Published Thursday 12 September 2019 at 12:11
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
Dream Fund: New Application Round Now Open (England, Scotland & Wales)
The Dream Fund offers charitable organisations across Great Britain to think big, be ambitious and collaborate with other not-for-profit partners to deliver their dream project. The Dream Fund gives organisations the chance to deliver the project they have always dreamed of, but never had the opportunity to bring to life. The total award fund of £3,000,000 will be awarded as grants of up to £1.5 million.
Applications for innovative, creative, original, and present projects that are a genuine ‘dream’ submitted by partnerships of at least two charitable organisations (one must be a registered charity) are invited. Other partners can be other charities, voluntary groups, community interest companies, universities or other not-for-profit organisations.
The lead partner in any application must have an annual income that is at least two times the amount applied for. For example, if applying for £500,000 then the lead partner’s annual income must be at least £1,000,000 in the last audited accounts. There is no maximum upper limit regarding the annual income of applicants.
Previous Dream Fund winners include:
- Edible Playgrounds – a partnership between Trees for Cities, School Food Matters and Chefs Adopt a School for a project that transforms outdoor spaces to create productive food-growing and sensory outdoor learning resources.
- Heritage Heroes – a partnership between Canal & River Trust with Help for Heroes a project that engaged retired military veterans in a major canal restoration campaign.
The deadline for Stage 1 applications is 5.30 pm on the 15th October 2019.
Grants of up to £400,000 Available to Organisation Delivering Housing First Services (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
The Henry Smith Charity has announced that organisations currently delivering or planning to deliver Housing First services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland can apply for grants of between £200,000 and £400,000 to make their services more effective and sustainable.
The Housing First Programme is a grants programme that offers stable, affordable housing alongside ongoing, intensive person-centred support to enable people to keep their housing and avoid returning to homelessness.
The funding is being made available to support small to medium sized organisations (between £100,000 and £5 million annual income) to deliver more sustainable and effective Housing First services. Projects can last for up to 4 years.
A total of £1.4 million is available during this funding round and the closing date for submitting an expression of interest is the 4th November 2019.
Funding Support for Former Mining Communities (East & West Midlands, North East & North West of England and Yorkshire)
TheCoalfields Community Investment Programme, which provides grants to community and voluntary groups to tackle key challenges that still affect the top 30% most deprived coalfield communities in England is due to re-open for applications on the 16th September 2019.
Grants totaling £125,000 will be available in this funding round for projects that address the following themes:
- Skills – growing the skills of people in order to increase their opportunities;
- Employment – developing pathways to increase the number of people in work;
- Health – supporting projects that increase participation in activities/services that improve health and wellbeing.
The maximum grant per project will be £10,000 of which a maximum of £2,000 may be for capital expenditure.
Applicants are advised to consult the eligible wards list on the website before making an application.
Organisations eligible to apply include:
Registered Charities; Companies Limited by Guarantee; Community Benefit Societies; Community Interest Companies; Charitable Incorporated Organisations; and Unregistered groups with formal rules.
To apply, organisations need to complete an eligibility survey to determine whether the applicant organisation/group meets the criteria to apply for funding from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT). The Eligibility survey opens on the 16th September 2019 and closes at 5pm on 29th November 2019.
Projects previously supported include the Durham Christian Partnership, a County Durham based charity that provides foodbank and signposting services to members of the local community £10,000.
The deadline for applications is 13th December 2019 at 5pm.
Building Resilient Local Economies (UK)
The programme aims to build a more resilient, fairer and sustainable economic system. Organisations working within the UK who want to help transform financial systems into ‘engines for social benefit’ can apply for grants through the Foundation. Grants in the past have been up to £200,000 to cover capital or revenue funding, core costs or project costs. Activities funded will fit closely with the aims of the Foundation and deliver one of two key outcomes.
These are:
- “System Change”
- “Local Economic Resilience”
Under ‘Systems Change’ the Foundation will be looking to support projects that develop and demonstrate methods that will effectively change policy and corporate behaviours in pursuit of wider social objectives.
Under ‘Local economic resilience’ the Foundation is looking to support projects that share learning about effective ways for communities to create more sustainable economic systems and retain more of the value generated. This might include creating community assets or new approaches to local finance.
Previous organisations supported include:
- SUSTAIN, which received a grant of £75,000 for a concerted three-year campaign, drawing on the support of many people and organisations to achieve changes in government policy and industry practice to create a million good jobs though better farming and land-use.
