£1 Million Community Role for Britain's Youth

Young people have been given the chance to claim a share of £1 million to help tackle the dangers of drugs, crime and play a positive role in their community. The RBS Community Cash Awards will see £1 million of cash grants being distributed by youth charity The Prince's Trust to young people who want to run community projects in some of Britain's poorest areas. The Awards, worth £250 to £5,000, are available to disadvantaged 14 to 25-year-olds across the UK who want to transform their area and learn practical skills. Projects could range from improving local youth facilities to tackling teenage pregnancy or drug misuse. Launching the 18-month initiative last month, Prince's Trust supporter Davina McCall said: "Young people want the responsibility to be part of something. The more you respect and trust young people, the more they'll give you."

In a survey of almost 1,000 interviews, conducted by Ipsos MORI, one in three people believe that there will be no such thing as a community in the future, with those from poorer backgrounds more likely to argue this. Only 27 per cent of those surveyed think that young people play a positive role in their community in Britain today. Respondents revealed they would like to see young people setting up community activities, helping spread awareness about the dangers of drugs, alcohol, guns and knives in an effort to improve community cohesion. With one in four of those surveyed admitting that they had not spoken to their neighbours in at least a week, it's perhaps not surprising that two-thirds of the respondents believe that there will be more contact via the internet than face-to-face in the future.

The announcement is part of a multi-million pound scheme between The Prince's Trust and the Royal Bank of Scotland to help young people. RBS staff will be encouraged to get involved by volunteering their skills and time to help the local youth deliver projects in their communities. More than 2,800 RBS employees have already volunteered for The Prince's Trust. The Prince's Trust has helped more than 550,000 young people gain skills and find work since 1976 and continues to support 100 more young people every day. The Trust works with 14 to 30-year-olds who have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law.

For further information on the Community Cash Awards, please contact Rob Cope at The Prince's Trust on 07766 558244. 

Community Food and Health Small Grants Scheme (Scotland)

Community based groups and agencies working towards improving the diets of people within low income communities have the opportunity of applying for funding of between £500 and £3,000 through the Community Food and Health (Scotland) Small Grants Scheme. All applications must tackle one or more of the barriers to healthy eating that were first outlined in the Scottish Diet Action Plan (1996). These are; lack of access to fruit and vegetables of an acceptable quality and cost; the cost of shopping; the lack of confidence and skills for cooking or shopping; challenging long established dietary habits and reluctance to experiment with new foods. All applications must be for the costs of a new food activity or for developing the range, scale or sustainability of current food activity. Applications are also accepted for pilot projects or feasibility studies. The small grant scheme opens in the spring and closes in the early summer. Previous projects  supported include Burnfoot Community School which received a grant of £840 for three healthy eating projects for young children and their parents; and the Homeless Implementation Group  which received a grant of £2,001 to provide monthly cooking skills sessions within homeless hostels. For more information, please click on the link below: http://www.communityfoodandhealth.org.uk/funding/smallgrants.php

Tesco Charity Trust

AIM: The Tesco Charity Trust benefits local organisations whose core work supports children''s education and welfare, children and adults with disabilities and elderly people.
PRIORITIES: Two programme areas: Children's welfare and education, and Elderly and disabilities. The scope of activities supporting children, elderly and disabled people is very wide but consult the guidelines on their website for exclusions.
GRANT SIZE: Awards are one-off donations and range between £1,500 to £5,000.
APPLICATION PROCESS: The first step in applying for funding is to write to the Tesco Charity Trust with brief details of your project. This will ensure that your request is recorded on the current year's database and included in the distribution of application forms.
DEADLINE: The closing dates for writing to the Trust will depend on the programme for which you are applying: Children's welfare and education (including special needs schools) 31st January each year; Elderly and disabilities 30 June each year. Letters received after the closing date will be held on file for the next year's round.
You can write to the Tesco Charity Trust at any time. Tesco Charity Trust, Tesco House, Delamare Road, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, EN8 9SL. Call (01992) 646768 or visit their website at
www.tescocorporate.com/images/Charity_trust_guidelines.pdf

23 November

Young Roots Heritage Fund

Young Roots is the Heritage Lottery Fund's grant programme dedicated to young people. Run in partnership with YouthLink Scotland, the scheme  puts young people firmly in the project driving seat. The Young Roots scheme is targeted at young people aged between 13-20 (or 13-25 for young people with additional support needs) and offers grants of between £5,000 and £25,000. Through the Young Roots fund the Heritage Lottery Fund has supported a diverse variety of projects including:
* Plays based on historical events
* Interpretations of historical themes through radio, film, DVD and websites
* Explorations of culture, language and traditions
* The building of replica boats, costumes and other artefacts
* Arts activities where they depict or interpret heritage themes
For further information and advice contact the Development Team at Heritage Lottery Fund Scotland Office on (0131) 225 9450, e-mail   scotland@hlf.org.uk or visit the website at  www.hlf.org.uk/English/InYourArea/Scotland

The Allen Lane Foundation

The Allen Lane Foundation makes grants to not for profit organisations that work towards improving the lives of and integrating groups of people who are unpopular in UK society today. This includes work that improves the lives of asylum seekers and refugees; gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender people; offenders and ex-offenders; from black and minority ethnic communities and migrant workers; people experiencing mental health problems; etc. The Foundation will make grants towards start-up, core or project costs. The grants range from one off grants of between £500 and £15,000 or grants of between £500 and £5,000 per year for up to three years. Applications can be made at any time. For more information, please visit http://www.allenlane.org.uk/priorities.htm

BBC Children in Need

BBC Children in Need supports not-for-profit organisation working with disadvantaged children and young people aged under 18. This includes children and young people with any kind of disability, behavioural problems and those living in deprived areas. Grants can be awarded for up to three years. The charity only gives one-year grants for some types of projects including capital projects and seasonal projects like holiday playschemes.There are two deadlines each year – 30th March and 30th November.
For more information, please visit www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey

HBOS Foundation - Community Action Programme (UK)

Scottish Natural Heritage - grants programme

 
Funding for Individual and Small Groups to Improve their Local Communities (UK)

Groups of individuals as well as small community and voluntary groups within the UK that want to improve their communities can apply for funding through the Wakeham Trust. The Trust are particularly interested in supporting neighbourhood projects, community arts projects, projects involving community service by young people, or projects set up by those who are socially excluded. The Trust also support innovative projects to promote excellence in teaching (at any level, from primary schools to universities), though we never support individuals. The Trust normally give grants to projects where an initial £75 to £750 can make a real difference to getting the project up and running. To be eligible, applicants need to be registered charities or have access to a registered charity that will be willing to accept funds on their behalf.
The type of activities supported in the past include;

• a grant of £250 to three young people in Leamington Spa who were trying to set up a youth club. The Trust gave them £250 to help set up the club in an old Scout hut;
• and a grant of £50 to an unemployed ex-professional footballer in Yorkshire to buy footballs and equipment for a group of 100 or so tough kids to play football.
• A £500 grant to a Furniture Reclamation and Delivery Enterprise in Stockton-on-Tees purchase power and hand tools in order to do minor repairs and refurbishment and therefore hand the furniture on in good condition.

