24th Feb 2025
Reading Time: 5 minutes
All our readers across Wales (and the Welsh people living elsewhere of course), will today be donning their traditional dress, eating Welsh Cakes and Cawl and celebrating all that it is to be Welsh. Why? Because it’s St David’s Day!
In honour of all of our beautiful countrymen we have done a round up of all the grants and funding, only available to Welsh people. Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus.
EDUCATION
University fees
There are alot of schemes in place to make studying in Wales affordable for Welsh people.
Undergraduates from Wales have a generous package of student living cost support. For 2025, maintenance support has increased by 9.4% – in line with the National Living Wage. When you begin to repay your student loan, you can get up to £1,500 knocked off your debt.
To find out more click here.
Pupil Development Grant
The website states that “Families with children in reception to year 11 on lower incomes and get certain benefits can apply for:
- £125 per learner and extra funding for your school.
- £200 for learners entering year 7 (to help with increased costs associated with starting secondary school) and extra funding for your schoo
Parents and carers can claim once per child per school year.
We also encourage local authorities to use their discretion to provide the grant to children whose parents or carers are not entitled to public funds.
Receiving the School Essentials Grant will not affect your tax or other benefits.
What the grant is for
The School Essentials Grant can help cover the costs of:
- school uniform, including coats and shoes
- school activities, including learning a musical instrument, sports kit and other equipment for after school activities
- classroom essentials, including pens, pencils and school bags
For further information on eligibility or the application process, please contact the local authority where your child goes to school.
The School Essentials Grant opened on 1 July 2024 and will close on 31 May 2025.
For more information click here.
RUDBAXTON PARISH EDUCATION
The Rudbaxton Education Fund gives grants to individuals under the age of 25 who live in the parish of Rudbuxton in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Grants are available to support students with the costs of materials, equipments, activities and trips, as well as the general costs of higher education. Some of the grants given may include bursaries, travel costs to your place of education and in some circumstances, course fees.
Find out more here.
Student finance
Thinking of going to University? Don’t let money get in the way of your goals. You may be eligible for student finance to support you through your studies.
Find out more here.
General
The Discretionary Assistance Fund provides 2 types of grant that you do not need to pay back. These 2 types are:
- Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP) – helps to pay for essential costs such as food, gas, electricity, clothing or emergency travel.
- Individual Assistance Payment (IAP) – helping you or someone you care for to live independently in their home or a property you or they are moving into.
For more information, click here.
cost of living support
Local authorities are giving residents a range of support as the cost of living continues to increase. It differs geographically, so you will need to use the Welsh Government’s website to search your postcode or select your local authority from a list.
Find out more here.
UNIVERSAL CREDIT
If you are on Universal Credit, you can also get other forms of support. You may be able to get a budgeting advance, if you have been receiving UC for 6 months or more. This is to help pay for emergency household costs, however you will be required to pay this back through deductions on your regular UC payments.
You will also be able to receive support from food banks, and emergency top-ups from your energy supplier should you not be able to pay for energy. However, any emergency top ups will need to be paid back through your meter.
WELSH WATER ASSISTANCE FUND
The Customer Assistance Fund is designed to help those in severe financial hardship to clear debt and get on top of their payments. If you are in arrears with Welsh Water, this could help you.
housing
homelessness
If you are homeless, or fear you may become homeless, you can find lots of support and information to help you. Local authorities must help people who could lose their home or are homeless. They can help you find a home. They work with other support organisations that can help people keep their homes or find a new one.
Find out about the support in your area here.
adapting your home
If you are an older person or have a disability, you may be eligible for the ENABLE scheme, which gives support to those living independently. You can receive small, medium and large adaptations to your home, depending on your level of need.
Small adaptations include small ramps, stair rails and accessible taps. Medium adaptations may be those such as walk-in showers or chair lifts. If you need a building extension or moving bathroom or kitchen, this would count as a large adaptation.
Find out more about this support here.
THE ARTS
Books Council Wales
The Advances/Fees to Authors and Illustrators Scheme enables publishers in Wales to commission
books of wide appeal which will help them to increase sales, target new markets and develop their
future publishing programmes as a whole.
To learn more click here.
Literature Wales Events Funding
Literature Wales’ Inspiring Communities Fund funding scheme (formerly Writers on Tour) is a unique funding scheme for literature events.
The scheme offers financial support of up to 50% of the fees paid to writers for events including talks, lectures, creative writing workshops and more. These events can take place anywhere in Wales, in community halls, pubs, libraries, schools, youth clubs – and even on virtual platforms for groups who are meeting online.
Click here for more info.
Creative Wales
Creative Wales is an agency set up within Welsh Government in early 2020.
Their mission is “to drive growth across the creative industries, build on existing success and develop new talent and skills – positioning Wales as one of the best places for creative businesses to locate and thrive.”
For funding opportunities in all creative sectors click here.
Ffilm Cymru
Ffilm Cymru offer funding and training supports emerging and established filmmakers to realise their creative ambitions, gives audiences across Wales access to exciting cinematic experiences, and inspires people of all ages and abilities to participate in film education.
For more info click here.