Published Thursday 13 June 2019 at 12:35
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.
Blackburn with Darwen Funding Fayre
Wednesday 19th June, 10am to 2pm (lunch included)
Come along and find out about grants from £500 to the hundreds of thousands. We’ll have lots of information on a range of funding opportunities. The National Lottery Community Fund will be present providing information on Awards for All, Reaching Communities or their Partnership Fund. There will be an expert session on the funding portal and will have information at hand relating to Big Local, BwD Community Fund, the ESF Community Grants (for Round 2), Heritage Lottery, Postcode Lottery,Sport England and lots more.
Email office@communitycvs.org.uk to confirm attendance.
Funding opportunities greater than £100,000
£3 million available to fund veterans’ community centres
A £3 million funding programme to fund renovations and improvements to veterans’ community centres has been launched by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.
Grants of up to £30,000 are available to fund renovations, refurbishments and improvements to existing community centres being used by veterans. A small number of grants of up to £150,000 will be made to more complex projects.
Items of expenditure that can be applied for include:
- General repairs – e.g. replacing flooring, windows, mending roofs, drainage, damp proofing, pointing, cladding.
- Plumbing upgrades, including new boilers.
- Electrical work, such as rewiring, to meet safety standards.
- New fixtures and fittings to enable extended or new activities – e.g. kitchens, storage, recreational equipment.
- Updated technology – e.g. WiFi connectivity or a sound system.
- Building work and equipment, which enhances a user’s access requirements – e.g. toilets, car park, disabled ramps, etc.
- Cosmetic/aesthetic improvements, such as general decorating – but ONLY where you can show how this will make a significant difference to veterans’ use of the space, or in cases where redecorating is required as a result of damage caused, necessarily, as part of the refurbishment.
- Fees to architects, surveyors, engineers and local authorities, for planning permissions and adherence to building controls.
- Project management fees – related to the capital works only, not to the organisation’s activities.
Eligible organisations will be Charities or Community Interest Companies supporting the armed forces community that own or have a long lease on an existing community centre used by veterans that is in need of renovation, refurbishment or improvement.
There will be three rounds of funding; and applications for the next round need to be received by 4th November 2019.
Case study from a previous scheme:
The Royal British Legion Grangemouth Branch received a grant of £20,000 through the Armed Forces Covenant Local Grants programme, to refurbish the building, improve the electrics and make the building more accessible for people with disabilities.
Funding of up to £300,000 available for digital vocational training projects
The UFI Charitable Trust (Ufi), which aims to help improve vocational skills in the UK’s workforce, has announced the Voctech Impact Fund is open for applications. The Voctech Impact Fund aims to raise the skills of the UK workforce skills through digital solutions in vocational learning. The fund offers grants of £150,000 – £300,000, for projects lasting up to 18 months.
The VocTech Impact fund is specifically aimed at projects that have already tested a prototype or early version of their solution, have a clear demand or route to market, and are looking to reach a large number of learners within the funding period.
This call is open to projects from all sectors and using any digital technologies. Ufi are not looking to support learning management systems or non-vocational skills such as CV writing or digitising of existing learning content. Organisations eligible to apply include employers, colleges and other existing learning providers, charities and trade bodies. All projects must show that there is a public benefit
The emphasis of the project must be on new learning tools which use genuinely innovative methods to raise the skills levels for a significant number of learners. Areas where Ufi are particularly keen to see projects, including automated and machine learning, analytic tools and hyper-local projects linking employers and learners.
There is a two stage application process. Stage 1 is open for applications until 5pm on 28th June 2019. Applicants successful at Stage 1 will be invited to submit a Stage 2 applications.
The Rank Foundation – Pebble Grants Programme
UK registered charities and recognised churches which are raising money for capital projects (building work, refurbishment or the purchase of long-term equipment) or a one-off short term activity (such as an annual respite break or holiday for disadvantaged young people) can apply for funding through the Rank Foundation – Pebble Grants programme.
To be eligible to apply the total project cost must be less than £1 million, the organisation must have an annual income of less than £500,000 and the organisation applying must already have raised a third of the total costs.