Applications can be made at any time. http://www.wakehamtrust.org/index.php

10 September

The New Ideas Fund

The New Ideas Fund provides grants of between £100 and £5,000 to community and voluntary groups within disadvantaged areas or working with disadvantaged groups to assess the feasibility of new ideas and to develop and build support for new and innovative approaches to regeneration. For more information, please click on the link below:
http://www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/webpages/cs_006295.hcsp#TopOfPage

The Seeing is Believing Fund

The Seeing is Believing Fund provides small grants of between £100 and £5000 to community and voluntary groups within disadvantaged areas or working with disadvantaged groups so that they can visit and learn from successful regeneration projects or access other learning opportunities. For more information, please click on the link below:
http://www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/webpages/cs_006305.hcsp#TopOfPage

3 September

Sport Relief

Using sport to tackle the exclusion and isolation experienced by some of the poorest and most disadvantaged communities. This is a grant-making programme managed by the Scottish Community Foundation. Sport Relief was set up by Comic Relief and BBC Sport to use the power and passion of sport to tackle poverty and disadvantage, both in the UK and in some of the world's poorest countries. In the UK, Sport Relief will make grants to fund work which uses sport and exercise to strengthen communities and provide opportunities for people who are excluded or disadvantaged. This may be through low income, rural or social isolation, age, disability, race, sexuality or gender. Sport Relief is not simply about supporting sports activities or helping sports clubs expand; it's about helping organisations that want to use sport and exercise to work with disadvantaged or excluded people and improve their quality of life. Community Foundations across the UK will be distributing £4m on behalf of Sport Relief. Applications can be received at any time, but note that the final closing date for Sport Relief applications will be 11th August 2008.
Details and application forms are available at www.scottishcf.org/applyingforagrant

B&Q Better Neighbour Grant Scheme

Community groups and charitable organisations are invited to apply to their local B&Q groups for funding to support a local community project. The grants are available to help a community project get up and running. The scheme provides £50-£500 (at retail cost) of B&Q materials. Applications can be submitted anytime. For further information, please click on the link below or visit your local B&Q store: http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/templates/content_lookup.jsp?content=/aboutbandq/2004/social_responsibility//better_neighbour.jsp

GRANTS FROM THE HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND
Repair Grants for Places of Worship

This programme is designed to help conserve and sustain heritage at risk, through urgent repairs to places of worship. The UK-wide scheme is delivered through four programmes in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Repair Grants for Places of Worship in England are awarded up to £200,000, in Scotland up to £250,000, and in Northern Ireland and Wales up to £100,000.
To apply for this grant, please follow these steps:
• Prior to applying for a grant please read through the frequently asked questions
• Submit a pre-application form—If you believe that your project meets the criteria for this grant, please complete and submit the pre-application form from the website to receive further help on applying for a grant.
• Contact your regional/country development team (please see their website)
• Submit an application—Application forms are available from their website. You can also order a hard copy of the form by contacting them.
Deadline - 28th February and 31 August every year
Range of amounts - Between £10,000 and £250,000 in Scotland
Contact : Tel: 020 7591 6000 or e-mail: enquire@hlf.org.uk
Visit the website by clicking on the link: http://www.hlf.org.uk/English/HowToApply/OurGrantGivingProgrammes/RepairGrantsForPlacesOfWorship/

Heritage Lottery Fund - Heritage Grant

This programme offers grants of £50,000 or more. To receive a grant, projects must; conserve and enhance our diverse heritage, or encourage more people to be involved in their heritage, or both. All projects must also make sure that everyone can learn about, have access to and enjoy their heritage. Projects might include nature conservation, historic buildings, museum collections, archive collections, spoken history records, cultural traditions, and objects and sites relating to the UK’s industrial, transport and maritime history.
To apply for a grant, please visit the website at the link: http://www.hlf.org.uk/English/HowToApply/OurGrantGivingProgrammes/HeritageGrants/

28 August

Go 4 Volunteering

The Voluntary Action Fund has expanded and improved its Go4Volunteering Grants Fund. We have more funds to offer and can receive applications on a rolling basis so there are no deadlines!

We are keen to get applications from across Scotland from a wide range of voluntary and community organisations – and organisations don’t have to be a registered charity. We only require that they have a constitution, bank account and annual income of under £50K per annum (because we want to target smaller organisations).

Go4Volunteering Grants are available to help promote and support volunteering. Examples of what could be funded are:

• training programmes for voluntary management committees and/or volunteers
• visits to more established organisations to share their experience of what works well with volunteering
• consultation with volunteers so that organisations know more about what volunteers need and value
• publications, subscriptions or the cost of undertaking investors in Volunteers through Volunteer Development Scotland
• the cost of professional support or consultancy to help develop useful volunteer policies or training packs, including policies on equality and diversity
   
  To find out more or to get an application pack either call Patricia on 01383 620780, or download from our website: http://www.voluntaryactionfund.org.uk/grant-schemes/g4v

21 August

UNLTD - Sport Relief Partnership

UnLtd Sport Relief Awards provide opportunities for young people to bring communities together, to help them promote understanding and solve conflict through sport and being active.
This UK wide funding programme is for 11-21 year olds, who are prepared to go the extra mile and use their passion for sport to bring respect and understanding to their communities by setting up their own projects. Funding of £250-£5,000 is available for entrepreneurial young people who have great ideas and who want to make a difference. For example, with this money you could engage young people from different backgrounds by organising an indoor cricket mini-world cup. Or perhaps you could help reduce violence in your area by getting young people to channel their energies into football rather than fighting. Or how about organising a skateboarding competition for kids that will reduce tensions in the local area. …all it takes is one great idea.
There are two types of application: One for 17 to 21 year olds and another for 11 to 16 year olds; the latter will need to provide a letter of support from an appropriate adult.
There are no published closing dates, but the scheme is cash-limited.

The Be Cause Awards

UnLtd, the charity which supports social entrepreneurs has announced that it has launched a new award scheme in partnership with Bebo, a social networking website. The Be Cause Award is a new scheme to inspire people to make a difference in their community. Using the Be Cause toolkit, applicants can put together a robust plan for a social action or social enterprise project and then enter it for a monthly Be Cause Award. If your idea meets Be Cause criteria applicants can be in the running for a £1,000 award to help get a project off the ground.
Applicants can nominate their project for an award, or if other in the Bebo community can enter it if they think it''s a good idea. Every month a panel of experts from UnLtd and Bebo will select five projects from all those nominated that have the potential to make a positive impact on society. The whole Bebo community will then be asked to vote for the best project over a two-week period. The project which receives the most votes will be awarded the £1,000 award, as well as receiving ongoing support and advice from UnLtd in order to maximise the potential of the project. Every year a Judges Choice Award of £5,000 will be given to the project with the best ongoing potential. In addition, everyone who takes part in the Be Cause Awards will be eligible for further support and funding from UnLtd if the projects show enough promise to be expanded and developed.

