Funding

Small Grants Scheme 2009-10
The overall aim of the Community Health Development Team of the Health Promotion Service is to stimulate and support local communities in actions, which will reduce health inequalities, improve quality of life and quality of opportunity for communities.  The Small Grants Scheme gives communities the opportunity to be able to try out something new that would not otherwise be available to them without the funding. 

We are looking to ensure that this fund is able to support a wide number of groups within Cornwall and therefore we wish to support projects that promote social inclusion through projects which:

Support community health development through community involvement and participation
Support community involvement in active recreation and environmental projects
Promote arts for health within the community (all forms)

Download Small Grants Information Pack/Guidance Notes (click here)
Download Small Grants Application Form (click here)

Please note SE Cornwall (Caradon) has one closing date of 26th June 2009

Southwest Region Funding and News Bulletin

Mid-April 2009
End-December 2008
Mid-November 2008
End-October 2008
Mid-October 2008

FUNDING ALERT

*RSWT Announces Details of its £50 Million Local Food Programme
*The Big Lottery Fund has appointed the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT) as an Award Partner under its Changing Spaces programme. RSWT will use the £50 million awarded by BIG to launch a Local Food programme. Local Food will distribute grants to a variety of food-related projects to help make locally grown food accessible and affordable to local communities. The aim of the programme will be to improve health and well-being through exercise and better nutrition; to strengthen local economies through the creation of social enterprises; and to promote greater sustainability through the better use of resources. Grants from £2,000 up to £500,000 will be awarded to not-for-profit groups and organisations in England delivering such projects as growing, processing, marketing and distributing local food; composting and raising awareness of the benefits of such activities. The fund will open to applications in early February 2008.
http://www.rswt.org/localfood/  or www.localfoodgrants.org
To receive an outline of the programme and any updates please email your full contact details to localfood@rswt.org

LOCAL GRANTS

NEWSFLASH
“Funding available for all areas of Cornwall”

Community Planning Project Grant
The fund is open to community groups who require financial assistance to develop or implement a project following the community planning process. In particular the fund aims to kick start projects following the parish planning process, helping to generate momentum within the local community. We aim to award grants to communities where the funding will make a real difference, especially as this is only a small fund.
No deadline.
Guidelines and an application form.

Funding for Community Facilities
The SITA Trust which is a funding organisation that supports community and environmental improvement projects around waste treatment and landfill sites owned by the waste management company SITA UK has announced that the next application deadlines under its enhancing communities programme are the 31st July for its Large Grants programme and the 15th June for its Small Grants programme. Under its Large Grant programme grants of between £10,001 and £50,000 are available to not-for-profit organisations including community groups, parish councils, charities, local authorities and voluntary organisations to fund physical improvements to community, sport or historic buildings/structures within 3 miles of a Sita site. The Small Grants Scheme provides fast-track access to funding for community improvement applications of up to £10,000 within 3 miles of a qualifying Sita site http://www.sitatrust.org.uk/apply/community.  In the county of Cornwall applicants are requested to direct their enquiries for funding projects to SITA Cornwall Trust. SITA Cornwall Trust is an entirely separate organisation which distributes the landfill tax credits raised by SITA UK in the county. To find out more about SITA Cornwall Trust you can visit their website at www.sitacornwalltrust.co.uk

NATIONAL GRANTS

Are you involved with a community, voluntary, not for profit organisation, business or charity? Do you need assistance with finding grants, loans or advice? If so we can help by undertaking a Grantfinder search.  Grantfinder is a funding information database and a search could identify potential sources of funding for your project ideas.The Funding Information Service is a free service which provides comprehensive information about sources of local, regional, national UK and European funding for projects and programmes which promote the regeneration and economic development of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. You will be provided with a report that will contain information about organisations that may be able to assist you with your project. We have attached a Grantfinder form.  Please fill in the relevant details regarding your project and send it back to us at the address below. Please feel free to forward this information/form on to any relevant organisations or groups who you think may find this useful. If you need further information from us, don’t hesitate to call.

Louise Pallett
Funding Information Service
Project Development Division
01209 616091
louise.pallett@cornwallenterprise.co.uk

Additional Funding for Positive Activities for Young People
As part of its 10 year youth strategy the Government has announced a new fund of £420 million to provide facilities and activities for young people. The new fund which has been allocated to Local Authorities across England, will pay for projects such as skate parks, basketball courts, and music workshops in disadvantaged areas where young people are at risk of getting into trouble. A key element of the new funding will be an additional £25 million for the Youth Opportunity and Capital Funds. The money which will be ring fenced and allocated to Local Authorities and will enable young people aged 13 - 19 to bid directly for funds from their local council to improve facilities and activities in their neighbourhood. The additional £25 million will be used to expand the Youth Opportunities Fund in the most deprived areas of England. In addition, an extra £6.5 million has been allocated for 2008-09 for areas identified by the Home Office as being gun and gang crime hotspots.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2007_0231

Alcohol Education and Research Council – Small Grants Programme
Organisations such as community groups, universities and charities, etc are able to apply to the Alcohol Education and Research Council under its Small Grants Programme. Funding of up to £5,000 is available for projects that increase the capacity of individuals and organisations to deal with alcohol issues. Funding is available both for research and action orientated projects. The Alcohol Education and Research Council is very flexible in what is eligible for support and is looking for projects that are innovative and that make a difference.
http://www.aerc.org.uk/grants.html

All Change at Awards for All
Following the demise of the previous Awards for All programme, the Big Lottery Fund has announced the launch of its own version of this very popular grants programme in England and Wales. A total of £45 million is available in England offering Big Lottery Fund grants of between £300 to £10,000 to grassroots groups in the community and voluntary sector, health bodies, schools and parish or town councils. The programme aims to make a difference to communities and the lives of those most in need and will focus on social and environmental projects that benefit local communities. http://www.awardsforall.org.uk/index.html

Age Concern England
The Grants Unit at Age Concern England offer a number of grant opportunities from £150 to up to £20,000, to age concern organisations/groups/regions/sub-regional partnerships. For further details contact 0208 765 7738 or 0208 765 7741. http://www.ageconcern.org.uk/AgeConcern/grant_giving.asp, email:grants.unit@ace.org.uk

Alcohol Education and Research Council – Small Grants Programme
Organisations such as community groups, universities and charities, etc are able to apply to the Alcohol Education and Research Council under its Small Grants Programme. Funding of up to £5,000 is available for projects that increase the capacity of individuals and organisations to deal with alcohol issues. Funding is available both for research and action orientated projects. The Alcohol Education and Research Council is very flexible in what is eligible for support and is looking for projects that are innovative and that make a difference. 
Applications can be made at any time.
http://www.aerc.org.uk/grantsSmall.html

Arts Council Launches Grant Scheme to Help Arts Organisations through Recession
The Arts Council England has announced that its new £40 million grant scheme Sustain is now open for applications. Sustain is the Arts Council England's response to the impact of the recession on arts organisations whose sustainability is important in delivering their mission of great art for everyone. Sustain provides grants to arts organisations to help them maintain their artistic, financial and organisational viability during the recession and implement essential changes to ensure their long-term sustainability. Sustain will make one-off awards between £75,000 to £3 million (unless there are exceptional circumstances) to cover the period 2009-2011 and spending must commence within 12 months of the award being granted. Potential uses for Sustain funding include; resolving cash flow problems; maintaining the quality of artistic output; purchasing essential capital assets; continuing education, community and audience development work; completing building repairs and renewals; and developing necessary organisational capability.
Applications can be submitted at any time.
http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/sustain.php

Awards for Bridging Cultures
Community and voluntary organisations that are working towards making a real and meaningful contribution towards the mutual understanding of cultural differences within communities are being invited to enter the Awards for Bridging Cultures (ABC). There are four different categories of Awards for Bridging Cultures: one for voluntary or community groups or organisations running projects/schemes to promote intercultural dialogue with gross annual financial income of over £500,000 (in the last two financial years), and one for under £500,000, one for volunteers of funders who have made a significant contribution to initiating or running projects or schemes to promote intercultural dialogue, and one for local authorities, public sector organisations and private companies who can demonstrate their support for voluntary sector projects or schemes which promote intercultural dialogue, either by helping to initiate projects/schemes or by providing ongoing financial and/or other sup! port. The winners of each of the two categories for voluntary organisations will receive £10,000 and commended organisations in these categories will receive up to £5,000 each. The deadline for applications is the 14th September 2009.
http://www.bridgingcultures.org.uk/About

BBC Children in Need
The next deadline for applications to the BBC Children in Need is the 15th January 2009. BBC Children in Need provides grants for up to three years to properly constituted not for profit organisations working with disadvantaged young people aged 18 or under . Funding is available to organisations, (including schools) that work with young people who are suffering from illness, distress, abuse or neglect, are disabled, have behavioural or psychological difficulties and / or are living in poverty or situations of deprivation. Last year the programme made grants of £33 million to over 1,500 organisations.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/charity/grants.shtml

Biffaward Small Grants Programme
Biffaward, one of the largest landfill communities fund scheme has announced that they are now accepting applications through their small grants programme, for projects that enable communities to improve local amenities and to conserve wildlife. Grants are of between £250 and £5,000, but projects must not cost more than £10,000 in total. To be eligible projects must be site-based within ten miles of a Biffa operation and 10 miles of an active landfill. Biffaward seeks to support access and improvements to amenities such as:

• furnishing community buildings
• cycle paths
• recreational facilities
• playground equipment
• park improvements
• access improvements to nature reserves.

They will not fund equipment or running costs. Some projects that have benefited from Biffawards small grants in the past are: Evigton village green, on the outskirts of Leicester; and Avon Wildlife Trust to make improvements to Willsbridge Valley Local Nature Reserve in Bristol.
Applications can be submitted at any time.
http://www.biffaward.org/about/soverview

Big Lottery Fund: Launch of the Big Family Idea Competition
Do you have a great idea to improve family life in the UK? Would you like to see that idea piloted and turned into reality?

Why not enter the Big Family Idea?
A competition open to members of the public and professional bodies, being run by the organisers of National Family Week and supported by the BIG Lottery Fund.
We are looking for great ideas that could improve family life either

• in your street
• in your town or village
• in the UK

 We are leaving this as open as possible to encourage the best idea we can.
Although there isn’t a direct prize, the winner will have the achievement of seeing their idea selected, and then piloted by a suitable organisation with funds from BIG of up to £150,000 (subject to appropriately fundable ideas being submitted).
Entries are open from the 15th May to 31st July 2009 and people can enter online at or by post.
For more information, as well as terms and conditions, visit www.nationalfamilyweek.co.uk which is running the competition.
BIG advice line: 0845 4 10 20 30

Big Lottery Fund  - Village SOS
Is an exciting new initiative from the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) and the BBC. It is searching for six UK villages with a great business idea and six enterprising individuals to act as Village Champions and help them achieve their ambitions.
Together they will create a brand new venture that will bring new life and energy to the village with funding of between £100,000 and £400,000 from BIG.
The journey of the six successful villages and their Village Champions will be filmed for a major prime time BBC One series in winter 2010.
To find out more about this exciting initiative call 0844 88 88 677
or visit: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/villagesos
or www.bbc.co.uk/villagesos

Film Publications Fund 2009/10
The UK Film Council has announced that it is inviting applications from limited companies, charities and other incorporated organisations based in the UK through their Film Publications Fund. The fund aims supports print and online publications as a way to encourage debate and interest in the UK film industry. Grants are of between £1,000 and £20,000 and are available to support current and new publications - in print or online; books; academic publications; information for under-served parts of the film industry. The deadline for applications is the 12th June 2009.
http://www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk/filmpubfund

Biodiversity Improvement Grant
Do you want to help Cornwall's wildlife and know of a project that will improve its opportunities?
Cornwall County Council's Natural Environment Service is offering small (£100 - £10,000) grants to assist biodiversity in Cornwall. Grants could be used for a variety of actions, e.g. fencing, scrub management, wetland management, biological recording, habitat improvements etc. The only criteria are that the funding:

• will demonstrably improve the prospects for Cornwall's wildlife
• requires no more than £10,000 from the Cornwall BIG small grant scheme
• is requested by a bona fide organisation/company/landowner/farmer

