MS, Cabinet Secretary for
Health and Social Care and MS, Minister for Children and
Social Care: We are pleased to announce that our Sustainable
Social Services Third Sector and Key Third Sector Organisation
Grants have been extended into 2025-26, maintaining this annual
investment of over £10 million into the social care sector.
This funding enables an extensive and diverse range of social
care delivery across Wales, like the Women Connect “Lets Age
Well” project which empowers ethnic women who may be vulnerable,
disadvantaged or isolated to access a wide range of activities
from healthy ageing exercise classes to learning English as a
second language – benefiting their mental and physical
wellbeing.
It helps organisations such as Wales Council of the Blind and the
Royal National Institute of Blind People Cymru provide advice,
confidence and skills to people with sight loss, helping them
access support services and make vital practical changes to their
lives and environment. This funding, as well as assisting other
key organisations to support families and people across Wales,
also helps people with autism gain sustainable peer support by
accessing the experience and expertise of the National Autistic
Society, while Whizz Kidz ‘Moving On,' enhances life satisfaction
for young wheelchair users through sports and movement
programs.
The one-year extension into 2025-26, at current funding levels,
will allow for a managed exit from current grant arrangements
towards a new, simplified more responsive process in 2026-27. We
will consider and identify priorities for innovation and delivery
and liaise with third sector partners to develop a range of new
projects leading to implementation of replacement arrangements
taking effect from 1 April 2026
We are pleased to secure this vital funding for another year and
look forward to the development of new, forward facing delivery
proposals fit for the future social care needs of
Wales.
