Published Thursday 9 July 2020 at 17:57
This insight outlines a range of funding opportunities open to the public sector, businesses, community groups etc. Regular funding opportunities are also available via the websites below:
National Lottery Grant for Heritage
Community groups can now access potential grant funding opportunities through the free Blackburn with Darwen Open4Community online search tool.
For all Blackburn with Darwen Council funding bids
Please check whether match funding is required, if it is please contact and inform your Finance colleague.
Funding opportunities greater than £100,000
Comic Relief Announces Change Makers Programme
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Comic Relief will launch its new funding Change Makers funding programme to support changes in the way which community and voluntary sector organisations work.
Funding of between £150,000 and £600,000 will be available for projects lasting up to 3 to 5 years. The focus will be on work in areas that are of particular interest to Comic Relief.
This includes:
- Addressing homelessness
- Forced migration
- Gender justice
- Mental health
- Early childhood development.
Organisations will be able to apply in one of two categories.
- Small and medium-sized organisations that focus on equalities and are user-led. The organisation must have an annual income of at least £75,000. User-led organisations are considered to be those where the majority of the leadership (i.e. at least half of senior team and trustees) are from the community(ies) the organisation serves.
- Other medium-sized organisations based in the UK. In this case the organisation needs to have a minimum annual income of £250,000.
- Comic Relief will not accept applications from larger organisations with annual income greater than £10 million.
Applications can be made by single applicants. Organisations can also apply in partnership, with a lead partner holding the funding.
20% of the available funding is ring-fenced for efforts led by and working with BAME communities.
The fund will open for applications on the 13th July 2020 and close at 12 noon on the 28th August 2020.
UK Government Support Packages to Protect UK University Research
In response to the coronavirus, the UK Government has launched two support packages to give greater job protection to thousands of researchers, scientists and technicians working at UK universities.
Around £280 million will be made immediately available to enable universities to continue their cutting-edge work, such as research into antibiotics resistance and the effects of coronavirus on society. £80 million of this funding will be redistributed by UK Research & Innovation to support research and development.
From the autumn, a new research funding scheme will cover up to 80% of universities income losses from a decline in international students through long term, low interest loans, supplemented by a small amount of government grants.
Further details, including the conditions attached to the funding, will be available in due course.
£191 Million Package to Help Innovative Businesses Recover from the Impacts of Coronavirus
The UK Government has announced a £191 million Sustainable Innovation Fund to provide UK registered businesses with urgent financial support to help them recover from the impacts of coronavirus and keep their cutting-edge projects and ideas alive. Funding will be delivered through Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation.
Businesses can apply for a share of up to £55 million in round one for new projects focusing on sustainable economic recovery from COVID-19, such as technology that supports a reduction in single-use plastics to greener modes of transport, or more energy-efficient office buildings.
The deadline for applications is 11am on the 29th July 2020.
A further £10 million is available to help businesses and the public sector recover from COVID-19 in a sustainable manner.
The deadline for applications is 11am on the 5th August 2020.
£100 Million Rescue Package for Zoos and Aquariums
Zoos and aquariums in England will be able to apply for a share of an additional £100 million in UK Government funding to help them continue to care for their animals through the coronavirus pandemic. Establishments covered by the Zoo Licensing Act which are experiencing severe financial difficulties will be able to apply for support from the rescue package.
This is a major expansion of a £14 million initial relief fund announced in May and will run until the end of March 2021 to ensure the necessary long-term support is in place to help with severe financial difficulties. The funding will be helping zoos cover costs relating to animal keeping such as feed, heating and security, and the continuation of important conservation and educational work.
Further details on the scheme and how to apply will be provided to the sector in due course.
Funding to Create Green Jobs Following the Coronavirus Pandemic
The UK Government has announced a £40 million Green Jobs Challenge Fund to create thousands of new jobs to help the nation’s green recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
The Fund will help charities and environmental organisations create and retain thousands of new jobs to start work on projects to restore nature and tackle climate change by creating a broad range of short and long-term jobs such as ecologists, surveyors, nature reserve staff and education workers in environment organisations; and support their suppliers in areas such as agricultural engineering, horticulture, and equipment and seed supply.
Organisations will be invited to bid to the fund and details will be set out in due course.
Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund for Charities & Social Enterprises
In response to the coronavirus, Social Investment Business have launched a Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund for social enterprises and charities which have been adversely impacted by the pandemic. The new £25 million fund will provide emergency loans of between £100,000 to £500,000 without requiring personal guarantees and charging no interest fees or interest for twelve months.
The £25m is part of a wider package of support announced by Big Society Capital.
The Fund is intended to provide working capital until normal business can resume for organisations that are facing financial difficulty. Loans could be used to cover delays in trade payments, or for business modification to meet increase in service demand.
The initial £25 million has been provided by Big Society Capital, with loans backed by the Government’s existing Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.
Applications can be made at any time.
Funding opportunities between £25,000 and £100,000
Grants of up to £50,000 to Support the Heritage Sector During the Coronavirus Crisis
In response to the coronavirus, the National Lottery Heritage Fund has created a £50 million Heritage Emergency Fund as part of a support package to help safeguard heritage sites and organisations. Grants of between £3,000 and £50,000 are available to not-for-profit organisations to ensure stability and longer-term recovery by covering unavoidable, essential costs that cannot be met for up to four months.
To be eligible, organisations must be a current or previous recipient of a grant from the Heritage Fund, and be an owner, manager or representative of heritage, or have delivered participatory heritage activity.
Funding will be prioritised to organisations which have limited or no alternative access to other sources of support.
The deadline for applications has been extended from the 30th June until the 31st July 2020.
Longer-Term Project Funding for Charities
Specialist Insurance and Financial Services company Ecclesiastical, has announced that charities registered in the UK and Republic of Ireland can now apply for funding from phase two of £1 million Movement for Good awards to help with longer-term project funding.
Ten charities will each receive a £50,000 grant for innovative, larger, longer-term projects, which support the advancement of education and skills, citizenship or community development, and arts, culture or heritage.
Funding can be used over one year or spread over three years for projects or innovative initiatives with clear outcomes and benefits, and can cover costs such as project-related salaries and capital costs. Applications will be assessed on their impact and effectiveness, sustainability, innovation, and care and compassion.
The deadline for applications is the 24th July 2020.
New Funding Available to Implement Court Judgement with the Potential to Achieve Social Change
A new round of funding has been announced for civil society organisations to implement a court judgment or the outcome of a litigation process that has the potential to achieve social change for people facing discrimination and disadvantage.
The funding is being made available by the Baring Foundation and grants of up to £30,000 for a period of up to one year are available to charities and other not for profit organisations to help civil society organisation during the implementation phase after successful litigation.
The following range of activities may be involved in the implementation:
- advocacy and policy influencing;
- campaigning;
- awareness raising;
- research’ monitoring of implementation;
- further legal action.
Grants awarded under this fund are designed to support ongoing work by organisations who have played a part in the successful litigation they are applying for funding for; and usually for organisations for whom litigation is not their core business.
The closing date for applications in this round is the 12th August 2020.
Funding for Large Scale Built and Natural Environment Projects
Biffa Award has launched a new funding round through its Biffa Award Partnership Grants scheme. Grants of between £250,000 and £750,000 are available for:
Built Environment projects that transform cultural, heritage or visitor centres. They should inspire and promote learning, creativity and participation on a grand scale. Previous projects funded under this theme include the redevelopment of a spectacular science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) experience at Winchester Science Museum.
Natural Environment projects that restore or improve the environment and the natural systems or habitats that support it. Previous projects funded under this theme include reintroducing Beavers to Knapdale Forest in Scotland, restoring 100 hectares of peatlands in the North Pennine’s and creating hundreds of acres of rich pollinator habitat and wildflower meadows across England and Wales.
Preference will be given to projects in which Biffa Award is the majority funder; which work in partnership with other organisations; and which engage with people through improving their knowledge of the asset.
To be eligible for funding the applicant organisation and project must be eligible for enrolment and registration with the scheme regulator, ENTRUST. This will be a condition of any grant approved. Each project site must be within 15 miles of a significant Biffa operation or active Biffa landfill site. A postcode checker is on the Biffa Award website.
The closing date for submitting an Expressions of Interest is the 7th August 2020.