For further details and application form visit:
http://www.cornwallenterprise.co.uk/

Changing Spaces: Community Spaces
Full scheme details
Start date:
19/03/2008
Outline:
The Community Spaces programme, is run by Groundwork UK as part of the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme. The programme funds community groups who want to improve local green spaces such as play areas, community gardens, parks, wildlife areas and village greens, kick-about areas and pathway improvements. All legally constituted community groups (e.g. Friends Groups, Tenants and Residents’ Associations) can apply.
Total Fund Value:
£ 50,000,000
Grant Value - minimum:
£ 10,000
Grant Value - maximum:
£ 450,000
Grant Value - notes:
There are currently four types of grants available:
·  Small grants from £10,000 -£25,000
·  Medium grants from £25,001 - £49,999
·  Large grants from £50,000 - £100,000
·  Flagship grants from £100,001 - £450,000
The programme hopes to fund around a 1000 projects over its lifespan.
Extended Description:
The Big Lottery Fund's Changing Spaces programme invests around £200 million in environmental projects in England, including schemes to improve green spaces, grow local food and help community groups to reduce the amount of energy they use. The Community Spaces strand of Changing Spaces aims to help community groups create or improve green and open spaces so that the quality of life in neighbourhoods across England is enhanced. For more information, please visit the Community Spaces website: www.community-spaces.org.uk (opens new window)
Further Information:
BIG has several other Changing Spaces programmes open to the voluntary and community sector:
·   Access to Nature (opens new window)
·   Ecominds (opens new window)
·   Local Food (opens new window)
·   Community Sustainable Energy Programme (opens new window)

Call the Changing Spaces Advice helpline on 0845 3 671 671 (opening hours 8am-7pm Monday to Friday) for further details or email info@community-spaces.org.uk.
Contact Information:

Groundwork
Lockside
5 Scotland Street
Birmingham
B1 2RR
Phone:  0121 236 8565
Email:  info@community-spaces.org.uk

Changing Spaces: Local Food
Full scheme details
Start date:
17/03/2008
End date:
31/08/2012
Outline:
Changing Spaces: Local Food is run by the Royal Society for Wildlife Trusts (RSWT) and funds a range of not-for-profit community groups and organisations in England who want to carry out a variety of food related projects to make locally grown food more accessible and affordable to local communities.
Total Fund Value:
£ 50,000,000
Grant Value - minimum:
£ 2,000
Grant Value - maximum:
£ 300,000
Grant Value - notes:
Two types of grants are now available under the Changing Spaces: Local Food programme, ranging from £2,000 - £300,000:
  small grants between £2,000 - £10,000; and
  main grants between £10,001 - £300,000.
Please Note: The Total Fund Value also includes larger 'beacon grants' of £300,001 - £500,000, the application round for these grants passed in March 2008.

Extended Description:
Local Food has been developed by a consortium of organisations and is managed on their behalf by RSWT. As well as operating at a national level to support the work of the 47 local Wildlife Trusts, RSWT has a Grants Unit that manages several different funds, covering a broad environmental theme.
Local Food is funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme which was created to help communities enjoy and improve their local environments. The £50 million programme will distribute grants to a variety of food-related projects which aim to help make locally grown food accessible to local communities. The programme will run until December 2014, with all projects having to be completed by March 2014.
Local Food has five main themes under which a range of projects can be supported:
 Growing food locally; allowing people the opportunity to grow food locally.
 Celebrating cultural diversity; enabling communities to build knowledge and understanding of the cultural diversity of food.
 Social enterprise; stimulating local economic activity through the development of social enterprises related to local food.
 Skills and learning; creating opportunities for learning through volunteering, training and job creation.
 Healthy eating, healthy living; promoting awareness of the links between food and healthy lifestyles.  
For a list of Frequently Asked Questions about the grant programme, go to: www.localfoodgrants.org/faqs (opens new window).

Latest Information:
RSWT encourages organisations to show their support for local food and get connected to the Local Food Network on Facebook (opens new window).

Further Information:
BIG has several other Changing Spaces programmes open to the voluntary and community sector:
 Access to Nature (opens new window)
 Community Spaces (opens new window)
 Community Sustainable Energy Programme (opens new window)
 Ecominds (opens new window).

Church Urban Fund Seeks Applications to Its Mustard Seed Fund
The Church Urban Fund (CUF) has announced that it is seeking applications from churches and faith-based groups under its Mustard Seed Fund. The aim of the fund is to provide grants to enable churches and faith-based organisations to engage in social action through supporting them to initiate, develop and formulate ideas and opportunities in preparation for undertaking larger pieces of work. Mustard Seed Grants can pay for specific activities but not for on-going revenue expenditure, deficit funding, or retrospective spending. The Church Urban Fund particularly assists churches in deprived areas in their outreach to their local community and aims to support the mission of the Church. Eligible projects need to be directly tackling the effects of profound poverty and should be working in the 10% most deprived areas in England. The 'Mustard Seed' programme makes grants of up to £5,000 The programme operates on a rolling basis and applications can be made at any time.
http://www.cuf.org.uk/mustardseed.aspx

Eligible Expenditure:
For Small and Main Grants, up to 80% of the grant can be used for capital costs but at least 20% must be used for revenue. No match funding is required for small grants, however up to 20% is required for main grants. 
A Local Match Fund calculator is available from the Local Food website (opens new window).
Previously awarded funds:
For examples of projects funded under the Changing Spaces: Local Food programme, go to: www.localfoodgrants.org/projects (opens new window).
Application Procedure:
Applications for this fund are accepted on an ongoing basis. There is a two stage application process for both sizes of grant, the First Stage Application requires an outline of the proposals to ensure eligibility. All eligible projects are then invited to submit a Full Application.
Applicants must register in order to receive Application Forms and Guidance Notes at the Local Food website (opens new window).
Both the First Stage and Full Application forms are available in electronic copy and hard copy. To request a hard copy First Stage Application form call the Changing Spaces Advice Line on 0845 3 671 671. Completed forms should either be emailed to localfood@rswt.org  (opens new window) or sent by post (call the Changing Spaces Advice Line for details).
For more information about the application process, go to: www.localfoodgrants.org/process (opens new window).
Contact Information:

Changing Spaces Advice Line helpline
Phone: 0845 3 671 671
Email: localfood@rswt.org
Web: http://www.localfoodgrants.org/

Charity Bank Launches New Loan Service for Community Organisations
The Charity bank, which is the UK’s only regulated bank that is also a registered general charity and is the only bank that uses its depositors’ funds solely to support organisations providing solutions to society’s problems, has launched an asset finance service for charities and emerging social enterprises. The Bank’s team of assessors based across the UK work with local charities, social enterprises and community organisations to agree loans of up to £1 million, to help with anything from working capital to building purchase and refurbishment. Its Asset Finance service is aimed at organisations struggling to obtain finance for the purchase of equipment, such as a new minibus, grass cutter or computer system, that could transform their ability to deliver services for the people they have been set up to assist. Loans are available for between 2 and 7 years and the interest rate is fixed at 7.5%.
http://www.charitybank.org/News_Events/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/9.aspx

Children in Need
Organisations working with disadvantaged young people aged 18 or under are able to apply for funding through the BBC’s Children in Need Programme. Funding is available to organisations, (including schools) that work with young people who are suffering from:

• Illness
• Distress
• Abuse or neglect
• Are disabled
• Have behavioural or psychological difficulties
• Are living in poverty or situations of deprivation.

 The type of funding available includes both capital and revenue grants. There is no minimum or maximum amount when applying for funds from BBC Children in Need and organisations can apply for up to 100% of project costs.
Previous projects funded include:
Home-Start Kettering Area which received a grant of £15,445 to run two support groups to work with disadvantaged children and their families on a weekly basis during term time
the Barnstaple Poverty Action Group which received a grant of £109,832 to help reduce homelessness and rough sleeping among young people through prevention, information, advice, support and emergency accommodation.
Organisations wishing to apply for funding need to complete the BBC Children in Need online grant application form no paper applications will be accepted. The next application deadline is 15 July 2009.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/grants/

Church and Community Fund
Under the Church and Community Fund grants of up to £15,000 are available to community projects run by parish churches, deaneries, dioceses and other bodies connected to or working in partnership with the Church of England. Projects supported must promote, aid and further the work of the Church of England. This does not exclude Anglican projects in partnership with ecumenical or other-faith partners, which are warmly welcomed, but it does exclude projects run by secular bodies which have little or no connection to the Church of England, overseas projects and projects in which an Anglican body is not a key player at a local level. Typical projects supported by the CCF might include employing a youth worker, renovating an old church hall for use as a community centre or providing hot meals for the homeless in a church room.
The next application deadline is the 17th August 2009.
http://www.churchandcommunityfund.org.uk/about_us.html

Community Shops
The Village Retail Services Association in partnership with Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and Co-operative and Community Finance have announced the launch of the Village Core programme which will provide £2 million of start up funding to new Community owned shops in rural areas of England. The funding which will be available over the next three years will provide up to £40,000 per shop. This will be made up of a mix of grant and loan funding, as well as advice from the Village Retail Services Association. Eligible applicants will include community based organisations located in rural communities of not less than 200 residents. Applications for assistance can be submitted at ay time up to and including the 30th July 2009.
http://www.virsa.org/index.cfm/villageshop/News.Custom/page_id/36

Community Spaces
Community Spaces, the £50 million grants programme that is managed by Groundwork UK as an Award Partner to the Big Lottery Fund has announced that its large and flagship grants schemes are now open to applications. Community Spaces provides grants to community groups to create or improve green and open spaces. Under the large and flagship programmes grants of between £50,000 and £450,000 are now available to community groups wanting to improve green and open spaces in their neighbourhoods. The larger grants will be distributed on a competitive basis and only four large (£50,000 - £100,000) and one flagship (£100,001 - £450,000) grant available within each region of England. Community Spaces are looking for groups with innovative, practical and sustainable ideas that will benefit areas in need of physical improvement. Possible large and flagship projects may include canal side improvements, cycle path routes, nature reserves, woodlands or city farms. Large and flagship grants are open for applications until January 2009 and will only be open for one round of bidding. As with small and medium grants, there is a two-stage application process. Large and flagship applicants will be given up to six months to build up their stage 1 applications.  Applicants successful at stage 1 will be allocated a Facilitator to support the development of their project.
http://www.community-spaces.org.uk/

Community Tree Planting Fund
The Woodland Trust has announced the launch of it's Community Tree Planting Fund for this winter. Through the fund, the Trust is offering grants for community tree planting initiatives. Community groups, associations and not for profit organisations such as community action groups, local residents groups, environmental action group, scouts, brownies, etc. can apply for grants of £100 for tree planting projects organised by the local community. The grant covers costs directly related to the tree planting project. This can include purchase of native trees, the purchase of other tree planting materials and publicity costs. Applications will be judged monthly and decisions made soon after. Successful applicants will receive a grant cheque one month before the date of your event. The grants are offered on a first come first serve basis.
http://www.treeforall.org.uk/GetDigging/Events+grants.htm

Council for British Archaeology Challenge Fund
The Council for British Archaeology provides small grants to encourage independent, voluntary effort in original archaeological research through the CBA Challenge Funding scheme. Grants of up to £750 are available to groups, societies and individuals working in a voluntary capacity or promoting voluntary involvement in archaeology. The type of projects supported are those that say something new about the history of local surroundings, and thus inform their future care and appreciation; or contribute to archaeological innovation (ie new or under-studied aspects of the historic environment, or new methods, techniques and approaches); or help non-government bodies to establish long-term resources or facilities to enable others to carry out their own original research. Applications can be made at any time.
http://www.britarch.ac.uk/cba/awards/challengefunding.html

Department of Health to Launch New Health and Social Care Volunteering Fund
The Department of Health has announced that the Opportunities for Volunteering (OFV) scheme is now closed. OFV was a Department of Health initiative which provided grants to local health and social care organisations in England. OFV grants were awarded to enable organisations to involve volunteers in the delivery of their services. The Department is currently undertaking a procurement exercise to identify and appoint an organisation to manage a new Health and Social Care Volunteering Fund that will replace the OFV scheme. Grants for 2010-11 will be awarded by the new Fund Manager from April 2010. Information on the application process and application timescales for the Health and Social Care Volunteering Fund will be published later in 2009.
http://www.volunteering.org.uk/WhatWeDo/Funding/ofvfunding/index.htm