- ECHO, a trading network of over 500 organisations in East London that uses time as the currency, rather than money. This project received a grant of £140,000 and aims to develop and refine the infrastructure for local, sustainable Echo systems at national scale. The next deadline for applications to the Friends Provident Foundation – Building Resilient Economies programme is 12 noon on the 7th October 2019.
Funding opportunities between £25,000 and £100,000
£10 Million Brexit Readiness Fund Launched (UK)
Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has announced the launch of a new £10 million Brexit Readiness Fund to support trade associations and other business organisations in helping businesses prepare for Brexit.
The fund will be open to business organisations (including the Federation of Small Businesses, BCC or Institute of Directors), trade associations, chambers of commerce, chartered institutes and other professional membership bodies with a significant membership throughout the UK and will support events, training and the production of advice packs to assist businesses in making sure they are fully prepared for a Brexit on 31st October 2019. Individual businesses cannot apply for the grant.
Grants are for £25,000 and over.
Activities funded by the grants must be open to both members and non-members, and to businesses large and small preparing for Brexit on 31st October. This will ensure all businesses will benefit and can be reassured that they are fully ready, from major British producers to the smallest tech startups and entrepreneurs. There should be no barriers, such as affordability of membership.
Funding will have to be used on activities to be completed ahead of 31st October 2019 in order to ensure they are focused on Brexit preparations and that our businesses are fully prepared for Brexit day.
For more information or help, email the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy; businessreadinessfundenquiries@beis.gov.uk.
Applications for grants will be accepted up to Monday 30th September 2019 and administered through a dedicated website.
Funding for Projects that Support Disadvantaged and Disengaged Young People (England & Wales)
The Peter Cruddas Foundation provides funding for projects that benefit disadvantaged and disengaged young people in England and Wales.
Priority is given to programmes designed to help disadvantaged and disengaged young people in the age range of 14 to 30, to pursue pathways to Education, Training and Employment with the ultimate aim of helping them to become financially independent.
There is no minimum or maximum amount and projects can be funded for more than one year. Priority is given to applicants able to demonstrate that they can manage the amount they have applied for and how they intend to continue (if appropriate) after the funding has been spent.
Please note that the Foundation is not accepting applications for Capital Projects.
Eligible applicants will be charities registered with the charity commission in England and Wales benefitting people living in England and Wales.
Projects previously supported include:
- The Enterprise Bootcamp programme. This funding helps Bootstrap deliver the programme to young people and connect them with the Bootstrap community. The latest programme culminated in a pitching event at the end of 2016 where 15 young entrepreneurs pitched for funding. Collectively they were awarded more than £23,500 to start their own businesses.
- The Challenge pilot scheme where young people were taken out of their “comfort zones” and challenged to devise viable and workable community projects for their community. The Challenge aims to put teams of diverse 16-year olds through a one-year training and community service scheme starting with a three-week summer camp and then 50 hours of social action to tackle local civic and youth-related issues.
The next closing date for applications is the 1st March 2020.
Awards for Conservationists Now Open (International)
Applications for the Whitley Awards 2020 are now open. Whitley Awards of up to £40,000 are for dynamic mid-career conservationists who are leading wildlife conservation projects in developing countries. Whitley Awards are for dynamic mid-career conservationists who are leading wildlife conservation projects in developing countries.
Whitley Awards are for dynamic mid-career conservationists who are leading wildlife conservation projects in developing countries. Winners tend to be nationals of the country in which they are working, and are looking to scale up work that is proven to be effective and would benefit from further funding and profile boost. To be eligible, projects must involve local communities at the grassroots level and deliver practical action that is founded on science.
Applications close at midnight GMT on 31 October 2019.
Funding opportunities under £25,000
Funding for Financial Literacy Projects (UK)
The MSE Charity has announced that its grants programme has re-opened for applications. The charity gives grants to not for profit organisations that deliver activities which make a lasting impact on how people think, behave and manage their money.
The MSE Charity is dedicated to supporting UK voluntary groups delivering financial life skills which make a lasting impact on the way people think, behave and manage their money. Grants of up to £5,000 are available for projects that aim to make people in ‘Life Changing Transitions’ become more financially capable. Grants will be offered to build financial capability by assisting groups who support:
- Bereavement
- Redundancy
- Retirement
- Relationship breakdown
- Homelessness
- Offenders
- Resettlement
Eligible applicants will be registered charities, Community Interest Companies (CICs) and other not for profit companies and Credit Unions. Preference is given to projects that break new ground in approach, delivery or in audience and are either capable of replication to a wider audience and/or are collaborative i.e. working with other organisations in the field, or geographical area as appropriate.
Potential applicants are asked to complete an Eligibility Quiz and read the Guidance Notes prior to application.