Funding for Schools Incurring Additional Costs Due to the Coronavirus
The Department for Education (DfE) has announced extra funding and support for schools to cover the exceptional costs associated with coronavirus (COVID-19). The funding covers support for schools up to the end of the 2019 to 2020 summer term.
Funding will be available for all state-funded mainstream and special schools, and alternative provision including:
- primary, secondary and all through maintained schools, academies and free schools
- 16 to 19 academies and maintained schools
- maintained special schools
- special academies and free schools
- non-maintained special schools
- pupil referral units
- alternative provision academies and free schools
- maintained hospital schools and academies
Funding is available to cover costs relating to specific items. These items are ones the DfE judge necessary to allow schools to provide appropriate support to those children attending school during the period of partial closure.
Funding is available to schools that are unable to meet such additional costs from their existing resources, or which they could only meet by drawing down on reserves and undermining their long-term financial sustainability.
Funding Limits:
Mainstream schools
250 pupils or fewer £25,000
251 to 500 pupils £30,000
501 to 1000 pupils £50,000
Over 1000 pupils £75,000
Special schools and alternative provision
All schools £50,000
Childs Charitable Trust
The Childs Charitable Trust is a grant-making trust, supporting Christian UK registered and excepted charities and organisations both in the UK and overseas. During 2017 the Trust awarded grants to 81 different organisations all based in the UK but operating in more than 100 different countries worldwide.
Projects will be considered that fall into the following categories:
- Youth – the trust looks to support projects working in schools and with vulnerable and disengaged young people in the UK. Supported activities may include RE Lessons; School Assemblies; Lunchtime/After school clubs; Evangelism; Personal Development Programmes; Homelessness Prevention.
- Outreach – the trust works to share the gospel of Christ by supporting all aspects of Christian outreach both in the UK and overseas and can fund, for example, Church Plants; Overseas Mission; Training in Evangelism; Chaplaincy.
- Society – the trust believes people of faith bring a valuable contribution to social action and justice and support initiatives that have a positive impact in their society. Grants could support, for example: Counselling; night shelters; alcohol/drug rehabilitation; homelessness; or prison/ex-offenders work.
- Education – the trust supports initiatives involved in all areas of Christian education including Bible Translation; Media Initiatives; Bible Colleges; Literature; Apologetics.
Applicants must be registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator or the Charity Commission of Northern Ireland or be ‘excepted’ charities. Organisations with a turnover in excess of £5,000,000 should contact the office prior to submitting an application, to check eligibility.
No minimum or maximum funding amounts are specified, however in 2017, 16 grants of between £5,000 and £9,999, 18 grants of between £3,000 and £4,999 and 34 grants not exceeding £2,999 were made. Nine other grants ranging from £12,000 to £34,000 were also awarded.
Please note that in view of the present Coronavirus pandemic and international financial instability, the trustees are having to critically review all applications with regard to the financial viability of both the organisation and project. Applications for funding should not be made if the project in question has been postponed or is likely to be cancelled.
The next closing date for applications is the 31st August 2020.
Funding to Support Legal Action Related to Covid-19
The Baring Foundation has announced three new streams of funding as part of its £1 million Strengthening Civil Society Programme to support their grant holders and broader civil society when taking legal action related to Covid-19.
- Grants of up to £40,000 are available to all registered charities, including current grant holders, with legal expertise in their area of focus to help protect vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals from the impact of covid-19. The deadline for this round is midday on the 11th August 2020.
Two further streams of funding will support both current grant holders and other previous funding recipients.
- Grants of up to £5,000 to help organisations severely affected by the coronavirus.
- Grants of up to £30,000 to help with the increase in demand for advice from frontline organisations.
Eligible organisations will be contacted directly for these two funds.
Funding opportunities under £25,000
Funding for Charities Supporting the Over 60’s and BAME Communities
Grants of up to £1,000 are available to UK charities that focus on the often complex issues that have arisen from the Covid 19 pandemic for people aged 60 and over. The funding is being made available through the Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust. The Trust will also be prioritising charities that work in BAME communities, in light of Black Lives Matter and the growing awareness that these communities are being disproportionately affected by the Covid 19 crisis.
The funding is available to UK registered charities that have an operating income and expenditure of between £100,000 and £1 million.
The closing date for applications is the 31st July 2020.
