Funding newsletter

March 2010 

Welcome to the new format fit4funding newsletter.

You will notice that the newsletter is now in html format rather than text.

Instead of the contents page, followed by the individual items, the newsletter now has a short description of each item with a link to the full item.

The sections are clearly marked so you can more easily navigate to whatever interests you.

For the time being I am still producing the full Word and Acrobat versions and providing web links. The links will be sent separately.

I hope that you will feel this is a great improvement in presentation and ease of use.

I will be pleased to hear what you think of the new version but will need time for things to settle before making any further changes for the moment.

Andrew Pring

News

• Futurebuilders - News
  Futurebuilders Fund is currently closed to new applicants following huge demand for social finance. The total amount of funding made available by the government has now been allocated.
• Big Lottery Fund Small Grants Evaluation
  BIG has completed a large-scale evaluation of their small grants programmes. The evaluation explored the purpose, benefit and potential of small grants from the perspective of BIG staff, projects and other funders. It also identified areas where small grants programmes could be improved in the future. BIG is using the findings from the evaluation to feed into its future funding portfolio.
• Arts Council England - News
  Arts Council England fund arts activities that engage people in England, or that help artists and arts organisations carry out their work. In 2010 they will make some improvements to the Grants for the arts application process. These will include: the ability to submit applications online; increasing the number of projects that get a decision within six weeks; assessment of applications and monitoring of grants by a highly experienced and knowledgeable team bases in a Grants for the arts centre in Manchester. They are closing applications and will start accepting applications again from Monday 1 March 2010.
• BIG - Reaching Communities News
  At least £100 million a year is to be invested across England by the BIG Lottery Fund in a new improved version of its flagship Reaching Communities programme for each of the next five years. The new funding which will be introduced this spring.
• Make Your Mark with a Tenner
  Make Your Mark is part of the Enterprise UK campaign, which gives people the confidence and ambition to be enterprising. Make Your Mark with a Tenner loans young people £10 and challenges them to make a profit and make a difference during March this year. Students need to show enterprising spirit and make as much profit as possible in a way which benefits their community.
• Compact Voice
  As the end of one funding year approaches and a new one begins, voluntary and community organisations are understandably nervous about possible changes to the funding they get from public bodies. Organisations have already been approaching them with real issues and concerns that they have, and in many cases they are advocating on behalf of them to try to ensure good partnership working from local authorities and councils based on Compact principles.
• Social Investment Business - News
  2010 has only just begun and it’s already a busy and exciting time for The Social Investment Business.
• Barrow Cadbury Trust - Statement
  The take-over of the Cadbury Chocolate Company by Kraft has no impact on the ability of the Barrow Cadbury Trust to honour its commitments.

Financial offers

• Charity Finance - Accounts Compliance Checklist 2010
  Compliance is ever-evolving and this checklist is updated annually to ensure that it remains the definitive working document for charity accounting staff and advisers. It has been designed specifically for use by all UK charities with gross income over £100,000, including Scottish and Irish charities, but is equally relevant to smaller charities wishing to follow best practice.
• Cranfield Trust - Free management consultancy projects
  Cranfield Trust volunteers provide one-to-one consultancy to charities local to them. To qualify for their help, charities, social enterprise or community interest companies must be working to address issues of poverty, disability or social exclusion.
• GlobalGiving.co.uk - Fundraising for Overseas projects
  GlobalGiving.co.uk is working with UK-based charities who are involved in partner projects in the developing world to provide an on-line giving website to raise funds and awareness for their projects.
• Microsoft Britain Works
  The Benefits of Joining Benefits for your Organisation: Free Microsoft software; Free IT training curriculum; Free IT training for your employees; Opportunity to win technology prizes; Discounted Microsoft Qualifications through IT Academies; Networking with other charities. Benefits for those you Support: Free IT training; Opportunity to attend a careers day; Opportunity to undertake Microsoft Qualifications which are internationally recognised; Opportunity to gain OCR accreditation for entry level IT Skills; Association with nationally recognised Microsoft programme; Recognised qualifications for CV to give confidence when applying for jobs; Opportunity to join free of charge career talk webinars; Opportunity to be nominated by organisation for learner recognition scheme

Awards

• B&Q One Planet Living Awards
  The B&Q One Planet Living (OPL) Grant®* offers between £50 and £250 of B&Q materials to schools, community groups and charitable organisations for long-term sustainable projects. Projects must support at least one of the following themes: Save Energy, Conserve Nature, Support local culture & heritage, Grow your own.
• BRIT Trust
  All money collected by the Trust from the BRIT Awards is then awarded in the form of donations to a wide variety of charities that embody The Trusts guiding ethos "to encourage young people in the exploration and pursuit of educational, cultural or therapeutic benefits emanating from music".