Applications can be submitted at any time and the Foundation is currently accepting applications for the July 2019 meeting of Trustees.
Organisations can only apply once every 12 months regardless of the outcome of their application.
£2 million Fund to Develop Horizontal Spaceflight
Potential spaceports can now submit applications to enable research into the market opportunities offered by new and emerging horizontal spaceflight technologies. Grant recipients will then be able to use this research to develop an individual business case for offering horizontal launch services from the UK in the early 2020s. Individual applicants can apply for up to £500,000 of funding for up to 75% of the costs of the project. Applicants must submit a notification of their intention to bid to the UK Space Agency by 12 noon, 21st June and submit an application by noon 17th July, 2019.
HM Government is enabling access to space from the UK and wants to help prospective horizontal spaceports (such as those already in development in Newquay, Cornwall, Glasgow and Prestwick in Scotland, and Snowdonia in Wales) in the UK build their business cases for offering small satellite launch, and sub-orbital flight and ancillary services. Funding from the UK Space Agency in the form of this £2 million development fund will be distributed as grants that will cover research to examine both the technical and commercial feasibility of spaceport operations, in particular how UK aerodromes could:
- Adapt current infrastructure to host horizontal spaceflight services and/or technology-based services related to horizontal spaceflight;
- Adopt successful business models to offer commercially sustainable spaceflight and/or technology-based services related to spaceflight.
The research outputs of the grant funding must, as a minimum, include:
- Services to be offered i.e. regulated services or other technology-based services
- Supplier and customer base i.e. an assessment of relevant technology developers (such as those developing new launch vehicles) and a route to commercialise their products
- Competitiveness i.e. likely business share relative to other proposed spaceports in the UK and globally.
- Costs, revenue and finance i.e. the initial and ongoing costs in developing and operating the proposed spaceport, anticipated revenue from the services offered, available sources of finance and return on investment
Applicants are required to notify their intention to bid by 12 noon, 21st June and submit a complete application by noon 17th July, 2019.
Masonic Charitable Foundation – Early years opportunities grants programme re-opens for applications
Charities in England and Wales can apply for Early Years Opportunities Grants through the Masonic Charitable Foundation. The Early Years Opportunities programme is open to charities that help disadvantaged children and young people (up to the age of 25 years) overcome the barriers they face to achieve the best possible start in life.
Grants can be offered to charities that provide:
- Mental and physical health support
- Learning and development, including language and communication skills, social and emotional etc.
- Parental support, including whole family approach
- Pastoral and advocacy support
The type of activities that could be funded include:
- Additional educational opportunities such as improving literacy and numeracy
- Individual interventions, i.e. parent education, home visiting or mentoring
- Encouraging healthy behaviours with regards to diet, activity and wellbeing
- Psychological interventions for domestic abuse and behavioural issues etc.
- Provision of vital adaptive technologies and equipment removing barriers
Alternative methods or specialist therapies to help children and young people integrate into the mainstream education system.
The programme offers both small grants of up to £15,000 to charities with an annual income of up to £500,000 for projects lasting up to three years; and grants of between £10,000 and £150,000 to charities with an annual income of above £500,000 for projects lasting up to three years.
The next closing date for the large grants programme is the 19th August 2019 (Stage 1 applications). The small grants programme is due to re-open for applications on the 17th June 2019 with a closing date of the 27th September 2019.
Masonic charitable foundation programme to support disadvantaged and vulnerable older people
Local and national charities in England and Wales can apply to the Later Life Inclusions grants programme run by the Masonic Charitable Foundation. The Later Life Inclusion grants programme is open to charities working to reduce loneliness and isolation of vulnerable and disadvantaged people over 50.
Grants can be offered to charities that provide:
- Mental and physical health support
- Gateway and access to service, e.g. transport and technology
- Community based approaches, i.e. volunteering, positive ageing and neighbourhood support
- Advocacy, social and welfare support
The type of activities that could be funded include:
- Support for emotional and psychological planning for later life
- Digital inclusion sessions to enable older people to access services
- Activities and clubs enabling older people to remain active and make friends
- Providing companionship and befriending schemes for periods of transition
- Advice and information on options for those with health conditions
- Carers and respite support
The programme offers both small grants of up to £15,000 to charities with an annual income of up to £500,000 for projects lasting up to three years; and grants of between £10,000 and £150,000 to charities with an annual income of above £500,000 for projects lasting up to three years.