Kelloggs Active Living Fund

Grants of up to £1,000 are available through the Kelloggs Active Living Fund for projects that remove the "barriers" which stop people being active. The fund is open to charities and other voluntary and community organisations as well as Schools for activities that directly lead to people taking part in sustained physical activity. In particular, the Fund is looking to support: projects that implement innovative ways of getting non-active individuals active; existing projects or activities that adapt or expand so that they are available to new groups of people or new geographical areas; and existing projects or activities that need new or replacement equipment, or existing projects that require replacement funding. A panel of Kellogg's employees meets every two months to assess applications. Applicants should receive a decision on their application within approximately 10 weeks of submitting your application.

Trust Fund Directory Available from One Parent Families Scotland

Parent Connections is a unique information and support service for lone parent families affected by disability that is free, independent and confidential. They produce a quarterly project newsletters and fact sheets covering disability and carer benefits, additional sources of funding including a directory of Trust Funds that can assist families affected by disability/or in need with financial help. Other services include access to their free phone helpline which specialises in lone parent issues ranging from child maintenance, benefits, tax credits, education and training opportunities, disability and carer benefits, and information on a range of local support agencies throughout Scotland. They can also link up lone parents caring for children with disabilities to other lone parents. Contact them on their free phone helpline to request publications or to speak with an adviser on any lone parent/disability issue.
The Lone Parent Helpline (0808 801 0323) hours are Monday to Friday 9.30-4.30pm. For further information on One Parent Families Scotland, please visit www.opfs.org.uk

3 August

New Music Award 2008

The PRS Foundation for New Music is again providing £50,000 to inspire and stimulate the creation of an imaginative and original piece of new  British music. The New Music Award is the most financially significant award for music in the UK. It champions pioneering new music and provides a significant level of money towards one adventurous and challenging new musical work.  Allowing total creative freedom, the Award is open to absolutely anyone – individuals, groups, organisations, consortia - working in any genre and artistic context. This is an unrestricted creative opportunity, and submissions will be judged on artistic criteria. The New Music Award recognises those who are pushing the boundaries of new music, who are taking artistic risks and producing exceptional work. It seeks inspiring, challenging, pioneering and creatively-adventurous music.
Rather than being retrospective, the New Music Award challenges the UK's creative music community to extend the boundaries of its work. The award is not a cash reward for the winner’s existing work but will, in effect, provide £50,000 towards the creation and performance of a piece of new British music. With this award the PRS Foundation seeks to ignite the imagination of the creative community and also dramatically raise the profile and level of debate around contemporary British music (much in the same way that the Turner Prize does for contemporary British art). The New Music Award not only provides an opportunity for a new work to leave a lasting impact on the country's cultural landscape, it will also provide a rare insight into the levels of musical creativity and ingenuity that exist across the entire nation. For more information, please click on the link below:
http://www.prsfoundation.co.uk/newmusicaward.htm

4 July

Awards from £100 to £1000 for community projects  

It's Your Community has a limited number of awards available for projects that benefit the community either by bringing about physical change or a change in attitude and community spirit.  

To find out more, visit the It's Your Community website  or contact them free on 0800 902 0250.

2 July

The Jephcott Charitable Trust

The Trust like to make grants which will make a difference, preference will be given to charities or projects which are having difficulty getting started, or raising funds from other sources. This often means that the Trust is funding capital projects, e.g. for equipment or materials, rather than running costs. Grants are made to charities in all parts of the world.
• Population Control—The Jephcott Charitable Trust is prepared to consider support for schemes, particularly educational ones, which help to control excessive growth in population.
• The Natural Environment—The Trust has supported a number of projects involved in conserving the natural environment. It does not support projects involving animal welfare or heritage sites or buildings.
• Education—Projects will be considered include benefitting people of all ages and backgrounds. They may be able to provide formal education, to teach vocational skills to enhance the possibility of employment, to enhance computer skills, health awareness, distance learning.
• Health—A very wide range of healthcare projects are supported.
Projects which require long-term funding are not normally considered.
The Trust prefers to make one-off donations to get many projects started, rather than support fewer projects charities over a long period.
For more information: Please contact: The Secretary, The Jephcott Charitable Trust, Cotley, Streatham Rise, Exeter EX4 4PE or visit http://www.jephcottcharitabletrust.org.uk

The Foyle Foundation: New Guidelines

Grants to UK charities whose core work is in the areas of Learning, the Arts and Health.
• Learning - The Foundation's main priorities for support are: libraries, museums and archives; and special educational needs and learning difficulties. State funded schools and special schools may be supported (see special guidance notes). Citizenship, esteembuilding, training, skills acquisition to aid employment, early learning projects or playgroups will not generally be considered.
• Arts - They seek applications that make a strong artistic case for support in either the performing or visual arts, that particularly help you to develop your artistic vision. Other priorities are: to help make the arts more accessible by developing new audiences, supporting tours, festivals and arts educational projects; and by encouraging new work and supporting young and emerging artists. Building and infrastructure projects to construct new arts facilities, improve or re-equip existing venues will also be considered. Community arts activity will not generally be supported.
• Health - The Foundation supports applications linked to a known medical condition. The Foundation funds projects or core work that makes an active contribution to improved health care. Smaller health charities, including those for rare or distressing conditions will be favoured. The Foundation will also support smaller research projects from time to time, where the outcome is expected to translate quickly into improved  healthcare. Advocacy, respite, counselling or general support services such as information distribution or telephone helplines will not generally be supported.
The Foundation's primary aim is to support UK charities (international work is not funded) whose core remit covers Learning, the Arts or Health.
Most grants awarded range between £10,000 and £50,000. Charities wishing to make an application for funding should refer to ''Guidelines for Applicants'' and the ''Application Form'' which are available electronically in Word format for download from their website.
It may take up to 4 months, occasionally longer, to receive a decision from the Trustees. Please apply at least 6 months before you require the  funding.
For more information: Please contact the Foyle Foundation on 020 7430 9119, e-mail: info@foylefoundation.org.uk or visit www.foylefoundation.org.uk

The Douglas Hay Trust

The Douglas Hay Trust is a small trust set up to aid physically disabled children under the age of 18 to help with holidays, education and  computers. It also gives help with clothes, shoes and bedding. The Charity can only assist children resident in Scotland. Cheques will only be  issued to local authority or hospital social work departments. The Committee meets once a month to consider grant applications from local  authority and hospital social work departments and from other charities for grants for specific children. An application form is available from the  following address: John D Ritchie, CA Barstow & Millar, Chartered Accountants, Midlothian Innovation Centre, Pentlandfield, Roslin Midlothian, EH25 9RE or call them on (0131) 440 9030.

