Last month, we held a Funding Fair.
The event welcomed social entrepreneurs, social enterprises, and community organisations into our beautiful Idris Room at Urban HQ Swansea (our venue).
The Funding Fair was sponsored by Julie James MS and organised in partnership with SCVS in direct response to people asking for an event that would make funding easier to understand and access.
The funding event brought together over 50 attendees – a mix of start-ups, social entrepreneurs, and established third sector organisations – to meet and talk directly with funders.
It was a huge success, and the room was buzzing with ideas, advice, and opportunity.
Removing the complexity around funding for start-ups and social enterprises in Wales
We wanted to remove some of the complexity and confusion that can surround funding, especially for pre start-ups.
For someone at the beginning of their journey, applying for funding can feel daunting and even prohibitive – so our aim was to make it approachable, practical, and useful.
This aligns with Urban Foundry’s mission to support purpose driven entrepreneurs to create social and economic impact across Wales, helping them access the resources they need to do well.
Why social enterprise funding support matters in Wales
The need for accessible start-up funding events in Wales is greater than ever.
“In a challenging economic landscape, starting up a business can be daunting so it’s really important that there is clear guidance and access to funding advice from trusted sources.”
Having so many funding specialists in one place meant people could compare opportunities, ask questions, and get real, specific advice for their projects.
The event began with a breakfast session, ‘What to ask a funder’, helping attendees prepare for their conversations.
One participant told us:
“I am so glad I went to that session – otherwise I would have spoken to the funders in the wrong way. I learned to talk about the impact of my business, not just describe it. It gave me confidence to ask the right questions.”
Real outcomes
Attendees left with a clearer understanding of their next steps and, in some cases, had already submitted funding applications by the end of the day:
“The fair significantly helped me see what kind of funding opportunities were available and relevant for my project. I’ve already submitted an application as a direct result.”
“Meeting the funders face-to-face was completely different from just sending an application online. It felt open, welcoming, and gave me a real sense of direction.”
“I didn’t think I’d enjoy networking, but I came home with so many contacts and a better understanding of what’s possible for my business.”
“Having multiple funding specialists in one place helped me build a clearer picture of what my project could be, based on expert advice from so many different sources.”
Positive feedback from funders
Funders praised the quality of conversations, the welcoming atmosphere, and the opportunity to network with other organisations in Swansea:
“The atmosphere on the day was excellent. We had some great conversations and are hopeful they’ll lead to future collaborations.”
“It was great to have such a busy event with so many funders and interested attendees in one place – the morning session on what to ask funders was a brilliant idea.”
Urban Foundry’s commitment to supporting social enterprises
We are committed to hosting quality, meaningful events that create real impact – from funding fairs to networking events that connect social entrepreneurs with the people and organisations that can help them grow.
This Funding Fair was a perfect example of that commitment. A space where the right people, conversations, and opportunities came together to make things happen.
Funders who took part
Arts Council Wales – www.arts.wales
Banc – www.developmentbank.wales
The King’s Trust – www.kingstrust.org.uk
Swansea Council – Business Grants: www.swansea.gov.uk/businessfunding
Swansea Council – Tackling Poverty: www.swansea.gov.uk/povertystrategy
Social Investment Cymru – www.wcva.cymru/funding/social-investment-cymru
The National Lottery – Community Fund: www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk
The National Lottery – Heritage Fund: www.heritagefund.org.uk
SCVS – www.scvs.org.uk/funding
Coalfields Regeneration Trust – www.coalfields-regen.org.uk
Thank you
Thank you to Julie James MS for sponsoring the event, our partners at SCVS and Urban Foundry, all the funders who took part, and everyone who came along to learn, share, and connect.
And to the brilliant illustrator TS Wolfe for the visual summary of our breakfast session.
We’re already looking forward to the next one.