Funding to Support Charitable Equine Welfare Organisations Affected by the Covid-19 Crisis
Grants of up to £5,000 are available to help small and medium-sized charitable equine welfare organisations which have experienced unprecedented financial and operational challenges as a result of the coronavirus crisis.
The Petplan Charitable Trust has joined together with World Horse Welfare and the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) to create a Covid-19 Equine Rescues Emergency Fund to help smaller equine welfare organisations whose primary focus is the rescue and rehoming of equines.
Priority will be given to NEWC members and those smaller organisations that have not received emergency funding from other emergency funds. The average grant is expected to be around £2,500-£3,000.
The deadline for this round of applications is 24 July 2020. Payment will be made by 7 August 2020. There will be a further funding round with a deadline of 16 October 2020.
Grants to Protect Biodiversity and Ecosystems
Outdoor clothing company Patagonia has funding of up to $12,000 available for projects that address the root causes of environmental problems.
Small, grassroots, activist organisations around the world, working on action orientated and multi-pronged campaigns to preserve and protect biodiversity and the environment, can apply for grants to run projects that protect local habitats.
Applicants must be able to produce measurable project results, and Patagonia are particularly keen to support efforts that force the government to abide by laws. Creative methods to engage communities to take action, including film, photography and books will only be supported if they are tightly linked to a direct-action campaign on the issue, with specific goals that go beyond education and awareness.
The deadline for applications is the 31st January 2021.
NFU Mutual Community Giving Fund
Charities, schools, and community groups can apply for grants of up to £1,000 through the NFU Mutual Community Giving Fund. The fund is available in areas that are local to NFU operations in the UK.
Applications are likely to be more successful if they meet one or more of the funds priorities. These are:
- Connecting the community; reducing social isolation, providing opportunities, and encouraging resilience
- Providing care and support to vulnerable members of our community
- Relieving poverty; improving the health and wellbeing of our communities
- Advancing education and experiences for young people
Priority will also be given to:
- Requests that are supported by NFU Mutual staff members or one of their local branch offices.
- Beneficiaries that have not been given funds previously.
The next closing date for applications is the 30th September 2020.
Grants for Talented Musicians and Groups
The MOBO Help Musicians Fund has been created in partnership to support the career ambitions of exceptionally talented artists and groups with grants of up to £3,000 to support creative output as well as business advice and other support measures.
This year, the fund has expanded in investment and enhanced its support package, aiming to empower musicians to drive forward their businesses at a crucial time. This could include reshaping your current business plans in the context of the changing domestic and global situations.
Any solo artist, producer, songwriter or group working within any genre can apply but preference may be given to; R&B, Afrobeat, Soul, Hip Hop, Grime, Jazz, Gospel, Garage, Reggae and African music.
Eligible applicants will be:
- Aged 18 or over
- Based primarily in the UK and eligible to work here
- A resident in the UK for at least the last 3 consecutive years
- In financial need and without significant backing from labels, music publishing companies or management
- A track record of regularly performing, writing and releasing music for at least 12 months
Groups can also apply where at least half of the group members meet the criteria as above and if they have been established and playing together regularly for at least 12 months. Groups of up to 4 members can apply for up to £2,000; Groups of 5 or more people or those wanting to work with a larger ensemble can apply for up to £3,000
The closing date for applications is 5pm on the 27th July 2020.
Hellenic Society Hardship Grants
The Hellenic Society makes grants of various kinds to schools, universities and other institutions, undergraduates, graduate students and young researchers which are engaged in Hellenic Studies at all levels. In response to the coronavirus, the Society is temporarily offering small hardship grants to those who have been affected by the crisis.
Funding of up to £200 will be made to:
- those who have held a temporary post in a UK Higher Education Institutions in the last twelve months and whose employment has come to an end during 2020;
- self-funded Post Graduate Researchers, especially those in their third or fourth year;
- and self-funded MA/MPhil/MSt students.
Applicants should email secretary@hellenicsociety.org.uk with the following details: a brief account of the personal circumstances necessitating the grant, the purpose for which the money is to be used, and the precise sum needed (not more than 300 words in total). They should also include the name of their previous line manager or thesis supervisor as appropriate and ask them to email the same address separately to confirm their personal circumstances in broad terms.