Digital Mentors
Media Trust, the UK's pre-eminent communications charity has announced the launch of Digital Mentors, a two year nationwide programme in England funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. Running until March 2011, Digital Mentors aims to inspire, engage and support disadvantage and isolated communities across England to get their voices heard through digital media. Grants of between £1,500 and £14,000 will be offered to 26 grassroots projects, one grant of up to £61,000 to fund one major new initiative, and 40 £500 grants will be offered to individual or communities attached to the 27 groups to develop a specific media project. Projects funded will be those already using media to develop their work with a specific community; more formal community organisations looking to develop digital media to engender community voice and cohesion; more informal communities looking to embrace digital media. For further information click on the 'more' link.
http://www.mediatrust.org/digitalmentors/digital-mentors

Dulverton Trust
Registered charities and to organisations with charitable status active in the areas of Youth and Education; General Welfare; Conservation; Religion; Preservation; Peace and Security; and Africa may have the opportunity to apply for funding through the Dulverton Trust. The Trust provides two principal types of grants. These are major grants of up to £25,000 for national or regional projects and minor grants of up to £3,000 aimed at organisations operating at local or county level. A very limited number of grants are awarded on a recurring basis. The Trustees meet four times a year to consider Major Appeals, in February, May, July and October. Appeals on the Minor Appeals Agenda are considered four times a year at variable times between the Main Agenda Meetings. During 2006 /07 the Trust awarded grants totalling £2.8 million.
http://www.dulverton.org/

Esmee Fairbairn Foundation Announces New Approach to Grant making
The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, which is one of the largest grant making foundation in the UK, has announced that following a strategic review of its grant making policy, the Foundation's grant making programme will re-open for applications on the 3rd January 2008. Previously, the Foundation made grants of around £26 million per year in the areas of the Arts and Heritage; Education; the Environment; and Social Change. Under the new approach to grant making the Foundation aims to fund a wider range of work than before. Alongside this new approach, the Foundation will also run a small number of more focused funding strands. Information on the new funding programmes will be available on the Foundation's website on the 3rd January 2008.
http://www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk/funding/index.html

Funding Announced for Aimhigher Associates Scheme
The Government has announced the provision of £21 million over three years for a new national strand of widening participation activity in the Aimhigher programme. Aimhigher is a national programme which aims to widen participation in higher education (HE) by raising the aspirations and developing the abilities of young people from under-represented groups. The 'Aimhigher Associates' scheme aims to support and encourage learners aged 13-19, helping them through the various academic and transitional milestones that they encounter from school or college to higher education. For example, Aimhigher Associates will help learners in the preparation and completion of the UCAS process. Around 5,500 undergraduates will be recruited to provide long term support to more than 21,000 pupils between the ages of 13 and 19 in schools and colleges across the country. Further information on the scheme and opportunities to become involved in the pathfinder projects will be made available later in April.
http://www.aimhigher.ac.uk/practitioner/news/index.cfm

Funding Available to Youth Media Projects (England)
My Mediabox is a fund that offers disadvantaged 13 to 19 year olds the opportunity to develop and produce creative media projects, using film, television, print, radio or online platforms. The scheme which is funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and run by a consortium consisting of First Light Movies, Media Trust, Skillset and the UK Film Council is for young people to; express their own opinions, ideas and views, gain new skills, encourage creativity, boost personal development and get their voices heard. My Mediabox offers grants ranging from £100 to £1,000 to create and distribute youth-led media projects that express young people’s ideas and/or views in a creative way, using their preferred media platform and is open to individual young people and groups of young people. Applications can be submitted at any time. For further information, go to:
http://www.media-box.co.uk/

Funding for Christian Charities Promoting Social Inclusion
The Anchor Foundation provides grants of between £500 and £10,000 per year to Christian Charities that encourage social inclusion through ministries of healing and the arts. Funding can be awarded for up to three years. The Foundation will consider applications for either capital or revenue funding. Only in exceptional circumstances will grants be given for building work. Previously funded projects include the Karis Neighbour Scheme which received a grant of £700 for revenue costs at a drop in centre for women refugees in Birmingham; Discovery Camps which received a grant of £1500 to subsidise holidays for children arranged by churches in and around Dundee; and Scargill House which received a grant of £5,000 to facilitate cross cultural engagement and understanding amongst children using arts based residential courses in Yorkshire. Applications are considered at twice yearly trustees meetings in April and November and need to be received by 31st January and 31st July each year.
http://www.theanchorfoundation.org.uk/

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. For further information, go to:
http://www.wakehamtrust.org/index.php

Funding for Small Scale Regeneration Projects
Local community groups, community enterprises and registered charities that address social and economic deprivation within specific geographic areas such as a housing estate, neighbourhood or village may be eligible to apply for grants of up to £5,000 through Comic Relief's Disadvantaged Communities programme. The focus of the programme is on small scale local projects which were started by local residents who came together to try to make their community better. This programme does not support work over a larger area, for example, city-wide initiatives or across a whole town. To be eligible applicants need to have a turnover of less than £150,000. Applications can be made at any time.
http://www.comicrelief.com/apply_for_a_grant

Funding Opportunities for Young Film Makers
First Light Movies which provides grants to groups of young people to produce short digital films has announced that the next funding round under its "What's the Big Idea Award" and the Pilot Awards scheme will re-open for applications on the 26th September 2008. Under “What’s the Big Idea Award grants of up to £3,000 are available to support partnerships between script professionals and young people aged 5 -19 to inspire and aid the development of short film scripts. The Pilot Awards provides grants of up to £5,000 for the production of a 5 minute film. The closing date for applications for both schemes will be the 16th December 2008. In addition, organisations working with young people can also apply for funding under the Studio Award scheme. Under this scheme, grants of up to £30,000 are available to support young people making films of up to 10 minutes long. The closing date for applications under the Studio Award is the 14th October 2008. Examples of previously funded projects include a school from Exeter that produced a short animated horror film about a murderous ghostly teacher. A group in Dorset chose to examine how DNA affects your identity through a well scripted drama and young people from rural Wales chose to make a beautifully shot documentary about the increasingly rare Welsh mountain pony.
http://www.firstlightmovies.com/funding/

Funding Sports in the Community
Sport England has announced the investment programmes that will be available to organisations delivering grassroots sports from April 2009. Sport clubs, voluntary and community organisations, local authorities and education establishments will be able to apply to the following four open-access funding streams worth £45m per year: Up to £30 million will be invested via regular themed funding rounds that meet specific needs of community sport; £7 million will be available in small grants of between £300 and £10,000 to support sporting projects across England; £3 million will be distributed through Sportsmatch; £5 million will be invested through a new Innovation Fund. Sports England will also invest £10 million per year of capital funding in projects that promote a sustainable approach to community facilities. A maximum of £158 million will be distributed to specific organisations with specific objectives related to community sport. This will include; £120 million for 46 NGBs based on four-year plans they submitted for developing their sport; £10 million to be invested in county sports partnerships, which will support NGBs to deliver their outcomes and Sport England programmes; £10 million to be distributed to other national partners such as Sporting Equals and the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation to support the delivery of agreed outcomes; and £18 million of Exchequer funding to be invested in programmes and organisations that contribute to the Government's five hour sports offer for 5- to 19-year-olds.
http://www.sportengland.org/index/news_and_media/news_pr/funding_sport_in_the_community.htm

Funding Through Local YouthBanks
YouthBank is an innovative UK-wide grant making initiative run by young people for young people. Local Youth Banks provide small grants to young people for activities of benefit to the community and that also benefit the young people taking part. YouthBank is unique in that it is young people themselves who make decisions about how local YouthBanks are managed and run and, through a Board of young people, also direct the UK-wide programme. Grant making criteria and processes are decided by each individual YouthBank. Local areas can also receive funding, advice and support from YouthBank UK, the national umbrella body, to set up local Youth Banks. For example a grant of £75,000 was recently awarded to set up a Youth Bank in Cambridge.
http://www.youthbank.org.uk/

Funding to Develop the Sustainability of Young Social Enterprises
The Adventure Capital Fund (ACF) has announced that it is accepting applications under its Business Development Grant scheme. The ACF offers a range of investments and support to develop stable and sustainable community based enterprises. Under the Business Development Grant scheme, funding of up to £15,000 is available to support community enterprises in their early stages of development by developing their skills and capacity. The aim is to improve their investment readiness and sustainability. The Adventure Capital Fund expects to make around 30 Business Development Grants a year to be distributed on a rolling basis. Approximately 3 or 4 grants will be made in each English region. Eligible costs could include: technical assistance and advice, legal or other fees relating to building purchase or development, business planning, training, feasibility studies, market research or product development. To be eligible for funding, organisations need to serve one or more clear communities – of place, interest or identity; be established within the community that they seek to serve and have members of that community involved in and represented in the management and decision-making processes; and be looking to use entrepreneurial methods to achieve social goals.  Applications can be made at any time.  http://www.adventurecapitalfund.org.uk/content/view/36/50/

Funding to Promote Educational Opportunities for Disadvantaged Young People
Schools, universities, community groups, charities and research bodies with new project and research ideas that provide educational opportunities for young people from non-privileged backgrounds have the opportunity to apply for funding through the Sutton Trust. The Sutton Trust will fund projects in formal educational settings in any area where there is need, including rural and inner city areas. The only exception is for specialist schools - The Trust generally only funds these schools in the London area. Previously funded projects by the Trust have included curriculum enrichment projects which help gifted and talented primary children to achieve their educational potential as well as projects that provide support for parents and carers as their children's first educators. In particular the Trust is looking to fund projects that are able to connect with the "hard to reach" parents and encourage them to engage in their child's early learning. There is no deadline for applications, as the Trustees meet at regular intervals throughout the year.
http://www.suttontrust.com/funding.asp

Futurebuilders England Launches New Fund
Futurebuilders England has announced the launch of its new Tender Fund. The Tender Fund is a new Futurebuilders programme offering interest-free three year loans of between £3,000 and £50,000 to third sector organisations who need relatively small sums of money to help them tender successfully for specific public service delivery contracts. Futurebuilders England set up the Fund in response to feedback from third sector providers and public sector commissioners, who confirmed that there is a real need for resources to help the third sector compete for public sector contracts on an equal footing with providers from other sectors. Third sector organisations can use the loan to meet any cost that has been identified as an important part of putting together a good tender. This can include; legal costs; advice from procurement specialists; financial expertise; and bidding staff costs or backfill. There are no application forms to fill in and organisations wishing to enquire about the fund should telephone 0191 261 5200,or send an email to info@futurebuilders-england.org.uk. Futurebuilders is also running a number of pre-application surgeries.
http://www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk/content/Funding/TenderFund.aspx

Fututebuilders Extends its Investment Base
Futurebuilders England, the government-backed investment fund for the third sector, is set to open its doors in April to organisations working across all areas of public service delivery. Offering loans-based investment packages, Futurebuilders provides flexible finance to organisations that are delivering public services or want to start contracting with public bodies, such as local authorities, primary care trusts or learning and skills councils. Established in 2004, the Futurebuilders Fund was originally only open to groups working in crime, community cohesion, children and young people, education and learning, and health and social care. From April 2008 an addition £65 million will be made available to extend its support to organisations working across all areas of public service delivery, including sport, recreation and leisure, environmental projects, waste and recycling, legal aid, and the arts. Futurebuilders has invested in over 250 third sector organisations including charities, social enterprises, community interest companies, voluntary groups and community organisations. Each investment package is tailored to meet the individual needs of the applicant and its proposal. Loans are offered at a standard rate of 6% and are often combined with grants and professional support to help build capacity for generating income and winning contracts.
http://www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk/content/News/newstest/article_37_674.aspx?iid=310

Google Grants
The Google Grants UK beta programme supports organisations sharing Google’s philosophy of community service to help the world in areas such as science and technology, education, global public health, the environment, youth advocacy, and the arts. Designed for registered charities, Google Grants provides free advertising on Google AdWords, to charities seeking to inform and engage their constituents online. Google Grants has given free AdWords advertising to hundreds of charitable groups whose missions range from animal welfare to literacy, from supporting homeless children to promoting HIV education. As a result of this free advertising many charities have experienced an increase in the recruitment of volunteers and sponsorship.
http://www.google.com/grants/

Government Announces £600 Million Boost for Higher Education
The Government has announced that it is to introduce a new £200 million matched funding scheme to help boost the levels of private cash donations flowing into the Higher Education sector. The new scheme which will run until 2008 will aim to generate increases the fundraising potential of higher education institutions by match-funding donations on a 2:1 private to public basis. The aim of the scheme is to stimulate a culture of individual giving to higher education similar to that of in the US, which will outlast the lifespan of the scheme. The scheme is intended to stimulate additional private cash donations to the sector of over £400 million. The new scheme will be launched later in 2007 once it has consulted with the Higher Education sector to finalise the scheme.
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2007_0026

Government Announces New Fund to Prevent High Street Decline
As part of its plan to prevent the decline of the high street during the economic recession, the Government has announced plans to set up a £3 million fund to help communities find creative ways to reduce the negative impact empty shops. This would include using empty shops for use as cultural, community or learning centres. This would include the provision of small-scale grants to help with cleaning and decorating vacant premises, basic refit for temporary uses, publicity posters, and other activities that can help town centres attract and retain visitors. Other measures identified to bring empty shops back into use include special planning application waivers, standard interim-use leases, and temporarily leasing shops to councils.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1201277

Government Announces New Future Jobs Fund
One of the measures announced by the Chancellor in his budget is a new fund to create 150,000 new jobs. The £1.1 Billion "Future Jobs Fund", which will be launched in the autumn will enable local authorities and third sector groups to submit innovative bids for funding for the creation of long term sustainable jobs. The jobs created through the Future Jobs Fund will be paid at least at National Minimum Wage and will be targeted primarily at 18-24 year olds, but some funding will also be available for other disadvantaged groups and unemployment hotspots.
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=399378&NewsAreaID=2

Government Launches Migrants Impact Fund
The Government has announced a new £70 million fund to support communities in managing local pressures from migration. The funding which will be available to every region in England aims to alleviate short term pressures on local public services including councils, schools, NHS and the police. The Migrants Impact Fund will be available over the next two years and will be funded through a levy in addition to their normal visa application fee. Funding will be allocated to local projects from Government Offices working closely with local partners. It will be targeted at projects which have identified innovative solutions to migration related pressures - where possible involving and benefiting a number of local services. It is not intended to replace mainstream service provision, which already has improved mechanisms for reflecting changes in population. Projects considered for funding must be able to demonstrate that they bring benefits to the settled as well as the migrant community in an area. For example additional English language provision for migrants will mean reducing the cost to public services from translation and interpretation. Projects might also include taking action against rogue landlords, extra teachers in school with high migrant populations, measures to increase GP registration, or targeted support for policing.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1180107

Government to Tender for Delivery of Second Phase of Futurebuilders Fund
With phase one coming to an end, the Government has announced that it is to tender for delivery of second phase of Futurebuilders Fund. The Futurebuilders Fund, which is currently operated by a consortium consisting of Futurebuilders England, the cabinet office and the Charity Bank, provides investment in the form of loans, grants and professional support for third sector organisations develop their capacity to deliver public services. The new contract which will run from 2008 to 2011, will also see an expansion of the eligibility criteria to allow a wider range of voluntary organisations to benefit from the fund. Since its launch in 2004, Futurebuilders England, has offered over £89 million of investments in over 209 organisations.
http://www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk/content/News/newstest/article_37_365.aspx?iid=72

Grants for the Arts - Individuals and Organisations
The Arts Council, England is now accepting applications, using its new application materials under its Grants for the arts - individuals and organisations programme. Grants are available to individuals and organisations for up to five years for arts-related activities that take place mainly in England. Organisational grants are for up to £100,000 and are available to arts organisations; local authorities and other public organisations; partnerships; regional and national organisations; organisations whose normal activity is not arts-related, including voluntary and community groups and groups of organisations (one will need to take the lead and have the main responsibility for managing the application and any grant). Grants to individuals are for up to £30,000 and are available to; artists;' performers; writers; promoters; presenters; curators; producers; groups of individual; and other individuals working in the arts. Applications can be submitted at any time and there is no application deadline.
http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/gfta2006.php

Groundwork UK Launches £50 Million Community Spaces Fund
Neighbourhoods across England are set to benefit with the launch of a new £50 million lottery-funded grants programme. The Community Spaces programme will provide grants and support to community groups wanting to make their neighbourhoods cleaner and greener. Community Spaces will help local people improve and create play areas, community gardens, parks, wildlife areas, ponds, courts and village greens. Community Spaces is being managed by Groundwork UK on behalf of a consortium of environmental organisations and is funded through the Big Lottery Fund. The programme will make grants of between £10,000 and £49,999 and some limited grants of up to £450,000 to community groups that want to create and improve public spaces. All Community Spaces applications will need to go through a two-stage application process. Stage 1 applications will be available via the Community Spaces website or an Advice Line and once submitted will receive a decision within 10 weeks. If groups are successful at Stage 1 they will be allocated a Facilitator who who will provide a more detailed Stage 2 application form....
http://www.community-spaces.org.uk/

Gypsy and Traveller Sites Grant
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the national housing and regeneration agency for England has announced that it is is inviting applications for funding through the Gypsy and Traveller Sites Grant 2009 – 2011. The fund is open to Local Authorities, Arms Length Management Organisations and  Registered Social Landlords who wish to provide social rented sites for:
Gypsies and Travellers
New age travellers
Travelling show people.
The aim of the grant programme is to increase the number and quality of authorised sites throughout England therby reducing the number of unauthorised encampments and the problems associated with these and provide the basis to tackle inequalities in access to service provision experienced by Gypsies and Travellers. A total of £32 million is available to support this bidding round The closing date for bids is 30 June 2009.
http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/32million_available_2009_10_Gypsy_Traveller_Sites?p=1

HMRC GRANT IN AID FUNDING PROGRAMME
The aim of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is to administer tax and customs systems fairly and efficiently, and make it as easy as possible for individuals and businesses to understand and comply with their obligations and receive their tax credits and other entitlements. HMRC has available £2 million per annum for the next three financial years, aimed at funding Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations. HMRC is committed to building its funding relationship with VCS organisations so that they play an increased role in public service delivery, particularly socially inclusive services to those who are hard to reach or who do not engage directly with them.  The funds are available in the form of grants in aid to help with the costs of activity contributing to the key aims, outcomes and priorities detailed in guidance for this programme.
http://www.governmentfunding.org.uk/VCSLaunch.aspx?SCHEME_ID=12-S89

Heroes Return 2 Scheme
The Big Lottery Fund (BIG) has announced the Heroes Return 2 Scheme is now open to applications. The Heroes Return 2 Scheme provides funding to help World War II veterans that saw active service overseas with or alongside the British Allied Armed Forces in the Second World War, and are resident in the UK or the Republic of Ireland to take part in commemorative visits (within the UK and overseas) to mark the anniversary of events that led to the end of WWII. The Heroes Return Scheme offers fixed amount grants of between £150 and £5,500 for each veteran and their spouse and/or carer towards the cost of their visit. There are five levels of funding according to the destination. Applications can be submitted at any time between the 1st April 2009 and the 31st January 2011. For further information on this scheme please call the application deadline on 0845 0000 121.http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_heroes_return?tab=2&regioncode=-uk&status=theProg

Independence at Home
Independence at Home is a national charity that helps improve independence, comfort, safety, dignity and quality of life for people with long-term illness and disability by helping towards the cost of adaptations, equipment or other things that are not available from public funds. During 2008 Independence at Home made grants to 1,250 people. The type of adaptations and equipment funded in the past include:

The cost of home adaptations for disability, house repairs and other building work

• Equipment such as specialised powered scooters and wheelchairs to restore a measure of lost mobility
• Other special equipment for disability such as through-floor lifts and stair lifts, special beds, riser-recliner chairs and other specialised seating, hoists and bath lifts; household goods such as white goods, furniture, flooring and furnishings – where the need for these things was directly related to the person’s illness or disability
• Help towards the cost of heating their homes across the winter months. In many cases, this included helping people who had been asked to pay a contribution towards the statutory disabled facilities grant.

To be eligible to apply an individual will need to be referred to Independence at Home by a social worker; occupational therapist; specialist nurses; disability and health advice workers; or key workers from other major charities. There are no application deadlines.
http://www.independenceathome.org.uk/helpforyou.html

It’s Your Community Initiative
O2 have committed £1 million to the “Its Your Community” initiative. It’s Your Community, which is managed by the Conservation Foundation, provides grants of £100 to £1,000 to individuals and groups to improve their local environment. The type of projects supported in the past included environmental projects such as turning derelict land into an amenity park or wildlife area, tree planting, creating a wildlife pond, renovating neglected river and canal footpaths, providing water butts and recycling facilities in village halls, etc. The commitment by O2 means that the initiative will now be able to support up to 60 projects per month. Applications can be made at any time and are judged on the 20th of every month. Applications can be made at any time.
http://www.itsyourcommunity.co.uk/

Lloyds TSB Foundation Announces Latest Grants Awarded
The Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales has announced that it has awarded over £4 million in grants to 164 charities in its most recent funding round. The Foundation which is one of the largest in the UK makes grants to support small and medium charities that help disadvantaged people to play a fuller role in the community. During 2007 the Foundation made grants totalling in excess of £23 million. Through its Community Programme the Foundation is particularly interested in supporting projects that support social and community involvement; provide improved life choices and chances; and are helping people to be heard. To be eligible for funding charities that work locally or regionally must have an income of less than £1 million or 5 million if the charity works on a national level. Previous projects supported include the Belgrave Playhouse which operates from three adjacent terraced houses in one of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the country. The Playhouse provides support and activities for children from 0 to 18 years. A grant of £13,000 over two years was awarded for a project designed to improve the educational abilities of diverse minority communities. The Somali Education Development Centre received a grant of £14,000 over two years and offers a range of advice, activities and training and works closely with other organisations to empower, educate and develop a voice for the Somali community. Applications can be submitted at any time.
http://www.lloydstsbfoundations.org.uk/Pages/Welcome.aspx

Local Food Programme
Under the Local Food Programme a total of £50 million is available over the next five years to support a range of organisations such as voluntary and community groups, health agencies including hospitals and PCTs , schools, social enterprises, Parish and Town Councils etc., to carry out a variety of food related projects to make locally grown food more accessible and affordable to local communities. Grants are currently available through two funding streams.
·         The small grants scheme which makes grants of between £2,000 and £10,000;
·         The main grants programme which makes grants of between £10,001 and £300,000 to support projects such as growing, processing, marketing and distributing local food; composting and raising awareness of the benefits of such activities. 
Applications to the Small and Main grants programmes can be submitted at any time.
http://www.localfoodgrants.org/index.php/grants

Local Network Fund for Children and Young People
Time is rapidly running out for small locally managed voluntary, community or self-help group that work with children and young people to apply for funding under the Local Network Fund. The fund, which is a seven-year programme, will end in March 2008. It is delivered across England through a network of 57 voluntary sector organisations with community development and grant making experience. Funding of between £250 and £7000 are available for activities that promote healthy lifestyles amongst young people; activities that contribute to children and young people being protected from harm and neglect and growing up able to look after themselves; activities that help children and young people maximise their potential and develop skills for adulthood; activities which enable children and young people use their skills and abilities in ways to enhance their own lives and the lives of their community; and activities which help children and young people overcome income barriers and achieve their full potential in life.
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/strategy/localnetworkfund/

Low Carbon Buildings Programme - Phase 2
The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has announced that it will be holding a series of workshops and seminars to help potential applicants access the Phase 2 of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme. Under this programme grants of up to £1 million are available to help organisations install renewable energy technologies. The programme can fund public sector organisations, including local authorities, schools, and hospitals, charities, community groups and housing associations. Grants are available for the instalation of the following energy efficient technologies; solar photovoltaics; solar thermal hot water; wind turbines; ground source heat pumps; automated wood pellet stoves; and wood fuelled boiler systems. For information on the programme and the workshops and seminars please click on the more info link.
http://www.lowcarbonbuildingsphase2.org.uk/events.jsp