Last minute award opportunities for this month if you're quick

• CSJ Awards
  The CSJ Awards recognise and reward effective poverty fighting groups from across the UK. Awards of up to £10,000 each will be given at an event in July 2010 before an audience of senior politicians, business people, philanthropists, celebrities and the media.
  Deadline: 22 February 2010

March deadlines

• British Archaeological Awards 2010
  Deadline: 1 March 2010
• Daily Mail - Enterprising Young Brits
  One for young social entrpreneurs? Are you following your entrepreneurial dream? Have you successfully mixed creativity with commercial flair, or demonstrated real determination in turning your ideas into reality? If so the Daily Mail Enterprising Young Brit Awards could be right up your street. They’re calling for entries now. Do you want to be in with a chance to win £1,000 and money-can’t-buy-profile for your venture?
  Deadline: 5 March 2010
• Yorkshire Forward Creating better futures awards 2010 - Yorkshire & Humber
  The Yorkshire Forward Creating Better Futures Awards highlights successful partnerships between the private sector and voluntary, community and faith organisations (VCF). The awards aim to demonstrate the true partnership working between the sectors and encourage the sharing and development of skills, knowledge and ability within the community economic development agenda, whilst promoting best practice. Awards will be presented to both organisations, along with a £10,000 grant for the VCF organisation involved in the partnership.
  Deadline: 25 March 2010

Loans

• Social Enterprise Investment Fund
  The Social Investment Business manage the Social Entperprise Investment Fund on behalf of the Department of Health in partnership with Partnerships UK.
• Real Help for Communities: Modernisation Fund
  The Modernisation Fund can provide interest-free loans to third sector organisations that are planning to merge or collaborate, or are taking other steps to adapt to the recession. Organisations must be delivering services that benefit people or communities affected by the recession. You can apply for interest-free loans from £30,000 to £500,000.

