Agenda item

Future Funding for Urdd Gobaith Cymru and Anglesey Young Farmers

To submit a report by the Treasurer in relation to the above.

Minutes:

Having declared a personal interest Ms Llinos M Huws, Bob Parry OBE FRAgS and Nicola Roberts left the meeting during discussion on the matter.

 

Mr Aled Morris Jones declared a personal interest in the discussion as regards to the Anglesey Young Farmers but following legal advice he was able to take part during discussion but not propose nor vote as regards to the matter.

 

Submitted – a report by the Treasurer in relation to the above.

 

The Treasurer reported that in June 2014, the Trust resolved to award the Urdd an annual grant of £40k and to award the Anglesey Young Farmers’ an annual grant of £30k both for a 5 year period.  He noted that up until 2016, the Trust awarded grants through its Small Grants allocation with grants up to £8,000 although it had awarded larger grants to a number of other organisations on an ad-hoc basis, with applications assessed on their own merits with no consideration of any other potential applications.   Both the Urdd and Anglesey Young Farmers had received their grant funding through this ad-hoc process.  The Charitable Trust in 2017 resolved to introduce a larger grants process with funding of these grants from the growth in the capital value of the portfolio; this also reduced the demand to fund grants in their entirety from the annual revenue income generated.  The Trust also at its meeting in December 2017 resolved that applications from organisations that have previously received funding within the last 5 years can be considered as part of the larger grants process, but only when all other applications have been considered and funding remains unallocated.   Applications have been invited from organisations for large grants with a deadline for receiving applications at 25 January, 2019, and the applications will be considered by the Regeneration Committee at its meeting to be held on 13 February, 2019.  Despite this formal structured process being in place since 2017, the Trust has awarded a grant to the Menter Môn Leader project and pupils from Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni outside the annual large grant process.  In addition the Trust has resolved in principle to award a grant to the Anglesey Island Games Association to assist them with funding the hosting of the Island Games in 2025. 

 

At the meeting of the full Trust on 12 December, 2018, where the funding of both the Urdd and Anglesey Young Farmers were discussed, members of the Trust accepted that both organisations are paramount in affording young people opportunities to take part in competitions and activities, however it was also considered that all organisations should be dealt equally as part of the grant awarding process.  As noted within the report three options were outlined within the report in dealing with the funding applications from both the Urdd and Anglesey Young Farmers. 

 

Most Members of the Trust considered that both organisations needs to be considered outside the annual large grant process as they afford opportunities to young people and are paramount in securing and promoting the Welsh language within their activities.  Some Members, whilst fully supporting both organisations, considered that all organisations should be dealt with equally as part of the larger grant awarding process. 

 

Following deliberations it was RESOLVED:-

 

·      That the Urdd and Anglesey Young Farmers be dealt with outside the annual large grant process;

·      That representatives from both organisations be invited to present their applications before the full Charitable Trust to be held in April, 2019 and to give an insight of the work achieved with the funding received over the last 5 years.

 

(Mr Dylan Rees abstained from voting).

 

 

Supporting documents: