Supporting our communities
Working together in the communities we’re powering-up.
Clubs, groups and everything in-between
Employing people locally, we’re investing around £5million in each town we bring full fibre connectivity to – helping to level up our rural towns, villages, and communities, readying Wales for the future. On top of all that, we’re supporting our communities’ grassroots, backing a wide range of local groups, from sports clubs and coffee mornings to radio stations and everything in-between.
We also support a range of local clubs, teams and groups who are all playing a part locally in their towns and villages. From Blackwood Cricket and Maesteg Rugby Clubs, to Potskewet AFC and Bro Radio, you’ll see Ogi on jerseys, dotted around stadiums and even on the airwaves!
Supporting just about anything that get's people off their screens
Our community fund ‘Cefnogi’ (meaning support in Welsh) offers micro-grants to a range of local groups and community organisations in our full fibre towns and villages.
Applications for Cefnogi funding are now open!
If you think your project fits the bill and you’re looking for some funding, apply for a grant. But hurry, the deadline to submit your application is 2 May at 11.59pm.
*Cefnogi [kev-no-gee]verb ~ to encourage; support; endorse; second.
Your questions answered
We’ll accept applications to the fund twice a year.
Applications received after the advertised closing date will not be accepted for shortlisting and will need to be resubmitted when the fund reopens.
We aim to get back to all applicants the month after your application is submitted (although it may take longer during busy periods, we will always provide an outcome).
Who can apply?
At the moment, we are only able to support:
- Town/Parish Councils
- Formally Constituted Groups
- Community Groups/Associations
- Social Enterprises
- Community Interest Companies
- Community Benefit Societies
We are only able to support projects in the areas we operate in. See our Ogi communities page for the full list.
What do I need to include in my application?
To be eligible for a grant, your activity needs to:
- Fit the theme of this round, ‘Getting Offline’.
- Be community led i.e., a project led or supported by local people.
- Make effective use of local resources such as volunteers or community spaces.
- Be community-centric and have a clear local benefit.
- Be based in an Ogi community and benefit local people directly.
- Evidence safeguarding procedures if working with children and/ or vulnerable adults and mandatory DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks in place for anybody working with these groups.
Successful grant recipients are expected to:
- Spend funds within 12 weeks of being received with evidence provided to Ogi following the activity.
- Promote the funding award using their group social media pages – tagging Ogi wherever possible – and or any project website or newsletters on accepting the grant and before funds are paid.
How much funding to you offer to each project?
We are offering around £500, but if your organisation needs a little more, don’t be put off from applying – let’s talk! Volunteering opportunities might be awarded along with/or instead of funding.
While the grant can be used to part-fund a wide range of activities, we like to see the impact our support is having. As such, we prefer for our grant to equal around 50% of the total cost of the activity or project.
What can the fund support?
This round of Cefnogi funding is all about getting offline – encouraging people to step away from screens and connect with their communities.
Here are just a few ideas of what we can support:
Environmental and sustainability projects – Whether it’s community gardens, litter-picking groups, or conservation projects, we’re keen to support initiatives that help people connect with nature while making a difference.
You know your community best, and we welcome applications from projects supporting all kinds of people, including young people, families, older adults, members of minority communities, refugees and asylum seekers, and disabled people.
What can't the fund support?
Grants can’t go towards any of the following at the moment:
- Overall sports club sponsorships (but we can fund activity).
- Activities that promote political or religious beliefs.
- Feasibility studies.
- Individuals, groups, or activities based outside our rollout areas.
- Funding for activities that have already happened.
- Applications from private sector businesses or statutory organisations.
- Activities that will only benefit a small number of people.
- Payment for salaries or for an individual’s time on a project.
- Rent/ rental costs or maintenance projects of buildings/premises.
- One off activity that does not provide opportunities for learning, development, community engagement and/or sustainability.