The Charles Hayward Foundation

The Charles Hayward Foundation is a grant-making charitable trust which is located in the United Kingdom. They make grants to charities and  charitable organisations which are registered in the U.K. The Foundation predominantly fund capital costs and occasionally offers project funding  for start-up or developmental activities. It prefers to support community and neighbourhood-level projects, especially those in their early stages.
Small Grants of up to £5,000 are available to charities with an annual income under £250,000, otherwise a one-off grant can range from £10,000 to £25,000. Their current categories are:

• Overseas
• Heritage and Conservation
• Criminal Justice
• Hospices
• Older People
• Youth at Risk
  
  For more information and to read their new guidelines, please visit their website at
  http://www.charleshaywardfoundation.org.uk

25  June

£250,000 For Environmental Volunteers

The Scottish Executive has announced a new funding package worth £250,000 to encourage more volunteers to get involved in environmental projects. The initiative known as "Healthy  Communities need healthy places and natural space" will play a vital part in maintaining and developing physical and mental wellbeing for people and will help to achieve the goals of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy. The additional funding will be available help volunteer managers ensure that more people can take the opportunity to volunteer and enjoy and enhance their communities  natural environment. For more information, please click on the link below: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2007/06/13081742

Scottish Community Action Research Fund - SCARF

The Scottish Community Action Research Fund gives community groups support to improve their skills and confidence to carry out their own research. The fund helps them to plan a project, collect information and understand it, use the information and learn from the experience. SCARF provides funding for research by community organisations to help communities get actively involved in decisions that affect them and improve their circumstances. If you are from one of these organisation, the research can help you and your members to develop knowledge and understanding about your community, the research can help you to get things done. By supporting these kinds of projects, SCARF will not only benefit communities but it will also meet the Scottish Executive's priorities for regenerating communities.
Who is eligible?
SCARF funding is aimed at community groups, including the following:
• Local representative groups such as residents' organisations, community councils or community projects funded by local partnerships
• Social groups such as youth groups or religious groups
• Other common interest groups, such as organisations which represent disabled people, young or elderly people, or ethnic minority communities
SCARF funding can also support charities and voluntary groups that work in local communities, or with specific common-interest groups (such as registered social landlords, council of voluntary services, or organisations that support the types of communities and community groups identified above). These groups must show that the project will be led by the community and that there is a genuine need to develop skills for research.
Many types of groups are eligible for SCARF funding but they must all:
• be set up to benefit the public
• be not-for-profit organisations
• have a constitution that sets out the rules their organisation works to hold a bank or building society account with at least two signatories (people who are authorised to withdraw money on behalf of the group)
Application forms are available from SCDC by contacting Lee Goundry , SCARF Administrator on (0141) 222 4830 or e-mail Lee@scdc.org.uk or visit http://www.scdc.org.uk/scarf/
SCARF applications should be submitted before the following deadlines:  26th November 2007 and the 25th February 2008.

Communities Scotland - Seeing is Believing Fund (Regeneration Strategy)

Community and voluntary organisations are ideally placed to develop new ways of making regeneration work within their areas. But unlike many public and private sector organisations, they often lack the resources to find out more about successful regeneration or access training and learning opportunities. The Seeing is Believing Fund aims to fill this gap – and maximise the contribution that communities can make to the regeneration process. The fund provides grants of between £100 and £5,000 to community and voluntary groups working within disadvantaged areas or with disadvantaged groups, so that they can visit and learn from successful regeneration projects or
access other learning opportunities.
Examples of things that the Seeing is Believing Fund could help pay for are:
• exchange visits to or from another initiative aimed at sharing good practice or looking at ways of overcoming barriers;
• a training day or away-day for the organisation;
• bringing together a network of initiatives or partnerships to exchange learning or knowledge;
• support for specialist work aimed at developing learning and experience;
• equipment and training; or
• fees and accommodation for relevant conferences and seminars (Costs covered will include travel, accommodation, subsistence and consultancy support required).
Who can apply? Applicant groups have to be properly constituted (including an equalities statement). Have a bank or building society account with at least 2 joint signatories. Operate on a not-for profit-basis, and be set up for the 'public good'. The grants are intended to benefit community members and volunteers not members of staff. To qualify for a grant, applications must be for learning opportunities that:
• contribute to regeneration at a local level;
• respond to local needs and priorities;
• have the support of local people; and
• give value for money.
For more details of the grant and application form please follow the website below.
Deadline Date: Application can be made at anytime
For more information, please contact Jan Bird, SCR Practice and Knowledge Coordinator, on (0141) 419 1619 or e-mail jan.bird@communitiesscotland.gsi.gov.uk or visit the website at:
http://www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/webpages/cs_006305.hcsp#TopOfPage

Scottish Credit Union Assistance Fund

The Scottish Executive is making available a Scottish Credit Union Assistance Fund of £100,000 pa for 2006-07 and 2007-08. This Fund provides small grants to any Scottish Credit Union for expenses outwith the scope of the Scottish Credit Union SGEI approval scheme, to build Credit Unions’ capacity or promote compliance with regulatory requirements. The fund is administered by Communities Scotland (a Scottish Executive agency). Applications to the Fund may be made at any time during the financial years 2006-07 and 2007- 08, for payment in full by 31 March 2008.
For more information, please contact Guthrie Handley on (0141) 305 4172 or Margaret Smith on (0131) 479 5379, e-mail creditunions@communitiesscotland.gsi.gov.uk or visit the weblink:
http://www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/webpages/cs_015417.hcsp#TopOfPage

Communities Scotland Registered Tenant Organisation Grant

How much is available for distribution? £100,000 per financial year up to March 2009. What is the typical range of individual grants? Between £1000 and £10,000. What is the aim of the scheme?
The aim of the grant is to help Registered Tenant Organisations carry out their own ideas for improving tenant participation. Registered Tenant Organisations (RTOs) can apply for grants to fund projects that will raise awareness and improve tenant participation in their area. They can use the grant to try out new ideas and to promote the work of their group. The grant scheme is open to all tenant groups in Scotland who have registered with their landlord. Groups need to complete a 2 stage application process. The stage one and stage two application forms are available by  contacting the Tenant Participation Development Team. For more information, please click on the link below:
http://www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/webpages/cs_008388.hcsp

20 June

E.On Source Fund

The E.ON Source fund offers grants of up to £30,000 to local community groups and not for profit organisations located in England, Scotland and Wales that wish to implement sustainable energy projects in their buildings. Applications deadline is 21st December 2007. 

Grants from Age Concern
For member organisations, grants of between £500 and £5,000 are available to develop new projects that will benefit older people, to purchase equipment in order to support activities for older people and for conferences and training.

Youth Work Year of Action Grant Schemes

The  Youth Work Strategy,'Moving Forward - a Strategy for Improving Young People's Chances through Youth Work', includes a commitment to a Year of Action on Youth Work, supported by  funding of £8m. Three new funding streams announced for 2007/8 to support the training needs of national organisations (£0.5m), fund capital projects/equipment (£5m), and support recruitment initiatives, programmes and conferences/events through a Youth Opportunities Fund (£2.5m).  Further information and downloadable application forms are available from YouthLink Scotland.

Grant Funding and Project Support for Renewable Energy

‘Growing Community Assets’ is a grant scheme designed to assist community groups obtain assets for community use and ownership. It helps groups to acquire or develop land, buildings, and equipment. Grants are available from £10,000 to £1,000,000 over 1 to 5 years. Their role is to help communities benefit from renewable energy and they provide help on projects to alleviate fuel poverty, improve the usability and reduce the running costs of community facilities and reduce environmental impact. They are also leading the way on community income generation from renewable energy, helping groups to install wind turbines for sale of electricity to generate a long term sustainable income for the local community.
Further details on the scheme can be found at: http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_iic_growing_final.pdf

Aberdeen CVO Funding Briefings - many thanks to Alison for permission to include this item on our website.