Match Funding Scheme for Volunteering
V, the national charity that inspires volunteering amongst young people has announced the next application deadlines for its match funding programme. Through this programme v provides grants to charities that match up to 100% of any new private sector investment for youth volunteering projects in England. The aim of the fund is to inspire greater levels of investment in youth volunteering from private companies, charitable trusts and foundations and individuals. To date, v has pledges of £35m from the private sector - making a total of £72m that has and will be invested into diverse and high impact projects across England. The programme themes are; health and well being; the environment; supporting children and young people; community cohesion; poverty; and human rights.
The next closing date for applications is the 17th July 2009.
http://www.wearev.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=211

Modernisation Fund Opens for Applications
Capacitybuilders, which is a non-departmental public body responsible for developing the capacity of the third sector within England, has announced that the stage 1 of the Modernisation Fund is now open for applications. The Capacitybuilders Modernisation Fund aims to assist third sector organisations become stronger and more resilient to the impact of the economic downturn by promoting collaboration and mergers within the third sector. The Modernisation Fund is a two stage programme. Stage 1 will provide £1,000 bursaries to approximately 1,000 organisations. These bursaries can be used to pay for initial advice to explore how mergers and collaboration may help their organisation adapt and become more resilient to the impact of the economic downturn. Further grants of around £10,000 will be available from October 2009 onwards for organisations who want to make further progress towards collaboration and/or merger. Applications for stage 2 grants will be dependant on havin! g accessed stage 1 funding. Capacitybuilders has appointed 48 Local Delivery agents who will work closely with applicant organisations. During June Local Delivery Agents are running a series of workshops to explore the impact of the economic downturn and signpost organisations to useful resources and introduce potential applicants to the Modernisation Fund Grants Programme.
http://www.modernisationfund.org.uk/grants/index.html

More Money to Help Disabled Workers into Sustained Employment (England)
More money will be available to help disabled workers move into sustained employment .The Government has announced changes to WORKSTEP, a programme that helps disabled fulfill their true potential in work. The changes will mean the sustained progression payment will be increased fourfold from £500 to £2000. WORKSTEP is a supported employment programme aimed at helping disabled people find and retain work. The programme provides support for those facing the greatest barriers to finding and keeping a job. Supported employees on WORKSTEP work either in jobs in the open labour market, via supported placements, or within supported businesses, established to employ disabled people. WORKSTEP aims to help people progress to unsupported employment where this is the right option for them.
http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/Helpfordisabledpeople/Workstep/index.html

Music Grants for Older People
The registered charity, Concertina makes grants to charitable bodies which provide musical entertainment and related activities for the elderly. The charity is particular keen to support smaller organisations which might otherwise find it difficult to gain funding. Since its inception in 2004, it has made grants to a wide range of charitable organisations nationwide in England and Wales. These include funds to many care homes for the elderly to provide musical entertainment for their residents. The trustees of the charity review applications on 31 January, 30 April, 30 June and 31 October.
www.concertinamusic.org.uk

Mustard Seed Fund
The Church Urban Fund (CUF) is seeking applications from churches and faith-based groups under its Mustard Seed Fund. The aim of the fund is to provide grants to enable churches and faith-based organisations to engage in social action through supporting them to initiate, develop and formulate ideas and opportunities in preparation for undertaking larger pieces of work. Mustard Seed Grants can pay for specific activities but not for on-going revenue expenditure, deficit funding, or retrospective spending. The ‘Mustard Seed’ programme makes grants up to £5,000 Grants, to test and try out new ideas. The programme operates on a rolling basis and applications can be made at any time.
http://www.cuf.org.uk/default.asp?id=58

Neighbourhood and Home Watch Fund
The Neighbourhood and Home Watch Fund is a £500,000 fund available for new and existing Neighbourhood and Home Watch groups in high crime areas to receive grants of between £1,000 and £50,000. The aim of this fund is to support Neighbourhood and Home Watch schemes to reach more people in helping them to secure their homes, warn them about crime in their area and take action to prevent it, and know how to prevent distraction burglary. They will work closely with Neighbourhood Policing teams to distribute the government's crime prevention advice and use local meetings and engagement opportunities to provide crime prevention information to the public. This fund is being managed on behalf of the Home Office by Tribal's Community Development Team. The final closing date for receipt of applications is 12pm Friday 31st July 2009.
http://grantsadmin.co.uk/neighbourhoodwatch/

Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities
Funding Now Available
The Rural Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Partnership has secured Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities (NLDC) funding from the Learning and Skills Council. This is available in all areas of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, but priority will be given to projects from the most disadvantaged/deprived areas that support learning opportunities for those aged 19 or over not in employment, but who want to work.
The main purpose of the fund is to:
“support local voluntary and community sector organisations to develop their capacity to deliver learning opportunities for residents of disadvantaged neighbourhoods”.
Examples of projects include:

• Assisting and supporting learning opportunities;
• Refurbish and enhance existing premises;
• Establish new learning centres/opportunities where none previously existed;
• Deliver pre-employment support and training to enable adults to move into sustained employment;
• Encourage innovative, accessible ‘first step’ learning in local communities.

The RCP is particularly interested in learning opportunities that will enhance the capability within the community to develop sustainable communities.
The priority is to seek new providers and build their capacity through attracting voluntary sector providers seeking to supply effective learning to meet the needs of ‘hard to reach’ learners.  Existing provides may apply.
Preference will be given to partnership projects or projects with significant partnership working or partnership potential; and applicants should seek to demonstrate how they will encourage and provide progression opportunities.
The key performance indicator is ‘how many new people have entered learning from deprived areas and how many of them have progressed to further learning’ and/or employment.
Funding is available to support both revenue and capital items.  The funds have to be spent, projects completed and outputs achieved by 31st July 2009.
Please contact Bill Holliday on 01209 611110 or rcp@cornwallenterprise.co.uk

New Closing Date for Youth Music Open Programmes
Youth Music, a national that works alongside the formal and community-based sectors to support music-making and music training has announced that its open grant making programmes will close on the 15th December 2008. Funding is available to non profit making organisations for music making activities that are held mainly outside of school hours and that complement music in the national curriculum. The open grant programmes consist of; First Steps, which supports creative music-making for children aged 0-5; Make it Sound, which supports music-making activities for 5-18 year olds who otherwise lack the chance to take part; and Vocalise for activities where the voice is the main instrument. The grants available range between £5,000 and £30,000 depending on the programme under which applications are submitted.  After a period of consultation and development, Youth Music will launch a new Open Programme in the summer of 2009.
http://www.youthmusic.org.uk/Open_programmes_closing_date.html

New Fund to Improve Rural Railway Stations
The Department for Transport has announced a new £60,000 fund for Community Rail Partnerships to improve the facilities at small rural railway stations. The new Designated Community Rail Development Fund will help deliver improvements at local stations, such as more seats at stations, cycle parking and better information for passengers. It can also help fund awareness campaigns to encourage more people to use these lines. The fund is open to Community Rail Partnerships which exist to promote and develop the railway services for local people. The fund is being administered by the Association of Community Rail Partnerships. All eligible Community Rail Partnerships can apply to the fund for a grant of up to £5,000 per route.
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=367550&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False

New Fund to Promote Sports in Rural Areas
Sport England has announced that its new £10 million fund to create sporting opportunities for people in rural areas is now open for applications. This is the first in a series of themed funding rounds aimed at increasing community based sports. The Rural Communities Themed Round is designed to give a wide range of organisations, from local authorities to sports clubs and smaller community groups, an opportunity to develop and deliver new and innovative projects to overcome barriers to both participation and supply of sporting opportunities. Successful bids will make significant contributions to two of Sport England’s strategic outcomes:

• Growing participation in grassroots sport.
• Sustaining participation by improving the quality of people’s sporting experience.

The minimum grant available is £10,000, but in order to maximise the positive effect on sport in rural areas, Sport England is explicitly encouraging high value, high impact projects. A significant proportion of the successful bids are expected to be projects requiring National Lottery funding of more than £500,000. A detailed application prospectus for the Rural Communities Themed Round is available on Sport England’s website.
The closing date for applications is the 30th June 2009. http://funding.sportengland.org/funding_programmes/rural_communities1.aspx

New Funding Available - ESF Community Grants
Cornwall Enterprise, Cornwall Community Foundation and the Cornwall Rural Community Council are pleased to announce that the new Community grants programme is now available in Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly. The programme, which is funded by the Learning and Skills Council, through the European Social Fund, is aimed at supporting projects that: “Assist the disadvantaged or excluded to move closer to the labour market by improving their access to mainstream provision/ESF and domestic employment and skills provision”.  The people who can benefit from the programme must therefore be unemployed or employed for less than 16 hours per week.
Please contact Cornwall Community Foundation for an application pack. You can download them from their website on
http://www.cornwallfoundation.com/applying_for_a_grant/GrantsNewsRevised2.htm or alternatively phone 01566 779333 for further information.

New funding criteria from the Nationwide Foundation
The Nationwide Foundation has announced new funding criteria for registered charities in the UK. Its new Money Matters and Homes Matter grant programmes will help tackle the issues of housing and financial exclusion.
Under the programme the Foundation will make grants to registered charities that:
* Tackle financial exclusion, affecting disadvantaged groups across the UK;
* Address housing issues and homelessness among vulnerable groups in the UK.
The Foundation will offer, through its Investor Programme, three-year grants of up to £300,000 to registered charities with incomes not exceeding £10 million. The Investor Programme is open for applications until 31st May 2009.
The Foundation's Small Grants Programme is also open for applications. It makes grants of up to £5,000 to registered charities with incomes of under £500,000 on an ongoing basis. See:
www.nationwidefoundation.org.uk

New Funding for Sexual Assault Referral Centres
The Home Office has announced that it is seeking grant applications to ensure that every person in the country has access to a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC). A total of £1.6 million is available through this funding round to help local areas increase the support offered to victims of sexual assault and rape. Ten grants of up to £75,000 are available to areas wanting to set up a new SARC - with preference given to bids from local areas with the greatest need for additional services. In addition existing SARCs can bid for one of 10 grants of up to £25,000 capital funding and one of 20 grants of up to £30,000 resource funding. This new funding is part of the Government's commitment as laid out in the Tackling Violence Action Plan to double the number of SARCs from 19 to 38 by 2011. There are now 22 SARCs in England and Wales with more currently under development. Funding is available to existing SARCS as well as partnerships of Police Forces and Primary Care Trusts(or Local Health Boards in Wales), Crime and Disorder Partnerships / Community Safety Partnerships and voluntary sector organisations that plan to develop a SARC in their area. The deadline for funding for applications is the 7th November 2008. There will be another opportunity to bid for 2009/10 funding in April 2009.
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=380550&NewsAreaID=2

New SITA Trust Application Deadlines Published
The Sita Trust, which provides funding to community and environmental projects through the Landfill Communities Fund (formerly the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme), has announced the application deadlines for 2008. The Sita Trust provides funding to not for profit organisations, community groups, parish councils, Local Authorities and charities through a number of different grant programmes. These include:
·         The Enhancing Communities Programme, which support community improvement projects.
·         The Enriching Nature Programme which supports wildlife projects.
·         GreenPrints which supports greenspace improvement projects carried out by young people aged 16-25.
To be eligible projects must be located within 10 miles of a Sita operated Landfill site. Previous projects supported by the Trust include the restoration and management of valuable heathland, projects demonstrating a more sustainable way of living and the renovation of a disused buildings for community use.
http://www.sitatrust.org.uk/apply/community/deadlines

NERC Launches New Strategic Research Programme
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has announced a new research
programme. Known as Ocean 2025, this new research programme will enable UK
universities and other research institutes to bid for funding to research
the impact on the marine environment of the anticipated climatic changes and
will be critical to developing sustainable solutions for the management of
marine resources for future generations. Oceans 2025 will receive
approximately £120 million from NERC over 5 years. The strategic nature of
the programme will aim to enhance the research capabilities and facilities
available for marine science.
http://www.nerc.ac.uk/press/releases/2007/02-oceans2025.asp