The programme will close for applications on the 30th September 2019 or when 40 applications have been received. Find out more
Grants for Families Facing Financial Hardship Whilst Caring for a Child with a Serious Illness (UK)
Marvelous Family Grants are awarded to families facing financial hardship whilst caring for a child with a serious illness. Grants of up to £1,000 per child can fund a variety of essential items and services including (but not limited to) specialist equipment, creative therapies, hospital travel expenses, everyday items to improve the child’s quality of life, attending medical/support group conference, social activities and memberships.
Marvellous Family grants are open to any family residing in the UK with a child who has a serious illness that could be life-limiting as described by the following criteria:
- Group 1 – Life threatening conditions for which curative treatment may be feasible but can fail (e.g. epilepsy, irreversible organ failures of heart, liver, kidneys.)
- Group 2 – Conditions where premature death is inevitable (e.g. cystic fibrosis.)
- Group 3 – Progressive conditions without curative treatment options (e.g. Batten disease, mucopolysaccaridoses, muscular dystrophy.)
- Group 4 – Irreversible but non-progressive conditions causing severe disability leading to susceptibility to health complications and likelihood of premature death (e.g. sickle cell disease, cerebral palsy, multiple disabilities such as brain or spinal cord insult.)
- Group 5 – Syndromes without a name (SWAN) causing severe, chronic disability or illness.
Applications must be completed by health or social care professionals on behalf the family and are considered at monthly meetings.
The application deadline for the next meeting is 12pm on the 30th September 2019.
Funding Available for Community Projects for Vulnerable Women and Girls (UK)
Local community groups supporting women and girls with issues like period poverty, domestic and sexual abuse, mental health and long-term unemployment can to apply for a share of £3.5 million for their vital work. Groups anywhere in the UK can apply to their local Community Foundation for grants of up to £10,000 and the funding can only be used for projects or services that directly benefit women and girls.
Priority will be given to grassroots organisations, organisations working with women or girls facing multiple challenges, user-led organisations and sustainable projects providing long-term solutions.
The funding is being made available through a new funding round of the Tampon Tax Community Fund.
Examples of the types of organisations that will be funded include the Young Women’s Project, which encourages young women to make the transition back into education, employment or training. It’s aimed at vulnerable women between the ages of 12 and 21 who experience various difficulties including low confidence, mental health issues, homelessness and teenage pregnancy.
To apply please contact your local Community Foundation by clicking on the link below.
Funding for Environmental Apprenticeships and Scholarships (UK)
The Ernest Cook Trust has announced that it is accepting applications for funding through its Apprenticeships and Scholarships Grant scheme.
UK-based Registered Charities, Community Interest Groups, Not-for-Profit organisations and State Schools can apply for grants of between £500 and £10,000 per student per year to support environmental work-based training programmes, placements and academic studies. The Ernest Cook Trust will consider funding for the full period of the scheme, pending annual reviews and submission of the annual monitoring report.
Apprenticeship and Scholarship programmes should have an emphasis on environmental engagement e.g. education about the land, food production, climate change, engineering technology, renewable energy, understanding nature and biodiversity and developing skills to ensure meaningful connections with the natural environment.
The closing date for applications is the 27th September 2019.
Grants to Promote and Secure Better and Safer Roads (UK)
Grants and bursaries of between £5,000 – £25,000 are available for research, education and community projects with the aim of promoting and securing better and safer roads in terms of design, engineering and aesthetics including enhancements of the experience of road users. Funded activity includes courses leading to qualifications related to traffic engineering and transport planning, research projects and programmes or schemes to improve the highway network and the roadside environment, for example roadside parks and open spaces.
The Rees Jeffries Road Fund Grants awards grants that echo the Charitable Objects of the Fund which are:
- To contribute to the cost of lectures, studies and scholarship calculated to foster the improvement of design and layout of public highways and adjoining land
- To promote schemes for the provision of roadside parks and open spaces
- To encourage the improvement of existing and provision of additional public highways, bridges, tunnels, footpaths, verges, and cycleways…. to secure the maximum of safety and beauty.
Priority is given to projects which lie outside the scope of other funders such as government agencies and research councils. The Fund also welcomes applications that include contributions from other funders.
Eligible applicants include educational institutions, charities and social enterprises. There is no upper or lower limit for grant applications although grants most commonly fall in the range £5,000 – £25,000.
Grants awarded in 2018/19 included:
- CIHT: £10,000 towards an exhibition to promote Women in Transport
- SATRO: £2,500 to support work to help young people to be inspired and enthusiastic about their education and their future careers especially in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM)
- Plantlife: £18,233 to develop a new national ‘best practice’ standard for the management of roadside verges.