Grants

• Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 2 (LCBP2). - changes
  The Low Carbon Buildings Programme - Phase 2E (LCBP2E) is a Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) scheme offering grants for microgeneration installations by public sector and charitable organisations. Grants are available for installations of up to a maximum of 300kW heat. Please note Phase 2 has closed to all new applications for grants for electrical microgeneration.
• HLF - Young Roots
  Young Roots is a grant programme designed to engage young people aged 13-25 with their heritage. Young Roots projects stem directly from the interest and ideas of young people, who are supported by youth and heritage organisations to develop skills, build confidence, and connect with their local communities. Programme budget is £3000 to £25,000
• Veolia Trust
  The Trust is committed to supporting community and environmental projects across the UK. These could include projects aiming to install or enhance play areas and skate parks, restore footpaths and green spaces, protect natural habitats, improve community halls and restore churches.
• Heritage Lottery Fund - Your Heritage (£3,000 to £50,000)
  The Your Heritage programme offers grants between £3000 and £50,000 inclusive for projects that relate to the local, regional or national heritage of the UK (except the Channel Islands and Isle of Man). They welcome applications that help people to learn about, look after and celebrate heritage in a fun and enjoyable way.
• BIG - Reaching Communities: Improvements to be introduced from Spring 2010
  Reaching Communities is remaining open. Reaching Communities will continue to be a key element of their increased commitment to deliver the vast majority of their funding to the voluntary and community sector. There is no change to who can apply, what they will fund, or the difference they want to make with this programme. The programme will continue to make awards between £10,000 and £500,000 and will continue to fund for up to five years
• Nationwide Foundation - Small Grants Criteria expanded
  The Nationwide Foundation has expanded its Small Grants Programme criteria for charities working with older people. Small grants can now be applied for by charities working for the benefit of all older people to improve their housing needs or address financial exclusion.
• Rural Community Shops
  The Plunkett Foundation supports rural communities wanting to set up and run a community-owned shop. Grants will be awarded to rural communities of at least 200 people which are planning to set up a community-owned shop, and the Village CORE Programme aims to see the number of these enterprises double over the next five years as a result.
• Cash 4 Clubs
  Cash 4 Clubs is a sports grants scheme which provides funding to support grassroots UK sports clubs. Cash 4 Clubs gives clubs a chance to win grants ranging from £250 to £1000, whether it be to improve facilities, purchase new equipment, gain coaching qualifications, or generally invest in the sustainability of their club.
• Co-operative Community Fund
  The Co-operative Community Fund is their grants scheme that helps local communities throughout the UK. Community Fund grants, between £100 and £2,000 are awarded to community, voluntary, or self-help groups to run projects .
• English Heritage - Historic Buildings, Monuments and Designed Landscapes
  This scheme covers grants for the repair and conservation of some of England’s most significant historic buildings, monuments and designed landscapes. Grants are primarily offered for urgent repairs or other work required within two years to prevent loss or damage to important architectural, archaeological or landscape features. To qualify for a grant under this scheme, they would normally expect your project to involve one of the following: a building listed at grade I or II*;a scheduled monument; a designed landscape that is included in their Register of Parks and Gardens at grade I or II*.
• Hedley Foundation
  The Hedley Foundation supports young people, the disabled and the terminally ill. Grants for specific projects only, mostly one-off, but no core revenue, salary or transport funding. The Foundation makes a limited number of recurring grants for up to three years.
• Charity Employees Benevolent Fund
  The CEBF is the only benevolent fund that the charity sector can call its own, and thanks to the support of organisations within the sector and charities themselves, the CEBF is now providing advice and financial assistance for the families of charity employees in need.
• Henry Smith Charity
  Applications can be made for revenue and capital activity. Priority is given to work with groups experiencing social and/or economic disadvantage, for example, people with disabilities; and work that tackles problems in areas of high deprivation.
• National Churches Trust
  In 2010 the National Churches Trust is offering the opportunity to apply for the following grants: Repair Grants Grants of £10,000 and above for structural repair projects that will cost more than £50,000. A structural repair means essential work to safeguard the fabric of the building. Right Community Grants Grants from £2,500 to £25,000 for providing facilities that will benefit your place of worship and local community, e.g. accessible toilets, kitchens and meeting rooms. Grants will not exceed 50% of the project cost.
• Archer Trust
  The Archer Trust is a UK Christian charitable grant-making trust.They support small UK charities for whom a grant of between £250 and £3,000 will make a big difference. In one way or another, you provide aid or support to a defined group of needy or deserving people, for instance those with physical or mental disabilities or the disadvantaged. They prefer to support organisations working in areas of high unemployment and deprivation. They favour charities which make good use of volunteers. They support projects both in the UK and overseas.
• DIFID - Development Innovation Fund (DIF)
  DFID is establishing a new funding stream aimed at community based organisations involved in providing specific small scale, one-off support that directly targets poverty in the developing world and includes a significant development awareness component in the UK. The Fund will be operational for an initial 16 months from 2010.
• Prince's Trust Community Cash Awards
  The Prince's Trust Community Cash Awards are grants to help you set up a project that will benefit your community. An opportunity for those aged 14-16, get a grant to get you going of up to £5,000 and support to help plan your project, research your budget, set goals and learn about your community.
• ESF Community Grants - South West
  ESF Community Grants will enable small Third Sector Organisations (TSOs) that would not otherwise be able to access ESF, to access small grants through simplified application arrangements. Community Grants will support a range of activities aimed at assisting the disadvantaged or excluded to move closer to the labour market.