The next closing date for the large grants programme is the 19th August 2019 (Stage 1 applications). The small grants programme is due to re-open for applications on the 17th June 2019 with a closing date of the 27th September 2019.
Building resilient local economies
The next deadline for applications to the Friends Provident Foundation – Building Resilient Economies programme is 12 noon on the 7th October 2019.
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.
Funding opportunities between £25,000 and £100,000
Funding for rural community and education projects
The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust, which supports charities in the UK working in agriculture, rural development and insurance has announced that the next closing date for applications is the 1st November 2019.
Trustees are particularly interested in funding larger initiatives, which would have a significant impact on the rural community. The Trustees are particularly interested in initiatives in the areas of education of young people in rural areas and relief of poverty within rural areas.
Grants of between £1,000 and £50,000 are available. In 2016, the Trust made donations totaling £256,500 to a total of 15 organsiations.
Projects supported in the past include:
Farms for City Children, which aims to expand the horizons of children from towns and cities by offering them a week in the countryside living together in one of their farms and the Royal Highland Education Trust which aims to create an opportunity for each child in Scotland to experience the countryside and to facilitate a wider understanding of the environmental, economic and social realities of rural Scotland. Its key activities include farm visits, classroom speaker visits and a number of high profile national competition.
The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust also provides small grants of up to £250 through the NFU Mutual’s Community Giving Fund which supports worthwhile community events, charities, schools and community group activities that are local to their operations.
Business and Academic partnerships: apply for funding
Up to £40 million of funding has been allocated to support businesses in collaborating with an academic or research organisation and a graduate on a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP). The KTP scheme enables businesses in the UK to innovate and grow by linking them with an academic or research organisation and a graduate.
A KTP enables an academic or research organisation as a partner to a business to recruit a suitable graduate (an Associate) to work at the company for the duration of the KTP. The business is thus able to access new skills and the latest academic thinking to deliver a specific, strategic innovation project. KTPs can last between 12 and 36 months, depending on the project and the needs of the business.
The KTP 3-way partnership will consist of:
- A UK-based business of any size or a not-for-profit organisation
- An academic or research organisation i.e. university, college or research and technology organisation in the UK
- A suitably-qualified graduate with the capability to lead a strategic business project
The KTP can be part-funded by a grant from Innovate UK with the business partner contributing to the salary of the Associate plus the cost of a supervisor who will oversee the scheme. Contributions will depend on the scale and length of the project and the size of the company i.e.
- Small and medium-sized enterprises contribute around £35,000 per year, about one-third of the project costs
- Large businesses contribute around £55,000 per year, or half of the project costs
Applications may be submitted either via a KTP Adviser who will check the feasibility of the idea and find the right partner or, where there is already a partnership with an academic or research organisation, via that organisation’s KTP office.
The deadline for applications to this round is the 24th July 2019.
Veolia Environmental Trust grants
The next closing date for stage 1 applications to the Veolia Environmental Trust is the 29th August 2019.
Grants of between £10,000 and £75,000 are available to constituted not for profit organisations and registered Environmental Bodies towards:
- Community buildings
- Parks and paths, play, Multi Use Games Areas (MUGAs) and recreational facilities
- Nature reserves
- Bio diversity projects.
To be eligible to apply, the applicant organisation needs to be within the vicinity of a qualifying Veolia site (please see post code checker below); the projects must have a total cost of under £250,000 (including VAT and professional costs); the applicant must have secured 20% of funding towards the project prior to submitting a full (stage 2) application.
Grants of up to £100,000 available for digital innovation in education
A new £4.6 million fund has been launched by Innovation Foundation Nesta and the Department for Education to help support the more effective use of technology in UK schools and colleges.
The EdTech Innovation Fund is available to a range of organisations, including:
- Social enterprises
- Charities
- Business
The aim is to develop their products and build the evidence base for what works across four challenge areas. These are:
- Formative assessment;
- Essay marking;
- Parental engagement;
- Timetabling
Grants of up to £100,000 are available for up to 20 projects.
