often deliver the most meaningful change. Our approach prioritises community-led work, early action, and the essential services that communities rely on every day.

We strongly encourage applicants to read our Applicant Guidance before applying, which explains how we assess applications, what we look for in each grant stream, and how to submit a strong, proportionate application.

For 2025–26, we offer two grant streams.

1. Community Prevention Grants

Funding range: £300 to £50,000
(Grants above £50,000 will only be considered in exceptional circumstances)

Community Prevention Grants support work that addresses challenges early, before they escalate. This funding is designed to strengthen resilience, improve wellbeing and create the conditions for long-term positive change within communities.

We prioritise projects that:

• Respond to clearly identified local need

• Are shaped by the community they serve

• Support early intervention or preventative action

• Build connection, confidence and stability

• Create lasting benefit beyond the funding period

We are less interested in scale for its own sake, and more interested in significance: work that makes a meaningful difference for people and places on Ynys Môn.

Application process

• Applications up to £10,000
  Applicants complete a full application form. You can download the full list of questions here.

• Applications over £10,000
  The process begins with an Expression of Interest (EOI).
  If your EOI is successful, you will be invited to progress to the next stage, which includes a site visit and further discussion about your project. A report will then be prepared by a Member of staff for Trustees to discuss at their next full meeting.

This staged approach helps reduce unnecessary workload for applicants and allows us to understand projects properly in their local context.

2. Essential Grants

Funding range: Up to £5,000

Essential Grants support the core costs that keep community spaces and services running. These grants are designed to protect what communities rely on day to day, particularly during periods of pressure or uncertainty.

This funding can support:

• Running costs such as utilities, insurance and basic maintenance

• Essential repairs or small upgrades to community buildings

• Core operational costs needed to keep services open and accessible

The focus of this stream is continuity, not growth. Essential Grants exist to help sustain the foundations of community life on Ynys Môn.

Eligibility note on reserves: We will not consider applications from organisations holding more than 12 months of unrestricted operating reserves.

This ensures our limited resources are directed to organisations with genuine financial need and reflects good practice in responsible grantmaking.

Application process

Essential Grants use a single-stage application process, focused on:

• How the space or service is used

• Who benefits from it

• Why the funding is needed now

• How costs are managed responsibly

You can download the full list of questions here.

What We Do Not Fund

While full details are set out in the tab above, in general we do not fund:

• Costs already incurred

• Activity that does not benefit communities on Ynys Môn

• Projects that fall outside the purpose of the relevant grant stream

Timetable

Grant applications are open on a rolling basis throughout the year.

We temporarily close to applications between 1 August and 30 September to process existing applications and prepare for the next funding cycle. Applications submitted close to this period may experience delays.

As a guide, applications are normally reviewed within 12 weeks, although this may vary depending on the number and size of applications received.

Additional Information

• Multi-year funding
  Trustees may consider multi-year funding, particularly for Community Prevention projects, where this supports stability and long-term impact.
  Single projects with a total value above £50,000 will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.

• No fixed deadlines
  Although there are no set deadlines, we encourage applicants to apply well before the end of July to avoid delays around the annual closure.

If you have questions or would like to discuss whether your project is a good fit, please contact us at post@elusennol.org.

All applications are reviewed by our Board of Trustees.

We assess applications against clear criteria that reflect the purpose of each grant stream, including impact, community engagement and sustainability.

Full details of our assessment approach, including criteria and weightings, are set out in our Applicant Guidance.

Details of all successful grant applications can be accessed from the links below:

• Grants approved 2024-25

• Grants approved 2023-24

• Grants approved 2022-23

• Grants approved 2021-22

• Grants approved 2020-21

• Grants approved 2019-20

We aim to be as transparent as possible about our grant-making. To further our commitment, we hope to publish all of our grant-making data on 360Giving in the near future.