Deadlines for applications to the Rees Jeffries Road Fund are two weeks before trustees’ meetings. The next meeting is the 3rd December 2019.
Grants to Enhance the Teaching of Mathematics (UK)
The London Mathematical Society has announced that Mathematics Teachers in the UK can apply for grants of up to £400 to attend specific one or two-day conferences/events organised by professional mathematical organisations.
The aim of the grant is to facilitate mathematical professional development to allow teachers in UK schools/educational institutions to develop their subject knowledge. The grant can contribute to the costs of registration for the course and a proportion of the travel and subsistence expenses of attendees.
Any application for a grant under this scheme must be made by a teacher of mathematics or ITE provider based in the UK. The grants are open to teachers of mathematics from primary school to A-Level or equivalent (inclusive of STEP/AEA).
Queries regarding applications can be addressed to the Education Grants administrator, Katherine Wright, who can discuss proposals informally with potential applicants. Email education@lms.ac.uk or Tel: 020 7927 0801
The next closing date for applications is the 30th November 2019. Find out more
London Mathematical Society – Small Grants for Education (UK)
Grants of up to £800 are available to stimulate interest and enable involvement in mathematics from Key Stage 1 (age 5+) to Undergraduate level and beyond. The funding is being made available through the London Mathematical Society’s Small Grants for Education scheme and aims to enhance and enrich mathematical study beyond the curriculum; engage the public with mathematics; and encourage unusual ways of communicating mathematics.
The scheme is primarily intended for activities for which there is limited scope for alternative sources of funding. Applicants linked to universities should ideally be supported by a member of the Society and ordinarily the Scheme will not fund University outreach activity. However, anyone based in the UK is eligible to apply for a grant.
There are four application rounds each year and the next closing date for applications is the 30th November 2019.
Grants for Improvements to Small Theatres Deadline extended (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)
Round 14 of the Theatres Trust’s UK Theatres Grants Scheme is now open to applications for capital grants of up to £5,000. Organisations eligible to apply will be running small theatres, have UK charitable or not-for-profit legal structures and be:
- Owned or manage theatres with titles or signed leases of more than 5 years on buildings in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Running a regular theatre programme of professional, community and/or amateur work presenting no less than 30 performances a year
- Able to provide certified or audited accounts for at least two years
Priority is given to projects that address urgent building repairs, improve operational viability, introduce environmental improvements and enhance physical accessibility. The scheme can also be used to help lever in other sources of investment, particularly philanthropic support. Applications for technical equipment and refurbishment of soft furnishings are a low priority for the scheme.
Previous examples of funded projects include:
- Robin Hood Theatre, Newark, £5,000 towards a project to replace the theatre’s electrical supply which was no longer fit for purpose
- The Players Theatre, Thame, £5,000 to install a flexible, moveable wall system on the stage to achieve a larger and more flexible space.
Applicants are encouraged to discuss their project with The Theatres Trust before applying. Contact advice@theatrestrust.org.uk for more information.
Round 14 of the UK Small Grants Scheme has been extended to the 4th September at noon. Find out more
Funding to Support Vulnerable Energy Consumers (England, Scotland and Wales)
The Energy Saving Trust has announced that charities in England, Scotland and Wales can apply for funding through the Energy Redress Scheme. The scheme which distribute payments from energy companies who may have breached rules supports funds projects that support energy consumers in vulnerable situations and making their homes more energy efficient.
In addition, up to 15% of Energy Redress funds can support the development of Innovative products and services related to energy.
Innovation projects must:
- have a realistic prospect of delivering benefits to existing and/or future energy consumers
- should help to reduce the environmental impact of energy use
- and are efficiently managed and provide good value for money.
The minimum grant that can be requested is £20,000 and the maximum grant amount varies depending on the size of the fund available.
The scheme can fund projects lasting up to two years, can fund 100 per cent of the project cost and can cover revenue and capital measures.
The closing date for applications is 5pm on the 18th October 2019.
Nature Grants for Schools (England, Scotland & Wales)
Infant, Primary and Secondary schools in England, Scotland and Wales are being invited to apply for up to £500 worth of free outdoor equipment and two hours of professional outdoor training as part of the third instalment of Local School Nature Grants.
Schools can choose from over 100 different products to deliver outdoor learning and play. These include:
- Den Building Kits
- Small Spaces Planters
- Insect Study Centres
- Litter Picking Kits
- Investigating Weather Kits
The funding is being made available through the charity Learning through Landscapes Local School Nature Grant scheme. The charity has been helping schools across Great Britain since 2017. Funded by the players of People’s Postcode Lottery, the grants have so far provided £900,000 worth of equipment to 800 schools. This year it will reach a further 500 schools.