Last minute grant opportunities for this month if you're quick

• LSIS Flexibility and Innovation Fund
  The LSIS Flexibility and Innovation Fund is a new opportunity for the learning and skills sector to promote and support innovative projects.
  Deadline: 19 February 2010
• SCIE Get Connected
  The internet and IT are transforming the way we communicate, learn and work. Get Connected is a new support programme to enable providers of care for adults in England to access information and communication technology (ICT) more effectively. The Get Connected Investment Project will provide grants up to a value of £20,000. Cycle 1 is for voluntary and private providers registered with the Care Quality Commission who do not have good internet access.
  Deadline: 19 February 2010
• Social Enterprise Investment Fund - Capital Grants
  The Department of Health's Social Enterprise Investment Fund has capital grants from £100,000 to £450,000 available for social enterprises working in health and social care that require funding into capital assets.
  Deadline: 21 February 2010
• Home Office - Independent Sexual Violence Advisers (ISVAs)
  Grants for Sexual Assault Referral Centres, Specialist sexual violence voluntary sector organisations; or Existing IDVA/ISVA services.
  Deadline: 22 February 2010
• Digital Film Archive Fund - Screen South
  Screen South manage the Digital Film Archive Fund, a £300,000 fund from the UK Film Council which will aim to increase public access to film archive. The fund has two main objectives: Delivering wide spread public access to screen heritage; Creating wide spread public value from access to screen heritage and evidence supporting it. The maximum size of a grant will be £30,000 and the minimum £500.
  Deadline: 24 February 2010
• Idlewild Trust
  The Idlewild Trust makes grants to registered charities (not to individuals) concerned with the encouragement of excellence in the performing and fine arts and the preservation for the benefit of the public of buildings and items of historical interest or national importance. Occasional support is given to bodies for educational bursaries in these fields and for conservation of the natural environment. The Trust's interest is national and it is unlikely to support a project of local, parochial interest only.
  Deadline: 26 February 2010
• Football Foundation - Grow the Game
  Grow the Game provides funding for projects that use football to increase participation by both players and volunteers. This is done by supporting the costs associated with providing new activity. Organisations setting up one team are able to receive £2,500 over two years with financial support being reduced in the second year of the project. For organisations setting up two or more teams a £5,000 grant is available over two or three years with financial support being reduced in the second or third year of the project. No partnership funding will be requested.
  Deadline: 26 February 2010

March deadlines

• CWM Community and Environmental Fund - Wales
  The CWM Community and Environmental Fund has funds available for community and environmental projects located in Carmarthenshire, South Wales. Approximately £200,000 is available each year and all grants will be between £5,000 and £50,000.
  Deadline: 1 March 2010
• China Activity Grants
  One for Mandarin speaking groups working with schools and colleges. Supported by the HSBC Global Education Programme and managed by the British Council, this opportunity is designed to help schools (primary, secondary and SEN), sixth form colleges and FE colleges across the UK to arrange events or activities that will help their students learn more about China or the Mandarin Chinese language. As part of the grant application, they must show how the students will pass on what they have learnt to other members of the community, supporting community cohesion. Schools and colleges can apply for grants of up to £750.
  Deadline: 1 March 2010
• NIACE - Community Learning Champions Support Programme Development Fund
  The Community Learning Champions Support Programme will provide a national identity, a brand and a badge for learning champions. It also offers development funding, support for training and development and a series of national and regional events. The Community Learning Champions Support Programme has now opened the second phase of applications for funding - Phase 2 of the Development Fund. The aim of the funding is to develop sustainable Community Learning Champion (CLC) initiatives in disadvantaged areas, or in disadvantaged communities of interest or identity.
  Deadline: 2 March 2010
• European Integration Fund - Community Actions
  Grants to actions in support of the policy on integration of third-country nationals.
  Deadline: 3 March 2010
• Comic Relief - Princess Royal Trust for Carers - Young Carers
  Grants programme of £1.5m for the development of services for the most vulnerable and hidden young carers.
  Deadline: 5 March 2010
• Sport Relief Community Cash Grants - London
  Sport Relief Community Cash grants of £500-£1000 are available to small community organisations working in disadvantaged areas within London, supporting those who are excluded or disadvantaged due to low income, social isolation, age, disability, race, sexuality or gender. These grants are available elsewhere. Contact your Community Foundation for details.
  Deadline: 5 March 2010
• Legacy Trust UK - Community Celebrations
  Community Celebrations is a national programme from Legacy Trust UK, which provides an opportunity to create a high profile celebration in your area. Legacy Trust UK can fund up to five successful projects across the UK which will allow communities to come together to host large scale outdoor celebrations at moments of local significance. This could mean celebrating moments of national importance, media relevance, Olympic inspired or of sporting or cultural significance.
  Deadline: 5 March 2010
• Mix Mediabox
  Mediabox is for those 13 to 19 years old who live in England. Mediabox can give you the opportunity to develop and produce creative media projects for film, television, radio, online and multi media platforms. Mix Mediabox grants from £5,000 - £20,000
  Deadline: 9 March 2010
• DH - Third Sector Strategic Partner Programme 2010/2011
  The Department of Health are now inviting applications for the Department of Health Third Sector Partner Programme for 2010-11. They are seeking to extend the DH Third Sector Strategic Partner Programme to reach and engage with third sector organisations working in and with: Mental Health organisations; Women’s Sector organisations; Carers organisations; Armed Forces and Veterans Charities; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender organisations; Offender Health and Social Care organisations.
  Deadline: 12 March 2010
• HLF - Skills for the future
  Skills for the Future will fund projects which provide paid training placements to meet a skills gap in the heritage sector, and fully support trainees to learn practical skills.
  Deadline: 19 March 2010
• UnLtd's Refugee Initiative for Social Entrepreneurs
  RISE, the Refugee Initiative for Social Entrepreneurs is funded by the European Refugee Fund Phase III with the support of the UK Border Agency. The RISE Programme is run by UnLtd, a nationwide charity which supports social entrepreneurs - people with vision, drive, commitment and passion - to change the world for the better. Awards of between £500 and £5000 to help individuals or small groups of refugees turn their ideas, into a reality.
  Deadline: 21 March 2010
• European Refugee Fund and European Return Fund
  Calls for proposals for the European Refugee Fund 2009 and European Return Fund 2010 are now open. The European Refugee Fund is mainly aimed at organisations involved in setting up projects that help with the integration of refugees. The maximum grant is £350,000 per year. At least £500,000 is available from the European Return Fund in 2010 to co-fund projects that set up or improve counselling and return information measures for third country nationals.
  Deadline: 25 March 2010
• Macmillan - Helping You Help Others Grants
  The Helping You Help Others programme recognises that running a cancer self help or support group effectively, can cost money. From refreshments to computers, a Helping You Help Others grant from Macmillan can help relieve some of the financial pressures of running a group.
  Deadline: 26 March 2010
• DECC Bio-energy Capital Grants Scheme - England
  Deadline: 31 March 2010
• ERDF Programme 2007-2013 Yorkshire and Humber
  The Yorkshire and Humber European Regional Development Fund Programme for 2007-2013 was approved by the European Commission on 7th December 2007. The Operational Programme describes how the region will benefit from €583 million from the European Union’s Regional Competitiveness and Employment Objective. The funding will boost economic performance in the region through investments aimed at increasing innovation, competitiveness and employment.
  Deadline: 31 March 2010
• Tree Council - Community Trees / Trees for Schools
  The Tree Council's two grants programmes, the ‘Trees for Schools' and ‘Community Trees' funds are available for schools and community groups within the UK who are able to show that children under the age of 16 will be actively engaged in the planting projects. The Tree Council's National Tree Week (this year from 25 November to 6 December) is the focus for these projects and successful applicants organise their planting events in conjunction with this annual celebration of the new tree planting season. They are able to fund projects between £100 and £700 and successful applicants will receive up to 75% towards their planting costs. For example, if your project totals £700, The Tree Council would offer up to £525. The remaining 25% will need to be secured by your school or organisation.
  Deadline: 31 March 2010

