During February 2026, we opened the second round of the Alun Evans Fund, which celebrates the legacy of our former Chair Alun Evans providing unrestricted (capital and revenue) grant funding to third sector organisations in the Swansea county area. 

The Alun Evans Fund is sustained using the local operator income / central fund contributions generated from Lotto Abertawe ticket sales, and donations from local businesses and individuals. 

A huge thank you to local business ‘People Support Wales’ who boosted this round with a very generous donation. They wanted to give back to the community and support organisations which do so much valuable work in our society.

The new fund is proving to be very popular, with 29 organisations applying. This round 12 groups were successful in their bids for £500:

•    6th Llangyfelach Scout group
•    Anxiety Support Wales CIC
•    C3 Centre for Creativity & Culture CIC
•    Cylch Chwarae Pontarddulais
•    Girls to the Front (GTTF) CIC
•    Llanrhidian Primary Success Trust
•    SimpLee Swim
•    Surfability UK CIC
•    Swansea Asylum Seeker Support
•    The Rising Stars Theatre Company
•    Tiny Swans Preschool
•    Waunarlwydd Community Association

These groups have been successful as they aligned their bids with the values of the fund:

• Ensuring that the voices of those which the project / initiative will support are heard, and that they have input into the design of services that support them.
• Embedding equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) within organisations – opening access, removing barriers and widening participation by those who can often be excluded through physical and societal barriers. 
• A commitment to recognising the essential value that volunteers have within the organisations at all levels.

The panel also appreciated open access to services and organisations that remove barriers and widening participation by those who can often be excluded through physical and societal barriers. 

More information on the successful bids will be included in the next Lotto Abertawe newsletter (contact [email protected] to subscribe).

Applying to future rounds:

The Alun Evans Fund will reopen when the Lotto Abertawe Central Fund reaches £5,000 - You can support Lotto Abertawe today by choosing a cause to support, or sign up as a good cause if you haven’t already. Since launching in July 2024, £49,000 has been raised for local causes.

Boost your cause's fundraising with Lotto Abertawe - Lotto Abertawe

We would especially like to hear from smaller organisations once the next round opens, and encourage them to use the support of the SCVS Development Team during the application process. Whilst we ask for policies, accounts, etc. we can support you if you do not have these documents. Get in touch to find out how we can support your group: [email protected] 

AI – Whilst we don’t prohibit the use of AI in applications, we are seeing an increase in applications where AI has been used extensively, and the application becomes generic,  poor quality and is rejected as a result. You know your group best, and are best able to explain how the fund will benefit your mission in a way which is unique to your organisation.