Swansea Council for Voluntary Service (SwanseaCVS)

At Swansea Council for Voluntary Service, we are the primary umbrella and support organisation for voluntary activity throughout the City & County of Swansea, Wales. Our mission is to champion excellence, empower communities, and strengthen the Third Sector by providing comprehensive resources, strategic representation, and developmental support to local charities, community groups, and individual volunteers.

Who We Are

Operating as a trusted community infrastructure hub in Swansea, we represent and support hundreds of local voluntary organisations, grassroots initiatives, and active citizens. Governed by a dedicated Board of Trustees drawn from the local third sector, our organisation acts as a vital bridge connecting community groups with local government, public health boards, and national policymakers.

What We Do

We deliver an integrated suite of specialist support services, grant initiatives, and community programs:

• Third Sector Support & Governance: Assisting voluntary organisations with charity registration, constitution building, financial management, funding applications, and regulatory compliance.
• Swansea Volunteer Centre: Connecting individuals with diverse local volunteering roles, providing personalised matching, guidance, and coordinating specialised volunteer projects.
• Specialised Community & Wellbeing Projects: Operating targeted health and social schemes—including the Mental Health and Wellbeing Volunteering Project, Transcend (mental health peer mentoring), the Swansea Dementia and Carer Project, and Involve (befriending and mentoring initiatives).
• Youth Empowerment & Grant Giving: Running the Swansea Youth Bank, a youth-led grant-giving panel that assesses and funds community projects developed and managed by young people across Swansea.
• Training & Operational Upskilling: Delivering professional courses and workshops for community groups and volunteers, covering topics such as safeguarding, trustee roles, and the Minibus Drivers Awareness Scheme (MiDAS).
• Sector Representation & Voice: Amplifying the needs, challenges, and insights of local voluntary organisations to local authorities, government bodies, and national networks.

Our Approach & Values

• People-Focused Collaboration: Placing individuals, social inclusion, and active community participation at the core of all decision-making processes.
• Independent & Accountable Guidance: Offering objective, professional, and transparent support to elevate operational standards across the local charity sector.
• Championing Equity & Justice: Committing to equality, diversity, and sustainable community development to build resilient neighbourhoods across Swansea.

Industry Role

We operate as a County Voluntary Council (CVC) and Third Sector Umbrella Body. Our role is to act as the core infrastructure partner for charitable and voluntary activities across Swansea, supplying the guidance, funding advice, and volunteer networks necessary to sustain a thriving community sector.