This year, the scheme is also open to non-mainstream schools; including pupil referral units.
The programme is only open to schools. Nurseries, Playgroups, Pre-Schools and gardening groups are not eligible. Reception settings attached to a school (i.e. on the same physical site) are eligible to apply in partnership with a school, but the school must lead the application.
There will be four funding rounds throughout the year and the next closing date for applications is the 22nd November 2019.
Interested schools can also email LSNG@ltl.org.uk for further information.
Grants of £1,000 Available for Tree Planting Projects (England / Various Locations)
The International Tree Foundation (ITF) has announced that the UK Community Tree Planting Programme is open to applications from organisations in Oxfordshire and Berkshire. Up to £1,000 per project is available for one-year projects.
The Programme supports community projects that will:
- conserve, restore and protect indigenous trees and woodlands, forests, habitats and associated biodiversity
- support community engagement in tree planting to promote reforestation and to increase awareness of the importance of trees and forests to environmental and human well-being
- encourage social cohesion and inclusion
To be eligible for funding from this round of the UK Community Tree Planting Programme the applicant organisations must be community-based e.g. a school, community group or non-governmental organisation. The applicant organisations must have signed permission from the owner or manager of the land indicating that the project meets legal requirements.
ITF’s priorities are to support community-based tree planting initiatives in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Hampshire.
that:
- Plant and conserve indigenous tree species in publicly accessible sites
- Engage community members in tree planting and enjoying the benefits of woodlands
- Have clear plans for maintenance and sustainability
The deadline to apply is 30th September 2019
Funding to Encourage Young People to Study Science Subjects (UK)
In response to the much publicised skills gap in the British engineering industry, the Ironmongers’ Foundation wishes to support initiatives that encourage talented young people under the age of 25 to study science subjects at school and go on to pursue engineering-related further education or vocational training.
The funding is available to registered or exempt charities within the UK, with a preference for urban areas outside London and particularly areas in the north and midlands with a manufacturing presence.
Activities must be additional to those funded by government or other sources e.g. covered by school budgets. The Foundation prefers to support smaller projects where its contribution can make a real difference.
The next closing date for applications is the 1st December 2019.
Pink Ribbon Foundation Grants (UK)
The Pink Ribbon Foundation has announced that it is currently accepting applications to its grant making programme.
Grants of up to £5,000 are available to UK charities:
- To relieve the needs of people who are suffering from, or have been affected by, breast cancer by providing, or assisting in the provision of, information, care or emotional, practical and financial support.
- To advance public education in the understanding of breast cancer, its early detection and treatment, in particular but not exclusively by commissioning, or conducting, research into the causes, detection and treatment of breast cancer and by disseminating the results of such research.
Higher grants may be awarded if the trustees feel there is a special reason to do so.
Any charity working in the field of breast cancer can apply for a grant.
Applications from general cancer charities must demonstrate that the grants requested will be applied to benefit those affected by breast cancer. Where applications relate to general services, details must be given of how many (and what proportion) of the total number benefiting from the charity’s work are affected by breast cancer.
The closing date for applications is the 29th May 2020.
Centre for Social Justice Awards 2020 (UK)
Charities, grassroots organisations and social enterprises tackling social issues at the local level are invited to apply for the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) Awards 2020.
The annual CSJ Awards programme recognises local groups that address a range of entrenched social issues.
This year’s categories are:
- Maxi Richards Addiction Award
- The Family Award
- The Work Award
- The Education Award
- The Criminal Justice Award
- The Financial Inclusion Award
Six winners will receive cash prizes of £10,000 to scale their impact and puts them in the spotlight for senior politicians, philanthropists and business and charity leaders to be inspired by and learn from.
The closing date for entries is the 7th October 2019.
Funding to Mark the International Year of the Periodic Table (UK)
The Royal Society for Chemistry is making grants of up to £1,000 available to its Network Members to run a project for the International Year of the Periodic Table in 2019. To be eligible, applicants should demonstrate:
- that the project supports the celebration of the International Year of Periodic Table
- that the project has a significant aspect which is related to the chemical sciences
- that the project has a clearly identified target audience
- that the intended impact on the audience has been defined
- that projects are planned to take place during 2019, the International Year of the Periodic Table
Funding is open all year round and will considered at three checkpoints in the year with the next deadline for applications being the 14th October 2019. There are limited funds available and applications will be considered until all funds have been allocated.