Community groups and voluntary organisations across the Vale of Glamorgan are being encouraged to apply for funding through a new grant scheme designed to strengthen local food initiatives and support people experiencing food insecurity.
Glamorgan Voluntary Services (GVS), in partnership with the Vale of Glamorgan Council, is launching the Improving Access to Food and Advice Grant Scheme, providing funding to help local organisations increase their capacity, improve access to nutritious food and address some of the underlying causes of food poverty.
The scheme offers grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 for revenue costs, and between £1,000 and £5,000 for capital expenditure. Organisations can apply for either or both funding streams, potentially accessing up to £10,000 in total.
Revenue funding can support the development and expansion of community food projects, including food pantries, social supermarkets, community cafés, lunch clubs and community cookery classes. It can also help organisations purchase additional food and essential supplies, increase their capacity to support local people and provide training for volunteers.
Capital funding can be used to purchase equipment such as fridges, freezers and cooking facilities, helping organisations to store and distribute good-quality, nutritious food more effectively. It can also support local food-growing and distribution initiatives.
Importantly, the scheme recognises that tackling food insecurity involves more than simply providing food. Organisations are encouraged to develop preventative approaches, including signposting and access to wider support services such as welfare, money management and housing advice.
The funding aims to strengthen community resilience, promote dignity and inclusion, and help ensure that people can access good-quality food and the wider support they need.
Applications are now open, and the deadline for receipt of completed applications is Friday 4 December 2026.
All applications will be considered by a Grants Panel, with applicants expected to be informed of decisions in early January 2027. All awarded funding must be spent by 31 March 2027.
Organisations involved in community food provision, or those looking to develop new initiatives to improve access to food and advice, are encouraged to find out more and apply.
For further information, please read the guidelines before applying for the grant.
To access the application form, please visit: Improving Access to Food and Advice Grant Scheme
For enquiries, please contact Glamorgan Voluntary Services (GVS), Tel: 01446 741706, E-mail: enquiries@gvs.wales, Website: www.gvs.wales Registered Charity No. 1163193