ACVO have recently launched the first issue of the above briefings, which are intended to compliment their other funding advice services such as access to FunderFinder, one-to-one advice sessions and workshop facilitation.

The briefings are designed to help volunteers, committee members and staff of voluntary or community groups in Aberdeen who don’t really consider themselves to be fundraisers, but have been given a role or responsibility to manage this process.

The first issue contains snippets and tips from this year’s Institute of Fundraising Conference, while future briefings will look at the scope of funding sources, making the case for support, building a Fundraising Strategy, where else to go for advice and help on income generation, media relations and fundraising and standards in fundraising.

Issue 2  - The world of fundraising
Issue 3 - Making the case
Issue 4  - Signposts for income generation
Issue 5  - Strategies for Income Generation
Issue 6 - A path to a successful event
Issue 7 - Introduction to Business Planning Guidelines - also see attachments
Issue 7 attachment 1
Issue 7 attachment 2

For further information on this initiative please contact Alison Chandler, ACVO’s Funding Officer on 01224 686 054or visit ACVO’s Website.

Abbey Charitable Trust 2007

The Abbey Charitable Trust was established in 1990 and to date has donated over £20 million to charities in the UK. The Abbey Charitable Trust is committed to supporting local communities and disadvantaged people, particularly in those areas where Abbey has a significant presence.
They fund projects based on the following three priorities:
• Education and training
• Financial advice
• Community regeneration
Abbey operates a rolling programme so there are no deadlines and you can apply at any time of the year.
For more information, please click on the link below:
http://www.aboutabbey.com/csgs/Satellite?cid=282596177748070&pagename=AboutAbbey%2FGSInformacion%FPAAI_generic&c=GSInformacion

30 May 2007

SPORT RELIEF GRANTS

Community based organisations working with disadvantaged communities and groups in the UK are eligible to apply for funding under the Sport Relief Grants Programme. The Sport Relief which was set up by Comic Relief and BBC Sport to use the power and passion of sport to tackle poverty and disadvantage. In the UK, money raised through Sport Relief 2006 is currently being distributed in two ways. The Community Foundation Network is distributing Sport Relief grants of up to £10,000 to projects that use sport to build the confidence and self esteem of people who are having major problems in their lives. Other projects will give people who would otherwise miss out, the chance to take part in sport. UnLtd is distributing Sport Relief grants of up to £5,000 to young people who use sport to bring people together in their local area to enhance community relations and reduce conflict where they live.
For more information, please click on the link: http://www.comicrelief.com/apply-for-a-grant/uk/sport-relief/

18 May 2007

Scottish Community Foundation now accepting applications for Sport Relief grants

Grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 available. The Scottish Community Foundation is now able to accept applications to the 2007 – 2008 Sport
Relief grants programme. Grants will be available to constituted not-for-profit community groups with an income under £250,000 per year for  projects that:
1. Increase access to sport and exercise for people who face social exclusion and isolation;
2. Help people who are experiencing difficulties in their lives to regain their confidence and self-esteem.
There are some important changes from the Foundation’s previous Sport Relief programme, which ran during 2005 and 2006:
• The minimum grant size has increased to £1,000
• The maximum grant available is now £10,000
• A greater focus on ongoing activities and programmes rather than one-off events
• A new application form specifically for Sport Relief applications
For more information and to download an application form, please click on the link: www.scottishcf.org/page8613.cfm

AERC - The Alcohol Education and Research Council

The main aims of the Council are to increase the capacity of individuals and organisations to deal with alcohol issues and also to develop the Councils' evidence base. Two types of projects will be considered, i.e. rigorous research projects (to improve the evidence base) and projects to
develop people and organisations. Money can be awarded within three grants:
1. Research Grants - the council expects to fund four or five projects of around £50,000, which should aim to focus on value for money; increase the skills of people; develop the capacity of organisations and involve partnership funding to make the project more substantial;
2. Developing people and organisations - development grants are available (see guidance notes on website);
3. Small grants - funding for small projects up to a max. of £5,000, with priority given to evidence based projects or those with a strong evaluation component.
Small grants will be rapidly processed throughout the year with no deadline. Application forms for all these schemes are downloadable from their website. The AERC has moved. Their new address is: AERC, Room 178, Queen Anne Business Centre, 28 Broadway, London SW1H 9JX Tel: 020 7340 9502 Website: www.aerc.org.uk
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Applications for Small Grants can be made at any time. New Priorities for the other grants will be set in June 2007 and therefore please do not apply for anything but a Small Grant at this point.

8 May 2007

Donate a PC

There is a free ''matchmaking'' service for individuals and organisations to donate un-needed hardware (computers, printers etc) to UK charities, not-for-profit organisations and educational establishments (hardware only - not software). It is primarily for those with only one or two items to donate and/or who can not use a suitable recycling organisation. However they also have a comprehensive list of organisations that have larger quantities of computer equipment to donate to charities.
For more information, please visit www.donateapc.org.uk

Funding for Local Sustainable Energy Projects

Local community groups and not for profit organisations located in England, Scotland and Wales that wish to implement sustainable energy projects in their buildings have the opportunity to apply for grants of up to £30,000 through the E.ON Source Fund. Examples of organisations that have been funded in the past include schools, local-based and national charities, special education colleges and wildlife parks. Projects that can be considered for funding include the purchase and installation of one or more renewable energy technologies (e.g. wind, solar thermal, PV, wood etc); the renovation of existing facilities to incorporate micro-generation technology; an energy efficiency makeover for building that could demonstrate significant energy savings and also behavioural change amongst users; the use of new or innovative technology to deliver either energy savings or micro-generation capacity; projects which can demonstrate the intelligent use of waste energy (e.g. a district heating system that uses waste heat from one building to heat or power another).
Applications are reviewed three times a year with last deadline  for 2007 as follows;  21st December 2007.
For more information, please visit http://www.eon-uk.com/2060.aspx

Laidlaw Youth Trust

The Laidlaw Youth Trust aims to change lives by funding charities who provide support and services which make a real difference to vulnerable children and young people (up to the age of 25) and their families in Scotland. The trust is keen to build long-term relationships with effective charities delivering exceptional outcomes for young people and continues to look for new partners. A number of new partner charities may initially be offered funding for up to 12 months. The average grant to date has been around £25,000 for a year's activity. The trust is particularly interested in supporting: Work with all age groups which will assist with improved educational outcomes; Work with younger children which helps improve their confidence, ambition and self belief; Mentoring and/or befriending services; Partnership working which improves service delivery (e.g. collaboration between 2 or more organisations at least one of which should be a charity).
Priority is given to proposals that focus on improving outcomes for the most disadvantaged and excluded children and young people for example cared for children, those leaving care, young carers, homeless people, those at risk of offending or ex-offenders and young people not in education, employment or training.