New Environmental Award Launched
The Conservation Foundation and O2 have come together to launch a new award scheme to help people improve their local environment. "Its Your Community" will provide awards of up to £1,000 to local organisations and individuals to support environmental projects such as turning derelict land into an amenity park or wildlife area, tree planting, creating a wildlife pond, renovating neglected river and canal footpaths, providing water butts and recycling facilities in village halls, etc. The fund is open to local amenity groups, parish and village councils, schools, youth clubs, heritage groups, environmental and conservation groups, and individuals who can show that their project will benefit their local environment.
http://www.conservationfoundation.co.uk/ActLocalAwards.php

New £3 Million Initiative to Help Disabled People into Self Employment
Disability charity Leonard Cheshire has joined up with Barclays to create a new £3 million initiative that aims to assist 600 disabled people to start their own businesses. The initiative which is called "Ready to Start", will last for three years, and will be rolled out across 27 Towns and Cities in England and Wales. The programme provides support for the "whole journey" of getting into self employment and will consist of free computer equipment and software; training programmes that meet individual learning needs; the provision of business advice for specific start-up issues and pointing people in the right direction for relevant trade bodies and business associations; and access to a 'Barclays buddy' who will be on hand to offer friendly support and encouragement.
http://www.leonard-cheshire.org/readytostart

New £6 Million Fund for Home Security
The Home Office has announced £6 million for the Safer Homes Fund to improve home security for people in groups known to be more vulnerable to burglary.
The Fund, which is available for one year, will allow around 300 grants of between £10,000 and £100,000 to be made to frontline community organisations to develop community safety programmes and support new, locally-run social enterprises, which together can build connections within communities, particularly in areas of high crime.
Voluntary and community organisations will be able to bid for funding to carry out security work on homes in around 90 priority areas.
This includes:
fitting window locks;
repairing windows and doors;
advising people on effective security; and
signposting to further support.
Approximately 45,000 homes will have their security upgraded through the Safer Homes Fund.
The Home Office will work the Community Alliance to deliver the scheme.
The Fund was launched on 7 April 2009. More information will be available towards the end of April.
http://www.comm-alliance.org/

Next Wave of Sea Change Funding for Coastal Towns
The Government has announced that nine Seaside Towns are to receive £2.7 million of funding through the Sea Change Programme. The grants awarded include £1 million for year round cultural activities in South Shields including a theatre space and performance arts; £1 million for a new maritime heritage centre on Newbiggin seafront, along with a new cinema and exhibition space; and £500,000 to regenerate the eastern end of Worthing seafront with a new cultural area and Speakers' Corner. Sea Change is a three year grants programme that will run until 2011 and aims to regenerate deprived sea side towns. There are two funding streams. Through Open Programme Local Authorities can apply for grants of between £200,000 and £1,000,000 to fund innovative and inspirational cultural projects. These can include cultural projects which will contribute to local place-making; arts projects which provide new opportunities for local communities and visitors; improving the quality and the experience of the historic environment; and natural and built environment and public space projects. Feasibility grants are also available for projects that are at an earlier stage in their development with a view to developing a full application for a later round. In addition to the open programme, CABE will also provide grants of up to £4 million through a proactive commissioning process (applications by invitation only). Deadlines for submitting applications will be the 30th April 2009 for Large Grants and the 30th June for Open Application Grants.
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=396622&NewsAreaID=2

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 pre-schools, 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.
http://www.phf.org.uk/page.asp?id=85

Parks for People
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has announced that the final closing date for stage 1 applications to the Parks for People programme is the 30th September 2008. Launched as a joint initiative with the Big Lottery Fund, grants of between £250,000 and £5 million are available for the regeneration of parks and public gardens (including squares, walks and promenades). The fund will be open to Local Authorities as well as not for profit organisations that own public parks and gardens. Applicants will need to raise at least 25% of the project costs from other sources, either as cash or non-cash contributions. At least 5% of this funding must be cash from your own resources. The ‘Parks for People’ programme has a two-stage application process. If a Stage One Pass is awarded, it does not guarantee a full grant at Stage Two. Funding for parks in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will offer same the opportunities and use the same assessment processes as in England, but will be managed solely by the HLF. Recent awards include a £1.84 million grant to restore Castle Park in Fordsham, Cheshire back to its original historic landscape and to improve sports facilities, the play area, and cafe and kiosk facilities and a £3.5million grant to restore the historic landscaping and buildings, upgrading footpaths, entrances, furniture and signage of Brockwell Park which is located between Brixton, Norwood and Dulwich.
http://www.hlf.org.uk/English/HowToApply/OurGrantGivingProgrammes/Parks+for+People/

Rank Foundation Grant Programme
The Rank Foundation has announced that it is seeking applications through the Rank Foundation grant programme to support capital projects in adult member hospices in the UK, which have a direct impact on older patients. This year the Rank Foundation are particularly interested in applications that support Hospice at Home services, such as:

• Laptops
• Other associated information technology
• A vehicle
• Innovative pilot projects that aim to support Hospice at Home services.

Grants can be awarded to stand alone Hospice at Home services or to hospices that offer a broad range of services including Hospice at Home. Total available funding in this round is £116,000 and the Rank Foundation are looking to make grants of between £10,000 and £20,000 each. The deadline for applications is the 11th June 2009.
http://www.helpthehospices.org.uk/our-services/grants/grants-for-uk-organisations/rank-foundation/

Refugee Integration Awards Scheme
Unltd is providing grants of between £500 and £5,000 to refugees to set up projects that will make their communities a happier, safer, healthier and more just place. Unltd will also provide dedicated support including; training opportunities, tools and resources to ensure you develop your own skills as well as helping you develop your project. The scheme will aim to fund and support more than 75 projects over two years.  Applications can be made at any time.
http://www.unltd.org.uk/template.php?ID=55&PageName=newsandeventscont

Rosa – The Fund for Women and Girls
Rosa is the first UK-wide fund for projects working with women and girls has announced that it will be launching its first call for proposals at the end of February 2009. Rosa will award grants to projects working with women and girls in 4 key areas. These are Economic Justice, for example, a social enterprise that helps young women get on the career ladder; Health & Wellbeing, for example, a group of women organising in their local community for better family health services; Leadership – for example, a project that encourages young BME women to engage with local MPs about issues important to them; and Safety – for example, a national charity providing shelter and support for survivors of domestic violence. This call for proposals will focus on Womens Body Image. A total of £25,000 will be available to projects that; work with at least two partners, who are engaged with the media and who address the question ‘How can you support women and girls to develop a positive body image?
For further information:
http://www.rosauk.org/default.aspx

RSWT Announces Details of its £50 Million Local Food Programme
The Big Lottery Fund has appointed the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT) as an Award Partner under its Changing Spaces programme. RSWT will use the £50 million awarded by BIG to launch a Local Food programme. Local Food will distribute grants to a variety of food-related projects to help make locally grown food accessible and affordable to local communities. The aim of the programme will be to improve health and well-being through exercise and better nutrition; to strengthen local economies through the creation of social enterprises; and to promote greater sustainability through the better use of resources. Grants from £2,000 up to £500,000 will be awarded to not-for-profit groups and organisations in England delivering such projects as growing, processing, marketing and distributing local food; composting and raising awareness of the benefits of such activities. The fund will open to applications in early February 2008.
http://www.rswt.org/localfood/

Sport England Relaunches Sportsmatch
Sport England has announced the re-launch of its Sportsmatch initiative to encourage new or additional sponsorship investment from businesses, trusts and private individuals into community based sports projects. Through the scheme, Sportsmatch will continue to offer pound for pound matched funding to investments made by businesses, trusts and individuals into projects that encourage sports participation at grass roots level. The minimum award made by Sport England is £1,000 and the maximum is £50,000. If you are a school the minimum award is £500 (the maximum is still £50,000). The funding available is primarily for running costs although capital awards of up to £10,000 can be made through the scheme. Applicants will now apply online with telephone support available from Sport England on 08458 508 508. The scheme is open to community based sports projects, in particular those that benefit young people, disability groups, black and minority ethnic groups and/or women and girls. All projects applying in 2008/09 will need to ensure that they are able to deliver their project in its entirety by 31 March 2009. This will ensure that the benefits of the scheme are received at the earliest opportunity. Since its original launch in November 1992, Sportsmatch, together with commercial sponsorship, has invested more than £102 million into 5784 community sports projects across England. Applications to the scheme can be made at any time.
http://www.sportsmatch.co.uk/index.html

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.
http://www.comicrelief.com/apply-for-a-grant/uk/sport-relief/

Standard Life Charitable Trust
Standard Life has announced the proposal to establish the Standard Life Charitable Trust later on in the year. The initial investment of around £5 million will come from the company's unclaimed assets trust, while the remainder will come from funds left over after a change to shareholder cash dividend payments. The Trust will be used to enable Standard Life to continue its approach to corporate responsibility and to support their community investment programmes.
http://ukgroup.standardlife.com/content/news/new_articles/2009/agm_2009.xml

Starting out in ICT
Limited or no technical knowledge? Then have a look at some new articles on the ICT Hub Knowledgebase website that provide an ideal starting
point for understanding key concepts of ICT (Information & Communications Technology).
http://www.icthubknowledgebase.org.uk/startingout

Strengthening the Voluntary Sector Programme 2008
The Baring Foundation, which is an independent charitable foundation and distributes just over £3 million in grants each year has announced that it’s “Strengthening the Voluntary Sector” grants programme is likely to re-open for applications in March 2008. The programme is open to registered charities or constituted not-for-profit organisations, provides grants to help organisations to maintain or increase their independence from government by supporting work to strengthen core systems, skills, structures and strategies. In 2008 the programme will focus on strengthening the independence of advice and advocacy organisations. Previously funded projects have included amongst others developing the capacity of small charities through skills development; developing IT support systems within smaller charities and to develop partnership working across the sector, etc.
http://www.baringfoundation.org.uk/program.htm

Support for Schools to Become Eco Friendly
Schools, together with their pupils that wish to make a positive contribution to the environment can register to become an Eco School. Once registered as an Eco School, schools will be part of an international group of schools working towards education for sustainable development and a better quality of life for local and global communities and will be eligible to apply for funding of to help them progress through the programme. The Eco Schools programme operates throughout the UK. However the funding and other support available to schools to implement eco-friendly activities varies. In England for example grants of £5,000 are available to allow positive change and development within a school. Priority will be given to projects that clearly demonstrate an energy efficiency element or identify technology solutions to environmental improvements. In Scotland grants of £250 are available to schools to help them with future eco activities.  Applications can be made at any time.
http://www.eco-schools.org.uk/

Tenant Empowerment Programme - Right to Manage Grants
Under the Housing (Right to Manage) Regulations 1994, Tenant Management Organisations (TMOs) have the right to take over the running of Local Authority housing services (such as collecting rents and service charges and organising repairs and maintenance) from the council. To facilitate the setting up of TMOs and to assist them through the process and decide on the appropriate management structures, residents developing TMO’s are eligible to apply for funding through the Tenant Empowerment Programme – Right to Manage Grant scheme. Under this scheme, funding is available for prospective TMO’s to undertake a series of research studies to identify the most appropriate course of actions in setting themselves up as a TMO. These studies include options studies /  pre-feasibility studies; feasibility studies; and development studies.  Limited funding is also available for the use of agencies to provide information and advice to tenants’ groups on the various options available under the Tenant Empowerment Programme. Applications can be made at any time.
http://www.housingcorp.gov.uk/server/show/nav.00100p008

Tesco Charity Trust Community Awards
The Tesco Charity Trust has announced that it is now accepting applications for grants to support children’s education and welfare projects. The funding is available to community and voluntary groups who can apply for grants of between £500 and £4,000. Previous projects supported have included:

• Sensory garden or room projects
• Outdoor classrooms
• Breakfast and after school clubs
• Holiday play-schemes
• Part funding to purchase minibuses.