April deadlines

• DIFID - Civil Society Challenge Fund
  The CSCF supports overseas activities that: improve the capacity of Southern civil society to engage in the local decision-making processes; improve the capacity of Southern civil society to engage in national decision making processes; improve national linkages through global advocacy; provide innovative service delivery; provide service delivery in difficult environments. The CSCF can provide up to £500,000 for a maximum of 5 years. Projects where the UK organisation has secured a degree of funding from other sources or is making a contribution of its own are welcomed, however. Up to 100% will be considered where no other funding is available.
  Deadline: 1 April 2010
• E.ON Sustainable Energy Fund
  E.ON have developed the E.ON Sustainable Energy Fund to support community energy projects which either result in the production of energy from a sustainable source or which reduce the amount of energy used by a community organisation.
  Deadline: 2 April 2010
• Arts Council Wales
  The Arts Council of Wales has three over-arching priorities: Projects delivered in acknowledged deprived communities, especially those areas that have traditionally received lower levels of grant; Projects that promote the work of artists from under-represented groups including disabled people and people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds; Projects delivered in Welsh or bilingually.
  Deadline: 8 April 2010
• Elephant Trust for the arts
  The Trust was set up to make it possible for artists and those presenting their work to undertake and complete projects when frustrated by lack of funds. It is committed to helping artists and institutions that depart from the routine and signal new, distinct and imaginative sets of possibilities. Given the Trust's modest resources, grants have usually been limited to £2,000 but larger grants may be considered. Funding priority is given to artists and to small organisations and galleries.
  Deadline: 13 April 2010

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Tel: 01924 239063 • Fax: 01924 239431 • E-mail: info@fit4funding.org.uk • Website: www.fit4funding.org.uk