LYT will fund the costs of delivering projects but will also fund revenue and core costs if that means supporting delivery of good work. Projects or services do not have to be innovative or new. LYT is also happy to support new services. Applications are not invited where the bid is largely for capital (e.g. for refurbishing accommodation, new building projects or motor vehicles).

Get in touch with the trust if you've got an idea to see if it meets their criteria. Go to www.laidlawyouthtrust.org to complete a funding enquiry form, e-mail your details to Maureen.mcginn@laidlawyouthtrust.org or phone (0131) 247 6801.

Comic Relief - Disadvantaged Communities

Comic Relief are encouraging applications to the Disadvantaged Communities fund. They welcome applications from groups who face added disadvantage or find it particularly hard to get funding such as those in rural areas.
Community enterprises and constituted community groups as well as registered charities are eligible to apply for this funding, which offers small grants of up to £5000. This programme aims to support schemes, ideas and activities run by people who live in communities affected by poverty and disadvantage to change things for the better, to get improved services for their communities, to become more involved in local decision making and to run their community groups more effectively.  Funding is available for running costs, including core costs, and contributions to equipment and simple refurbishments to community buildings.  Applications can be made at any time.

The Big Lottery Fund - Growing Community Assets

The Big Lottery Fund (BLF) has recently produced a revised version of the Growing Community Assets Further Guidance. This document includes several changes, and in particular provides much more detail than the original version about the types/characteristics of projects BLF are keen to support. It should be essential reading for anyone considering, or in the process of, applying to Growing Community Assets (GCA).

Scottish Arts Council Guide to Funds 2007/08

Following its strategic funding review in 2006, the Scottish Arts Council has now published its Guide to Funds 2007 /08. The new priorities include a sharper focus on the needs of artist; ensuring a healthy, sustainable arts sector; and reinforcing the Arts Council's commitment to improving the opportunities for people who wish to participate in the arts. In addition, Arts Council has established a group of Foundation Organisations, with the aim of providing more sustainable funding. The Council has also established a pool of flexible funding, to new and the innovative activities. The applications deadlines to the Scottish Arts Council is 14th January 2008 (for projects taking place after 1 April 2008, subject to confirmation of available funds).

30 April 2007

ICT Connect Bursaries

Voluntary and community organisations that want to explore their ICT needs by visiting another organisation that is using ICT well or in an innovative way can apply for a grant of up to £150 towards travel and subsistence costs through the ICT Hub "ICT Connect Bursary Scheme". The type of ITC needs that could be addressed includes setting up an ICT strategy, have an IT volunteer; learn more about how to work with volunteers, how to manage them and how to work out your requirements, learn to use ICT in an innovative way; maybe it's the use of mobile phones, maybe it's making telephone calls over the internet, maybe it's video conferencing, or maybe it's something completely new. Applications can be made at any time. For more information, please visit http://www.icthub.org.uk/ICT_Connect

Get to Grips with a New Priority for Funders - Sustainable Development

Sus it Out is a new community development tool from the Future Scotland partnership which aims to help voluntary organisations get their heads around the sustainable development agenda.  With funders including BIG Lottery and Communities Scotland now requiring that applicants take a sustainable development approach, there are likely to be immediate tangible benefits to groups that can confidently demonstrate knowledge and practice in this area. A Sus it Out session takes around 90 minutes and would be particularly appropriate for management committees/boards. Several SCVO and CVS network staff have been trained as facilitators - a full list by area is available from the Sus it Out website at http://www.susitout.org.uk/

Big Lottery Fund to Take on £30m Community Assets Fund

The Government has appointed the Big Lottery Fund to manage a £30m fund to enable community-based enterprises to take over community  assets from public agencies. The fund will allow social enterprises based in the community to take over publicly-owned assets, such as disused community centres, and apply for grants to cover any refurbishment costs.
http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/DailyBulletin/647784/Big-Lottery-Fund-30m-Community-Assets-Fund/120CF5F7CB0BFE6DE214FD57C245BA1E

Refugee Week Website Announces Latest “Access to Funding” Bulletin

Access to Funding is a bi-monthly funding bulletin primarily aimed at refugee & asylum related projects and includes information on funders that prioritise refugee and asylum related work, general funders, other websites and useful sources of information To access the Bulletin, please click on the link below:
http://www.refugeeweek.org.uk/InfoCentre/Information+for+Refugee+Community+Organisations/Funding.htm

Funding To Promote Innovation in Tackling Financial Exclusion

The National Forum for Financial Inclusion (TRANSACT) and the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) have announced that the criteria and guidelines for the INNOVATE programme 2007 - 08 are now available. Under the Innovate programme awards of between £10,000 and £30,000 are available to support projects that develop new ideas in promoting financial inclusion. The aim of the scheme is to give organisations the opportunity to test out new approaches and activities which will extend knowledge of what works in helping people move towards financial inclusion; and in doing so build up a stock of transferable new ideas for use by other organisations across the UK. This year the focus of the programme will be on tackling financial exclusion amongst social housing tenants, and those experiencing homelessness. The total budget available is £100,000 and in 2007 - 08 Transact expects to build a portfolio of 3-6 projects. Applications will be open from the end of April, when application forms will be available from the TRANSACT website. For more information, please click on the link below:
http://www.transact.org.uk/page.asp?section=000100010002

Transforming Lives

The Camelot Foundation has announced that the next funding round under its "Transforming Lives" programme will be launched on the 30th March 2007. The Transforming Lives programme spends £1.5 million each year to develop new approaches and creative ideas for re-connecting marginalised young people (aged 11 - 25) to the mainstream of UK life. The funding is open to registered charities that work with young people that fall within the Foundations priority groups. These are; young parents or those at risk of becoming young parents; young exiles, newly arrived in the UK; young people with mental health problems; and young disabled people. Each funding round of this programmes focuses upon a different theme. Recent themes have included; hate crime and victimization; tackling negative stereotypes; young People living in rural areas; and sexual health information. For more information, please visit http://www.camelotfoundation.org.uk/

Looking for funding? Biffaward launches new website

Biffaward is one of the most respected Landfill Communities Fund schemes in the UK and has awarded more than £80 million to worthwhile projects since 1997. Every year a large number of projects are supported which enhance communities or biodiversity, sometimes both. Grants are awarded from as little as £250 up to £500,000 through the Small Grants, Main Grants and Flagship schemes. The Biffaward website has recently been relaunched following a revamp to make it easier when researching and applying. Projects must be within a required distance of a Biffa operation and a postcode search function allows you to check this.