The closing date for applications is the 30th June 2009. The Tesco Charity Trust has been in existence since 1987 and aims to provide approximately £600,000 in grants each year. In addition the Trust also provides grants to groups working with and supporting elderly people and/or adults and children with disabilities.
This funding stream is due to reopen for applications on the 1st August with an application deadline of the 30th September 2009.
http://www.tescoplc.com/plc/corporate_responsibility/local_communities/community_investment/charitable_giving/tesco_charity_trust/

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 Awards” 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.  Applications can be made at any time.
http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MID=367137231&MemberId=3963962534

The Bridges Social Entrepreneurs Fund
Bridges Ventures, the privately owned fund management company with a social mission has announced the launch of a £4.25million investment fund for social enterprises that can upscale their operations to have a higher social impact and have a sustainable business model. The Bridges Social Entrepreneurs Fund will invest up to £1million in each social enterprise. The investment will be through equity-like capital providing social enterprises with the risk capital funding they need to grow. The funding will be repayable with an appropriate return, and the fund will re-invest all repayments and returns into further social enterprises.
http://www.bridgesventures.com/investment_soc_entre.php

The Britannia Building Society Foundation
Registered Charities and Schools, working within education and who are seeking funding specifically for numeracy and/or - financial literacy projects can apply to the Britannia Building Society Foundation for grants of between £1,000 and £25,000. Over the last six years the Foundation has made grants totalling £3 million. Applications can be submitted at any time and there is a simple application form which is available on request by e-mailing charitable.foundation@britannia.co.uk  or telephoning on 01538 391734.  In addition voluntary groups, charities and schools can apply for grants of up to £1,000 through the Britannia Community Fund. The Fund also supports individual members wishing to achieve personal development goals that support the fund’s our key priorities with a donation of up to £100. The Community Fund will support any voluntary organisation, school or charity working within Foundations key priorities of numeracy and/or - financial literacy, that operate within a local community where the Building Society has a high density of members. Whilst the Britannia Community Fund focuses on buying specific items or equipment, eg edcational toys, books, it will also support small projects in support of our key priorities. Applications to the Community Fund can be submitted at any time
http://www.britannia.co.uk/home/membership/community/index.html

The Development Awareness Fund
The Department for International Development (DFID) has announced that the Development Awareness Fund is due to open for applications on the 1st June 2009. The aim of the fund is to promote awareness and understanding of global poverty and development issues. The Fund is open to any UK-based not-for-profit organisation or network to promote public knowledge and understanding of development issues. During the 2007 funding round, 26 UK based organisations received grants totalling £5.6 million for projects including fair trade football tournaments, a project to increase the involvement of older people in the UK in the development debate, radio lessons for schoolchildren in developing countries, and farm visits for 5-11 year olds. Under the DAF, eligible organisations and networks can apply for grants ranging from £10,000 to £100,000 per annum for a maximum of three years. Seminars have in the past been held for organisations interested in applying for DAF funding. Participants have found these useful in helping them develop their project ideas. DFID is considering whether to organise seminars for potential DAF applicants during 2009, and what focus these should have. Details will be published once decisions have been made. There is a two stage application process and the deadline for submitting initial concept notes for this funding is likely to be the 30th September 2009. Guidelines will be available from the 31st May 2009.
http://www2.dfid.gov.uk/funding/daf.asp

The Home Access Programme
The Government has announced that the Home Access Programme, a £300 million programme that aims to deliver equal learning opportunities to the 35 per cent of families that currently have no access to the internet at home is to be rolled out across England in autumn 2009. The objective of the programme will be to help all pupils aged 5-19 in state maintained education in England have the opportunity to access the internet and enhance their learning at home. The programme which was initially piloted initially in Oldham and Suffolk has already processed more than 7,500 applications since its launch in February 2009. The Home Access programme will be working with local authorities, schools, colleges and third sector organisations to ensure that families are provided with the support and guidance they need to realise the benefits of having access to technology at home.
http://news.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?resID=40278

The Ibrahim Foundation
The Ibrahim Foundation was established in 2007 by Azeem Ibrahim in memory of his father Muhammad Ibrahim. The Foundation is a private grant making body and is not a registered charity or a limited liability company. The Foundation offers grants to organisations which aim to improve the quality of life for people and communities in the UK. The Ibrahim Foundation like to consider work which others may find hard to fund. They offer grants of between £500 and £10,000 and in some cases up to £50,000. They do not have areas of focus in grant making, but they are particularly interested in the following areas:
Community building;
The environment;
Strengthening not for profit organisations;
Supporting families.
Applications can be made at any time and grants are awarded twice a year. http://www.ibrahimfoundation.com/home.html

The James Tudor Foundation
The James Tudor Foundation which was established in 2004 makes grants of approximately £1 million per year to registered charities within the UK. The areas which the Foundation wants to support are Palliative care; Medical research; Health education, awards and scholarships; the direct relief of sickness; and the UK independent healthcare sector. The grants are usually available to cover project costs (although core costs will be considered) and are usually available for one to three years. Applications can be made at any time and decision for grant applications of below £5,000 are made within one month whist decisions on applications of above £20,000 will be made within four months.
http://www.jamestudor.org.uk/

The LankellyChase Foundation
The Lankelly Chase Foundation has announced that it will publish new grant making guidelines in March 2009. Under the previous guidelines the Foundation provided grants of up to £15,000 per year (for up to three years) for projects in the areas of the arts, heritage, breaking the cycle of abusive relationships, developing inclusive communities, mental health, reducing offending and supporting work with asylum seekers. In addition capital grants of up to £10,000 were available. The Foundation tends to focus its support on smaller charities.
http://www.lankellychase.org.uk/

The Links Foundation
The Links Foundation, which was formed by ‘Working Links’, an organisation that delivers services to tackle social exclusion and poverty by helping disadvantaged individuals and communities, provides grants to disadvantaged communities. Since its launch in 2003 it has distributed over £3 million in grants to over 40 projects. The type of activities that the Foundation seeks to support include projects that advance people’s education; reduce significant disadvantage; assist those in conditions of poverty, need or distress ; and provide for recreational or other leisure time occupation. The Foundation can fund new or existing projects and can help meet costs such as salary, rent and stationery as well as capital costs. The average grant per project is about £20,000. Previously funded activities include arts, crafts and drama facilities for residents on a deprived estate; funding apart-time caseworker to support vulnerable and disadvantaged young people; and supporting people with disabilities to become self-employed. The Board meets every four months.
The closing date for applications is four weeks before the Board meeting.
http://www.linksfoundation.org/Default.aspx

The Naturesave Trust
Naturesave Limited, an ethical insurance company provides funding to support environmental and conservationist projects. The funding is provided by investing 10% of personal insurance premiums into the Naturesave Trust. The Naturesave Trust aims to provide financial assistance to projects that deal with the root of a specific environmental and/or conservationist problem and those that encourage the greater commercial adoption of sustainable development. Financial assistance of between £100 and £10,000 is available in the form of start up finance to new organisations which seeks to promote greater awareness of sustainable development or for existing companies and charities which are seeking funding for a specific project.  Applications can be submitted at any time.
http://www.naturesave.co.uk/naturesave_trust.html

Third Sector Research Programme
The Big Lottery Fund has announced that the application deadline for round two of the Third Sector Research Programme is 5pm, on Friday the 12th September 2008. Under this programme, community and voluntary groups are able to apply for grants of between £10,000 and £ 500,000 (and for exception projects up to £1 million) for up to five years to undertake research in the areas of health and social wellbeing. Applicant organisations are encouraged to link up with universities and the wider research community, however universities themselves are ineligible to apply for funding. It is expected that the findings from funded research will ultimately lead to the development of better services for people in the UK. To apply for funding, organisations must first register with the programme. If your registration is accepted you will be sent a password to open the on-line application form.
http://www.bigresearchprogramme.org.uk/content.php?key=home

Time Running Out to get Green Grants
The Government has announced that charities and organisations like schools and hospitals have until June 2009 to apply for grants through the Low Carbon Buildings Programme to install green energy generating equipment like solar panels, wind turbines or biomass boilers. Through the scheme charities and public sector bodies can apply for 50% of the costs of installing small scale energy generating equipment such as solar panels, wind turbines or biomass boilers. To date 367 schools have benefitted from Low Carbon Buildings Programme funds. Not only do schools have the opportunity to cut their fuel bills by generating their own energy, but pupils can learn about climate change. For example:
·         Sandwich Technology School in Kent, was given a grant of £9,000 from the Low Carbon Buildings Programme to install a wind turbine.
Homeowners can also apply for grants of up to £2,500 to help towards the cost of installing small scale energy generating equipment. Homeowners have until June 2010 to apply.
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=389255&NewsAreaID=2

Triodos Opportunities Fund
Social finance specialists, Triodos Bank, have announced the launch of the Triodos Opportunities Fund, a new venture capital fund for social enterprises. Triodos is now seeking to invest between £200,000 and £750,000 in social enterprises with a proven business model; that are looking to grow and scale up their operations. Triodos will work closely with the companies to help build on their success and focus on their long-term development rather than short-term profits. Triodos will provide more than just money and use its extensive network of social economy partners to open doors, make connections and help investees succeed. The value of the fund currently stands at £3 million. Social enterprises that want to find out more about how the Triodos Opportunities Fund can support their growth should contact Whitni Thomas on 020 7138 3209 or e-mail whitni.thomas@triodos.co.uk. Investors interested in participating in the Fund, should contact Alex Connor on 020 7138 3219 or email alex.connor@triodos.co.ukhttp://www.triodos.co.uk/uk/whats_new/latest_news/press_releases/687610

Trusthouse Charitable Foundation Grants Programme
Charities and not for profit organisations that are active in the fields of Health Care and Disability; Community Support and the Arts and Education are able to apply for one off funding through the Trusthouse Charitable Foundation. The Foundation currently distributes over £2m per year. The funding is available through the Small Grant Scheme, which provides grants of up to £10,000 and the Large Grant Scheme which offers grants of between £10,000 and £30,000. However, the Foundation makes it clear that the majority of grants awarded are below £5,000. Applications can be made at any time.
http://www.trusthousecharitablefoundation.org.uk/home.html

Tudor Trust Announces New Funding Guidelines
The Tudor Trust, one of the largest independent grant making trusts in the UK has announced new funding guidelines for the period 2009 - 11. Under the new guidelines, the Trust will continue to make grants across their established funding areas. These are; youth, older people, community, relationships, housing, mental health, substance misuse, learning, financial security and criminal justice. The Trust will also be open to hearing about work in areas the Trust has not funded before. The Trust makes grants in the region of £19 million per year and aims to support smaller community, voluntary and charitable organisations and is looking to make around 350 projects per year for up to three years. Grants can take the form of core funding (including salaries and running costs), development funding, project grants or capital grants for buildings or equipment. There is no maximum or minimum grant amount that an organisation can apply for. There is a two stage application process and applications can be submitted at any time.
http://tudortrust.org.uk/Default.aspx

Unclaimed Assets to be Reinvested in the Community
The Government has published the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill. Once passed into law, this will allow money lying dormant in banks and building societies to be reinvested in the community. A dormant bank account has been defined as one where there has been no customer-initiated activity for 15 years. In England the focus for the reinvested money will be on funding youth services, particularly places for young people to go, as well as financial capability, financial inclusion and, resources permitting, social investment. The Bill also nables ministers in the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to determine the distribution priorities in their own areas. The resources will be distributed on a by the BIG Lottery Fund.
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news/news_stories/071114_assets.aspx

UNLTD SPORT RELIEF AWARDS RECIEVES £1 MILLION TO UNLOCK YOUNG PEOPLE’S POTENTIAL
UnLtd Sport Relief Awards, a new £1m awards programme aimed at encouraging young people to use sport to tackle social issues in their communities was launched on Wednesday 6th June 2007. The UnLtd Sport Relief Awards programme which will be delivered by UnLtd – the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs, will give young people aged between 11 - 21 the opportunity to unite communities divided by conflict,using the enabling power of sport. It will provide awards – in the form of cash and practical support – to young people who have innovative, sports-related ideas for tackling problems in their communities. UnLtd Sport Relief Awards is an open programme across the UK and will provide awards in the range of £250-£5,000 to enable promising young people with innovative ideas to set up projects. For further information contact: Justine Law,
Communications Manager, UnLtd: 020 566 1118
www.unltd.org.uk/sportreliefawards

