WALES COUNCIL FOR VOLUNTARY ACTION

Registered charity 218093 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as THE COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE FOR WALES (INC), THE COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE FOR WALES AND MONMOUTHSHIRE INC), THE WALES COUNCIL FOR VOLUNTARY ACTION, WCVA

Latest income
£36.6m
Latest spending
£34.6m
Registered
1963
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity generated a net income of £1.99 million for the year ended 31 March 2025, resulting in total unrestricted reserves of £13.0 million. Per the trustees' report, the organisation maintains a prudent financial strategy with significant designated reserves to ensure long-term stability and sustainability. The auditor confirmed that the financial statements give a true and fair view and that there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.

What the accounts disclose

Highest-paid employee band: £100,001 - £110,000 — below the median for charities its size (£125k)
£100,000 – £109,999 1
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: level that ensures WCVA’s core activity could continue should a major funder reduce or remove its funding and that a proportion of reserves be maintained in a readily realisable form (held: £13.0m)
The trustees have set a policy which requires that reserves be maintained at a level that ensures WCVA’s core activity could continue should a major funder reduce or remove its funding and that a proportion of reserves be maintained in a readily realisable form.
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Grants awarded to bodies where Trustees have direct control or significant influence.
Grants and Procurement Contracts awarded to bodies where Trustees either have direct control or significant influence have been disclosed within note 8. — page 169
Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations Edward Watts 899,760
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations received £899,760; Edward Watts is a trustee.
Grants and Procurement Contracts awarded to bodies where Trustees either have direct control or significant influence have been disclosed within note 8. — page 169
Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations Edward Watts 899,760
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Children in Wales received £88,023; Menai Owen-Jones is a trustee.
Grants and Procurement Contracts awarded to bodies where Trustees either have direct control or significant influence have been disclosed within note 8. — page 169
Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations Edward Watts 899,760
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Ceredigion Association of Voluntary Organisations received £258,678; Callum Jones is a trustee.
Grants and Procurement Contracts awarded to bodies where Trustees either have direct control or significant influence have been disclosed within note 8. — page 169
Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations Edward Watts 899,760
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: All Wales Forum received £3,934; Kate Young is a trustee.
Grants and Procurement Contracts awarded to bodies where Trustees either have direct control or significant influence have been disclosed within note 8. — page 169
Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations Edward Watts 899,760
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: Cynnal Cymru – Sustain Wales Ltd
Cynnal Cymru – Sustain Wales Ltd Trading
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Bevan Buckland LLP.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)

Total income
£36.6m
Total spending
£34.6m
Cost of raising funds
£671k
Reserves (reported)
£13.0m
Employees
79

Reported reserves equal ~4.5 months of spending — below the median for charities its size (median 4.6 months; benchmarks).

Trustees

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Throughout Wales

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/03/2025£36.6m£34.6m
31/03/2024£33.2m£29.3m
31/03/2023£35.0m£33.2m
31/03/2022£39.0m£35.5m
31/03/2021£51.0m£49.7m

Common questions

Is WALES COUNCIL FOR VOLUNTARY ACTION financially healthy?

The accounts state that the charity generated a net income of £1.99 million for the year ended 31 March 2025, resulting in total unrestricted reserves of £13.0 million. Per the trustees' report, the organisation maintains a prudent financial strategy with significant designated reserves to ensure long-term stability and sustainability. The auditor confirmed that the financial statements give a true and fair view and that there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Bevan Buckland LLP.

What does the highest-paid employee of WALES COUNCIL FOR VOLUNTARY ACTION earn?

Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £100,001 - £110,000 band.

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

FunderDateAmountPurpose
The National Lottery Heritage Fund13/12/2018£250k"Catalyst Cymru: Building heritage capacity"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund29/03/2018£10k"Enhanced Heritage of Wales Research Project"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund24/11/2017£10k"Heritage of Wales Research Project"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund21/05/2013£632k"Giving the past a future – sustainable heritage in Wales"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund04/07/2005£457"A Project To Commemorate The Events Leading To The End Of Ww2 With The Recording Of Peoples Memories And Experiences Of The War Throughout A"

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

FunderSimilar charities fundedAmount to them
WOLVERHAMPTON LGBT+1£149

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