Paul Hamlyn Foundation—Education and Learning Programme

The Paul Hamlyn Foundation is currently accepting applications under its Education and Learning programme. In particular, the Foundation is looking to fund projects that promote innovation and change in the areas of supplementary schooling and tackling school exclusion
and truancy. Eligible organisations that can apply for funding include charities, local authorities individual preschools, schools, out-of-school clubs, supplementary schools, colleges and youth clubs if they demonstrate benefits to the wider community and include partnership working that will result in increasing access to education and learning to all communities and age groups. The costs that can be covered by the Foundation's grants include running costs such as staff salaries and overheads such as stationery, rent, rates and utilities. There is no minimum or maximum size of
grant that organisation's can apply for but the average size grant awarded in 2005-06 was £19,300.
Applications can be made at any time. For more information, please visit http://www.phf.org.uk/page.asp?id=85

Scottish Community Foundation—Launch of New Investment Programme

Local community groups and charities could receive up to £50,000 in grants thanks to a new Community Investment Programme by the Scottish Community Foundation. The new Community Investment Programme will make grants of between £10,000 and £50,000. As a charity dedicated to strengthening communities and making a genuine difference to the lives of local people across Scotland, the Scottish Community Foundation initially expects to make up to 15 grants. With a minimum request of £10,000, grants for up to 2 years will be available at a maximum of £25,000 per year. Nick Addington, Grants Director, Scottish Community Foundation commented: “Over the last 10 years, the Scottish Community Foundation has distributed over £10 million in grants to groups from all sections of society, living in all areas of Scotland, much of it in the form of one-off grants of a few thousand pounds. We now wish to develop stronger relationships with some of the groups and communities we support by investing more in organisations working in ways which we feel are particularly interesting or valuable, or where funding can be hard to find.” SCF was set-up in 1996 to provide funding for community groups and charities, and works with a range of individuals, companies, charitable trusts, as well as voluntary and government agencies including Comic Relief, The BIG Lottery Fund, BSkyB & Dunfermline Building Society. The Community Investment Programme is being supported with additional funds from the Essentia Foundation, a new charitable trust established to promote the health and social welfare of children and young people, and to encourage regeneration in areas of deprivation in Scotland. Lynne MacMillan, Trustee, The Essentia Foundation added: “We are delighted to have this opportunity to collaborate with the Scottish Community Foundation to increase investment in Scotland’s communities. This new programme will enable the Essentia Foundation to reach communities and projects throughout Scotland using the Scottish Community Foundation’s experience and expertise.”
The Programme will concentrate on three main investment areas:
1. Building enterprising communities—supporting creative and innovative ideas that develop local talents, assets and resources for community benefit.
2. Connecting generations—helping people develop sustainable relationships that span generations, enabling all age groups to participate in and contribute to community life.
3. Repositioning Organisations—assisting established organisations to evolve in order to best reflect the changing needs of their communities.
Proposals are currently being sought from organisations interested in applying and the initial deadline for submission is 30th April 2007. Full details and Proposal Forms are available from the Scottish Community Foundation’s website www.scottishcf.org/applyingforagrant and select Our Current Grants Programme or by contacting the Grants Team on (0141) 225 6670.

Conservation Foundation

Awards of up to £1,000 are available to local groups and individuals for the hire of tools or equipment and to purchase plants, paint, signs materials etc. to carry out all types of environmental projects. This could include, for example, turning derelict land into an amenity park or wildlife area, tree planting, creating a wildlife pond etc. The following groups can apply: Local amenity groups; Parish and village councils; Schools; Youth clubs; Heritage groups; Environmental and conservation groups and/or Individuals - who can show that their project will benefit the local environment. For further details or an application form, please contact: Libby Symon at The Conservation Foundation 1, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR Tel: 0207 591 3111, E-mail: libbysymon@conservationfoundation.co.uk or visit the website to see guidelines for applicants at www.conservationfoundation.co.uk

CRASH - Construction Help for Homelessness Charities

CRASH is the construction and property industry charity for the homeless. The charity provides practical help for homelessness charities. It does this by harnessing the skills, products, talents and goodwill of the construction and property sectors to help homelessness charities throughout the UK to improve their premises, facilities and accommodation provided for homeless people. If your project is in need of refurbishment help, contact the CRASH office on Tel: 020 8742 0717 Fax: 0208 747 3154 Email: crash@crash.org.uk Website: www.crash.org.uk

Women's Fund for Scotland 2007/08 Programme

The Women's Fund for Scotland 2007/08 programme is now open. Grants are available for organisations predominantly run by and for women or for organisations with women-only projects. Funding is predominantly for locally focussed projects that contribute to the regeneration or development of a specific geographic area - assisting women to access education and training opportunities, for example. Organisations can apply for a small grant (up to £1,000) or a main grant (£1,000 - £5,000) - the scheme is open until 14th December 2007. The application forms and guidance notes for the Women's Fund for Scotland 2007/08 programme can be downloaded from the link below:
http://www.ccpscotland.org/workforceunit/info/news.php

Healthy Heart Grant

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Grants support innovative projects designed to promote heart health and to prevent or reduce the risks of heart disease in specific groups or communities. Grants of up to £10,000 are available to community groups, voluntary organisations and researchers who are spreading the healthy heart message.
Government or local authority funded institutions are not supported, however, community and voluntary groups aided by public money may apply.
Applications are only accepted during January and February for the May round of grants and July and August for grants awarded in November, each year. Applications received at any other time of year will be returned.
Click here for an application form
www.heartresearch.org.uk/documents/HealthyHeartGrantApplicationForm_001.doc
Click here for terms & conditions
www.heartresearch.org.uk/documents/HHTandC_001.pdf
Click here for guidelines
www.heartresearch.org.uk/documents/HHguidelines_000.pdf
For further information or informal discussion on Healthy Heart Grants please contact the Lifestyle Officer on 0113 297 6206 or email lifestyle@heartresearch.org.uk 

The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation (UK)

The Foundation will support both revenue and capital expenditure applications from charities and not for profit organisations working within the Health Care and Disability, Community Support and the Arts and Education fields.
The maximum revenue grant available is £10,000 and for capital expenditure the maximum grant is £50,000. The Trustees meet four times a year, at the beginning of February, May, September and November to consider applications. Applications must be received at least six weeks prior to a meeting in order to be considered. For more details read the guidance on the website.

Introductory Pack on Funding and Finance:

Launched back in September, the ‘Introductory Pack on Funding and Finance’ has now been reprinted. This pack has been produced by the Sustainable Funding Project ‘SFP’ funded by the Finance Hub and provides funding advisors with a wealth of information to support them in their
work with frontline organisations.
The Pack is designed to:
 Alert organisations to the funding options available to them, and to highlight key messages about financial management and sustainability.
 Provide advisors with a useful tool to use with the organisations they work with.
Each of the six guides contains practical information on a specific area of funding or finance and includes case studies, tools and signposts to resources to assist organisations in their search for long-term financial sustainability.
The six guides cover Sustainable Funding, Financial Management, Fundraising, Trading, Procurement and Contracting and Loan finance. Copies can be ordered from NCVO publications by calling 0800 2798 798 or downloaded free from the SFP website at the link below:
www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/sfp/introductory-pack.