UnLtd Announces Next Funding Round to Support Social Entrepreneurs
UnLtd, the national charity that supports social entrepreneurs, has announced that it will be launching the Spring 2009 application round for the Level 2 awards on the 3rd February 2009. UnLtd's Level 2 Awards provide practical and financial support to innovative and enterprising social entrepreneurs to develop their ideas and projects. Level 2 Awards provides grants of up to £20,000 for up to one year to support social entrepreneurs whose ideas are already developed but require additional support to drive their project forward. There are two Award competitions per year and UnLtd expect to make approximately 16 Awards in England and Northern Ireland every 6 months. The Award can be used for a variety of activities, living expenses and project costs. The deadline for submitting an initial Expression of Interest form is noon on the 6th March 2009. Scotland and Wales operate on a different timetable. Please contact the relevant office for more information. In addition, UnLtd also makes Level 1 Awards which are aimed at individuals or informal groups of people who have an idea which will change society for the better, and want help getting it off the ground. The money is to help with the running costs of the project. At Level 1 social entrepreneurs can apply for an award of between £500 and £5,000, (with an average award size of £2,000). UnLtd gives out 1,000 Level 1 Awards each year across the UK.
http://www.unltd.org.uk/

Volant Charitable Trust
Registered charities whose purpose is to alleviate poverty and social deprivation with particular emphasis on children’s and women’s issues have the opportunity to apply for funding through the Volant Charitable Trust. The Trust which was set up by the author J K Rowling also supports research into the causes, treatment and possible cures of Multiple Sclerosis. However this funding stream is currently fully committed and is not considering further applications for funding in this area at the present time. In addition the Trustees will as and when appropriate, support disaster appeals. The Trust will support both capital and revenue funding. Applications for funding requests of £10,000 or less, for those projects based in Scotland only, are dealt with by the Trust’s appointed agents, the Scottish Community Foundation.
The closing date for applications is the 28th August 2009.
http://www.volanttrust.com/index.html

Yapp Charitable Trust Grants  
The Yapp Charitable Trust is an independent grant making trust that aims to make grants totalling £300,000 to about 50 small charities each year. Grants of up to £3,000 per year for up to three years are available to sustain the work of charities that work with; elderly people; children and young people aged 5 – 25; people with disabilities or mental health problems; and people trying to overcome life-limiting problems of a social, rather than medical origin such as addiction, relationship difficulties, abuse, and a history of offending.  Grants are also available to promote lifelong learning. Applications are processed continuously. To be eligible charities need to have a total expenditure budget of less than £60,000 a year for the whole charity. The time it takes to process an application and make a grant is usually between two months and six months. Previously supported projects include:
·         The Association For Shared Parenting which received a grant of £6,000 over 3 years for running costs of a Saturday contact centre in Birmingham that enables children to meet the parent they no longer live with
·         Gainsborough Traveller Initiative which received a grant of £6,000 over 3 years towards educational support for Traveller young people and their parents.
Applications are processed continuously and decisions are reached within two to six months.
http://www.yappcharitabletrust.org.uk/index.html

Young Roots
Young Roots offers grants of between £3,000 and £25,000. The scheme aims to involve 13-20 year-olds (up to 25 for those with special needs) in finding out about their heritage, developing skills, building confidence and promoting community involvement. Projects need to be related to the local and culturally varied heritage of the UK. For example, it could involve young people researching a local archive or doing practical casework on a nature reserve. Projects must also show how young people are managing and participating in the project. Projects should promote social inclusion and equal opportunities by involving a wide range of young people of different abilities and cultural backgrounds. Applications can be made at any time.
http://www.hlf.org.uk/English/HowToApply/OurGrantGivingProgrammes/YoungRoots/

Youth Music to Launch New Grant Making Programme
Youth Music, the UK's largest children's music charity has announced that it will be launching their new funding programme on the 30th June 2009. Grants of between £5,000 and £30,000 will be available to support projects that provide structured, regular and progressive music-making activities for children and young people in support of Youth Music's 3 goals of working with Early Years, Children and Young People in Challenging Circumstances and Encouraging Talent. To be eligible, projects will need to work with children and young people aged 0-18 years (or up to 25 if they have special educational needs, disabilities or are in detention) and children and young people will be at the heart of the decision making for all projects.
http://www.youthmusic.org.uk/news/new-youth-music-fund-launches-30-june.html

Zero Carbon Buildings to Receive £4 Million Boost
The Technology Strategy Board, which has responsibility for overseeing the development of the Technology Strategy and identifying technology priorities critical to the growth of the UK economy, has announced that it is to invest £4 million in highly innovative collaborative research projects leading to the development of new components and materials for low impact buildings. The Components and Materials for Low Impact Buildings competition aims to stimulate the development and integration of materials and components into building systems to achieve the government's targets for zero carbon and low water usage for new build housing by 2016, and for new build non-domestic buildings by 2019. This funding competition is the first activity of the new Low Impact Building Innovation Platform, which was launched by the Technology Strategy Board in May 2008. The Platform aims to enhance the construction industry's response to regulatory and procurement driven markets for lower environmental impact of buildings. The Technology Strategy Board's investment will provide partial funding for winning projects, which must involve businesses working collaboratively with other businesses and/or with research organisations and academic institutions.
http://www.innovateuk.org/content/news/zero-carbon-buildings-to-receive-4million-boost.ashx

£1 Million Available to Support Youth Projects
Young people are being 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 Royal Bank of Scotland Community Cash Awards will see £1 million of 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 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. Projects must:
·         Be run and managed by people between the ages of 14 and 25
·         Clearly benefit the local community
·         Benefit the people running the project
·         Be a new or developing project
Previous projects supported include; an amateur boxing project to give young people greater confidence; and a media project to promote community cohesion and greater understanding between the local community and asylum seekers. Applications can be made at any time.
http://www.princes-trust.org.uk/Main%20Site%20v2/14-30%20and%20need%20help/grants%20for%20community%20projects.asp

£13.5million For Areas with Poor Health
The Department of Health has announced a £13.5 million funding package to improve health in disadvantaged areas. The funding will help the most deprived areas improve people's health and break down the barriers between local services, PCTs and local authorities. The package includes:  £11 million for the Communities for Health scheme. This enables 83 areas to implement local health improvement ideas issues like parenting, healthy eating, or community activities for young and older people. This goes straight to the communities who need them. Examples include councils teaming up with the local football team to promote healthy eating, and schemes encouraging residents to look out for their elderly next door neighbour; and  £2.5 million for Healthy Communities, helping local Government improve their knowledge of and ability to tackle health inequalities locally, through leadership and corporate development. Examples of Communities for Health programmes include Barnsley has developed an integrated community-based strategy, including a peer support programme where parents help vulnerable families to access healthcare and lead healthier lives; and Brighton and Hove has partnered with the Brighton football team to push healthy eating and more active lifestyles, with a particular focus on health inequalities.
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=384686&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False

£25m to Kick-Start Better Bus Services
The Department of Transport has announced that it will be inviting Local Authorities to bid for funding through the Kickstart Programme for new and improved bus services. The aim of the funding will be to better connect local communities with vital services - like hospitals, business centres and colleges - and help tackle congestion and rural accessibility by giving people more alternatives to their car. A total of £25 Million will be made available to Local Authorities to show how they will work in partnership with Bus Operators to develop long-term and commercially viable schemes. Over the coming months, the Department will engage stakeholders on the details of the Kickstart scheme in preparation for the competition to begin early next year. Guidance will be released to accompany the competition to help local authorities develop their applications. Previously funded schemes have included Lancashire County Council which received a grant of £802,618 to reduce social exclusion and improved access to local colleges, the local hospital, several leisure facilities and supermarkets by offering new, round the clock services across Chorley and Tyne and Wear Council which received a grant of £565,000 to establish a new bus route into Newcastle upon Tyne. This links people to major employers and popular retail facilities.
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=379548&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False

£300 Million to Provide Internet Home Access
Children from jobless and low income families will receive a free computer and free broadband access under the Governments proposed "Home Access" initiative. The aim of the initiative is to close the digital divide amongst young people. The £300m investment will help make England one of the first countries in the world to ensure every single young person can use a computer and the internet at home for their education. The initial 'Home Access' package includes; broadband for all young people between 7 - and 19-years-old whose families are eligible; a free laptop or other computer with relevant software and hardware bought with a 'Home Access' voucher; and support covering important areas such as internet safety, effective use of technology for learning and a technical support helpline. The programme will begin in November 2008 with targeted funding available for all local authorities to provide home access for groups such as looked after children and others for whom the authority has special responsibility. The wider programme will be piloted in early 2009 in two local authority areas, with expansion to the rest of England starting in autumn 2009. Families in receipt of income support or unemployment benefits will be able to apply for a 'Home Access' Grant which they can use to purchase a package from accredited suppliers. The programme aims to work towards universal home access by 2011.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2008_0208

£2 Million to Help the 'Now' Generation Make their Mark on the Environment
A partnership of five of the country's leading not-for-profit organisations have come together to provide support and funding to help young people improve green spaces in our communities. SITA Trust, v the youth volunteering charity, BTCV, The Wildlife Trusts and the BBC's Breathing Places campaign, have joined forces to develop a two-year programme which will offer funding of up to £10,000, as well as support and practical expertise from the partners, to enable 16-25 year olds to make a real difference to the communities in which they live. The funding is open to not for profit organisations for projects designed and delivered by groups of volunteers aged 16 to 25. SITA Trust and v have each pledged £1 million to fund the programme, making it one of the largest single investments made by either organisation to any funding programme. The overall programme will be managed using the expertise and experience of SITA Trust and BTCV. One of the most unusual elements of this programme is the individual, dedicated mentor-support that will be provided by the BTCV and The Wildlife Trusts to assist with the practical delivery of every single project that is supported. If you are aged between 16 and 25 and want to put something back into your community visit the Green Prints pages at www.sitatrust.org.uk to find out more.
http://www.sitatrust.org.uk/news/News1600

£6 Million of Funding to Develop Volunteering
The Office of the Third Sector has announced that in response to the Commission on the Future of Volunteering report, "Manifesto for Change", the Government will be providing £6 million of new funding to develop opportunities for volunteering. This will include £4million of funding for new training programmes for volunteers and volunteer managers as well as £2million to create a new access to volunteering fund for disabled people. The volunteering fund for disabled people will be implemented during 2009/10- 2010/11 and will be piloted in three regions and focus on increasing opportunities for disabled people to volunteer. http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news/news_stories/080307_volunteering.aspx

£33 Million to Expand Handyman Services
Local authorities across England have the opportunity to access £33 million of funding over the next two years to to help them develop or expand their local handyman services over the next two years. The scheme will enable older people to hire a trusted handyman to carry out minor repairs, such as clearing out the gutters, fixing a new lock to the back door or securing the stair carpets to avoid it becoming a fall hazard. Older people who want to hire a handyman will be directed to local services, knowing they are hiring a trusted professional who will guarantee their work at a low set cost. The Government will also announce £1 million to develop a national helpline and website to provide expert advice and assistance on a range of matters affecting older people, such as housing advice and care and support services in their area. The Government will be working with a range of agencies including Counsel and Care, Elderly Accommodation Counsel and Help the Aged to transform the exciting pilot scheme into a national helpline going live in April 2009.http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=388307&NewsAreaID=2

£225 million Pathfinders for Play Facilities
The Government has announced that sixty-five local authorities in England will be invited to bid to become play pathfinders under a new £225 million initiative to improve local play facilities. Fifteen local authorities will be selected as play pathfinders from April 2008. They will each receive around £2 million capital funding plus significant revenue funding. These play pathfinders will work with children, young people and their communities to develop innovative play sites with challenging equipment and natural landscapes, which will give all children the opportunity to play actively outdoors. The play sites will also need to be accessible for disabled children. The bids should include plans for building a new staffed adventure playground, with indoor and outdoor facilities, specifically aimed at improving play opportunities for 8-13 year olds where they currently lack places to go and things to do, and often in disadvantaged areas. Any of the sixty-five local authorities who are unsuccessful in becoming a pathfinder, but who submit satisfactory bids, will be offered capital funding of approximately £1 million to develop public play areas, with the first allocations starting April 2008.  A second round of pathfinder bidding will take place autumn 2008 and this will be open for all local authorities to apply. A further fifteen play pathfinders will be selected so that by 2011, 30 pathfinders in total will deliver 30 new adventure playgrounds. http://www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2008_0035

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