Please email Dr Fiona Haarer (Executive Secretary: secretary@hellenicsociety.org.uk) with any queries.
The deadline for applications in this round is 30 June 2020.
Funding to Help Clubs Return to Football
Football clubs can apply for funding to make the necessary changes and modifications to allow their buildings to safely reopen in line with Covid-19 hygiene and social distancing guidelines.
Through their £2.19 million Club Preparation Fund, the Football Foundation will make grants of £500 to football clubs and organisations to help them return to football.
Clubs eligible to apply include:
- Clubs and organisations that manage their own building and have a minimum 12 months security of tenure. The buildings must serve outdoor football pitches, that are used for affiliated football
- Grassroots football clubs (including Step 7)
- FA National League System clubs (from Steps 1 to 6)
- FA Women’s Pyramid clubs (Tier 1-5)
- County FAs
- Professional Club Community Trusts
- Leisure Trusts (with an annual turnover of less than £500k)
- Welsh Cymru Premier League clubs
Funding should be used on three key areas:
- promoting good hygiene;
- keeping facilities and equipment clean;
- maintaining social distancing and avoiding congestion.
The type of work that this may include would be to provide:
- hand sanitiser dispensers
- waste bins
- paper towel dispensers
- signage and floor marking
- building repairs and modifications
- carrying professional inspections or testing on water quality or gas and electric
- repairing hand basins and providing hot water
- installing safety screening and contactless payment systems.
The deadline for applications is the 19th July 2020.
Grants for Small Organisations Making Good Use of Volunteers
The Woodward Charitable Trust primarily funds charitable organisations (charities, social enterprises and community interest companies) in the UK and can make grants for overseas projects usually via UK charities. Priority is given to projects that make good use of volunteers, encourage past and current users to participate, ensure that funds awarded are being well used and fall within the following areas:
- Arts outreach work by local groups involving disadvantaged people;
- Children and young people who are isolated, at risk of exclusion or involved in anti-social behaviour and in particular organisations that work to discourage individuals getting involved in gangs or violent behaviour;
- Disability projects, which can include rehabilitation and training for people who are either physically or learning disabled as well as charities supporting mental health issues, particularly where it relates to our other priority areas;
- Disadvantaged women and their children, covering refuges and domestic violence shelters and groups;
- Disadvantaged families including parenting support;
- Prisoners and ex-offenders and specifically projects that help the rehabilitation and resettlement of prisoners and/or ex-offenders as well as requests to help prisoners’ families;
- Projects that promote integration and community cohesion particularly amongst minority groups, refugees and traveler communities.
Three types of grant are awarded following bi-annual meetings in March and October:
- Small grants (under £3,000)
- Large grants (over £3,000) – these are usually given to charities known by the Trustees
- Please note that the Trust do not fund unsolicited applications from charities whose annual income exceeds £200,000 or an organisation that has more than six months running costs in its unrestricted reserves. Most grants made are for one-off projects although some grants fund salaries and running costs.
Previous grants awarded include:
- Futures Theatre Company, £1,000 for a touring production across schools in London to engage young people to challenge issues relating to peer pressure and coercion
- Training and Learning Company, £2,000 to establish a multi ethnic lunch club for disadvantaged BME people in Dorset
- Henry Dancer Days, £500 for a story telling project to distract children undergoing cancer treatment in Durham.
To apply for funding applicants will be required to complete an application form and submit it with a project budget.
The deadline for receipt of applications for the February meeting is noon on the 31st July 2020.
Equipment Grants for Youth Clubs
Variety, the Children’s Charity, has grants of £250 to £600 available to youth organisations that are affiliated to either Ambition, UK Youth or the or National Association of Boys and Girls Clubs. The grants can be used to buy equipment to provide challenging activities that engage young people aged 8-18 and provide them with alternatives to becoming involved in the anti-social behaviour that often stems from boredom and peer pressure.
On occasion, applications for improvement of youth club premises, refurbishment of existing equipment or facilities will also be considered.
Applicants have to raise some of the funds and applications that have young people involved in the fund raising will be looked upon favourably.
There are no deadlines when applying and applications can be made at any time. Please be aware that due to the Covid-19 crisis the funding process is likely to be delayed.