Big Lottery Fund Research Programme

The Big Lottery Fund has announced that it has appointed two organisations to help it manage its £25 million Research Programme.
Through the Research Programme voluntary and community based organisations will be able to apply for grants to undertake medical and social research. In the longer term the programme, through producing sound evidence, will aim to help develop better services and interventions for beneficiaries.
The organisations selected by the Big Lottery Fund to help it to administer the Research programme are Momenta and Third Sector First. Only organisations from the voluntary and community sector will be able to apply for funding when the programme is due to open for applications in the spring 2007.
For more information, please click on the link below:
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_research_programme?assocorg=false&regioncode=-uk&status=theProg&regioncode=-uk&status=theProg

Clore Duffield Foundation—New Initiatve to Support Jewish Communities Outside of London

The Clore Duffield Foundation has announced that it will launch a new initiative to support Jewish communities outside of London.
Known as Sparks: The Clore Jewish Development Fund, the initiative will fund innovative cultural, educational and community development projects across the UK (excluding London). Sparks was devised to celebrate the launch of the Jewish Community Centre for London, founded by the Clore Duffield Foundation. Further information is available at http://www.cloreduffield.org.uk/sparks_intro.htm

Call for Proposals—Citizen for Europe (2007 - 2013) Programme

Under its new Citizen for Europe (2007 - 13) programme, the European Commission provides grants to promote a wide range of activities to promote active European citizenship. In particular, the Commission wants to support activities that promotes the involvement of citizens and civil society organisations in the process of European integration.
Currently, there are a number of calls for proposals open under this programme. Under the current calls, grants are available to promote town twinning activities; transnational partnership based projects that aim to meet the objectives of the new programme; and remembrance projects that commemorate the victims of nazisim and stalinism by preserving the sites and archives associated with deportations.
For further information and application deadlines please click on the link below:
http://eacea.cec.eu.int/static/en/citizenship/2007info.htm

Veterans Challenge Fund

The Veterans Policy Unit has announced that the Veterans Challenge Fund (VCF) is open for applications. The VCF supports the Strategy for Veterans, which has been developed by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) in consultation with other government departments and ex-service organisations representing veterans. The total value of the fund is £750,000 per year and organisations can apply for grants of up to £100,000 for activities that; prepare service personnel for the transition to civilian life following their service; the provision of advice and h elp from the Government and voluntary sector where needed; and recognition of service personnel''s contribution to society. There is no closure date for applications.

Phase 2 Low Carbon Buildings Programme

The Department of Trade and Industry has announced that Phase 2 of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP) opened for applications on the 8th January 2007. The second phase of the LCBP will provide £50 million in grants over the next 18 months to help fund the installation of micropower technologies such as solar panels, micro wind-turbines and ground source heat pumps on schools, not for profit and public sector buildings. Organisations can apply for between 30% and 50% of the cost of installing approved microgeneration technologies, depending on the technology up to a maximum of £1 million. In addition suplus energy generated will be able to be sold back to the National Grid. 

January 2007

Foundation Announces £29 Million of Grants

The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation has announced that in 2007 they expect to make grants of £29 million across the UK. The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is one of the largest independent grantmaking foundations in the UK and makes grants to organisations which aim to improve the quality of life for people and communities in the UK, both now and in the future. The Foundation makes grants through four programme areas: Arts & Heritage, Education, Environment and Social Change: Enterprise and Independence. In the past the majority of grants have been up to £100,000 (although the Foundation has also made larger grants). Applications need to be for charitable purposes and can be made at any time.
http://www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk/

J Paul Getty Jr Charitable Trust

The trust aims to fund projects to alleviate poverty and misery in general, and unpopular causes in particular, within the UK. The emphasis is on self-help and enabling people to reach their potential. The Trustees favour small community and local projects which make good use of volunteers. There are 4 main beneficial areas; Social Welfare, Therapeutic Use of the Arts, Conservation and the Environment. Most of the funding is given to Social Welfare, as you will see if you look at their Annual Report. For more information, please visit www.jpgettytrust.org.uk

The Guy Hughes Young Campaigner Award

The Guy Hughes award is part of an award scheme for campaigners co-ordinated by the Sheila McKechnie Foundation, which is dedicated to equipping campaigners with the skills they need to change the world. The award is one of nine Sheila McKechnie Foundation campaigning awards this year. It is for young campaigners—aged 18 to 24—who are “working towards global justice, challenging the root causes of world poverty, international conflict, environmental destruction or human rights abuses. The winner does not receive money, but a year’s worth of support specifically tailored to developing the campaigning skills they need to make the greatest impact in their chosen field. For more information and to apply please visit www.sheilamckechnie.org.uk

YOUTH BANK

See http://www.youthbank.org.uk/

SCOTTISH SEED FUND

THE GARFIELD WESTON FOUNDATION

Young People's Fund

Funding for projects and new activities for people ages 11 - 25

The Charles Hayward Foundation

This fund makes grants to registered charities predominantly for capital costs but funding can be asked for start-up or developmental activities. Funds also available for community facilities and projects involving older people. See website and guidelines

Investing in Communities

The above programme was launched by the Big Lottery Fund on Tuesday 2 May 2006. Investing in Communities is a fund of £257 million which aims to bring real improvements to communities and the lives of the people most in need.  The fund will be open between 2006 and 2009 and will see investment in social change in Scotland in the following 4 ways:

• Growing Community Assets – to help communities become stronger by acquiring or developing assets for their own use.
• Dynamic Inclusive Communities – to help build stronger more vibrant communities.
• Life Transitions – to support projects that help people deal with change in their lives and encourage them to move on.
• Supporting 21st Century Life – to invest in projects that enable people to cope with new patterns of life and the pace of change that communities are experiencing.

The grants are open to a wide range of groups including: charities, voluntary and community groups, local authorities, social enterprises and health boards.  It is anticipated that most of the grants made will be between £10,000 and £1 million.  If you are interested in applying simply complete and submit an outline proposal form which can be downloaded from the Big Lottery website.  If you have any queries with this or would like to discuss your idea further you can contact a Funding Advisor on 0870 240 2391.  If your proposal is viable, the Big Lottery Fund will provide you with feedback, application materials and advice on which of the 4 areas of investment your project fits best.

BLF Awards for All 

Multi-Million Pound Lottery Boost for a Healthy Future

The Big Lottery Fund has announced grants totalling more than £3 million to promote healthy living amongst young people aged 17 - 24 in Scotland.  The funding is being made available through the £5.5 million Active Futures Programme.  Through this initiative funding of between £50,000 and a maximum of £500,000 is available to projects that encourage disadvantaged 17-24 year olds to become involved in regular sport and physical activities, or increase/sustain their participation levels.  For further information and application details on this programme please visit the website.

The Scottish Energy People Trust

This new initiative has been established to help fund not-for-profit organisations that assist vulnerable people living in fuel poverty.  Projects eligible for funding include: crisis funding, benefit health checks or income maximisation, energy efficiency measures and research.  However priority will be given to schemes which are aimed at helping families with young children and young people.  For further information and an application form please visit the website, email, phone 0141 568 2000 or write to ScottishPower Energy People Trust, Cathcart Business Park, Spean Street, GLASGOW, G44 4BE.

Awards for All

For further information or advice Deirdre Harte, the Scotland Development Manager for Heritage Lottery Fund on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.
28 Thistle Street
Edinburgh EH2 1EN
Direct Dial: 0131 240 158