Nesta and the Department for Education are particularly interest is supporting the development of digital tools that aim to improve teaching and learning through decreasing teacher workload and improving student outcomes. T
The closing date for applications is 9am on the 15th July 2019.
Nesta also hosting three webinars for potential grantees to ask questions about the fund. Sign up to a webinar.
Grants for games developers
Games companies based in any of the English regions outside of Greater London are invited to apply for an investment of up to £100,000 to help them grow. These repayable investments aim to help talented and individual games developers to overcome the hurdles of investment, marketing and discoverability and enable them to build a portfolio. Repayment options are flexible and may be a combination of loan and revenue share options that should be returned within 36 months. The deadline for applications is Sunday 11th August 2019, apply to Creative England for the Greenshoots fund.
Creative England’s Greenshoots is an investment initiative for independent game developers run in partnership with Xbox. Since 2013, Greenshoots has made 28 investments, providing finance of just over £1m in total. Successful and acclaimed games funded through the initiative include several ID@Xbox titles such as Q.U.B.E.2 from Toxic Games, and Aaero by Mad Fellows.
This investment round uncovers independent developers who are creating exciting, innovative games, and can demonstrate high growth potential.
The fund is open to companies that:
- Are a games company based in any of the English regions outside of Greater London
- Have previous, demonstrable game development experience
- Qualify as an SME and are registered at Companies House
- Can provide a £1 for £1 match to any investment received
- Have an innovative game idea to be developed for commercial release on any operating system and platform – but must include a dedicated version for Windows 10, distributed via the Windows 10 Store, and/or Xbox One
- Have not received over €200,000 worth of public sector support granted under State Aid, from whatever source in any three-year rolling period
- Have an ambition to grow the company, creating and/or safeguard jobs through the funding
Applications for this round close on Sunday 11th August 2019.
Funding to make community spaces more sustainable
The Co-op Foundation is offering interest free loans for enterprising ideas to improve community spaces. Community organisations that manage community buildings and outdoor spaces such as parks and community centres; etc which are for the use of the whole community can apply for loans to grow their trading activities to generate more sustainable income.
The Co-op Foundation can offer:
- Interest-free loans of up to £50,000 towards viable business ideas that will benefit the whole community – particularly those facing greater challenges.
- No repayments for the first year, while your trading activities are developing.
- If you are based in a more deprived area, or your work mainly benefits more disadvantaged members of the community, we might also be able to offer some grant funding alongside a loan.
Applicants will need to fill out an expression of interest here.
Applications can be submitted at any time.
War memorials grant scheme
The War Memorials Trust is providing grants for the repair and conservation of free-standing war memorials in England.
These grants are intended to help those who are responsible for the upkeep of war memorials. The grants support the care and preservation of war memorials to a high standard, and to prevent the decay of this important part of our built heritage. Grants will normally be for up to a maximum of 75% of eligible costs, with a maximum grant of £30,000.
The fund is open to anyone to apply; individuals or organisations, including councils.
The next closing date for applications is the 31st July 2019.
Funding opportunities under £25,000
Support for environmental outreach education for disadvantaged young people
Schools, colleges and youth groups can receive up to 80% towards the costs of providing environmental outreach education for groups of disadvantaged young people through the Field Studies Council’s Kids Fund. The Field Studies Council is an independent educational charity committed to raising awareness about the natural world and works through a network of residential and day Centres in the UK to provide outreach education and training.
There are two types of Kids Fund course Wildlife and Environment focusing on wildlife habitats and the environment with team building activities and Eco Adventure which combines environmental and personally challenging activities.
Groups who meet one of the following criteria will be eligible:
- Disadvantaged young people aged 4-18 years (or up to 25 years for those with special needs)
- Voluntary youth groups (either run by voluntary leaders, managed by a voluntary organisation, a registered charity)
- OR
- School groups may apply if they are aiming to provide benefits which are additional to the statutory school curriculum or clearly show added value, depth and breadth to the taught curriculum. FSC Kids Fund will not pay for young people to attend standard curriculum-focused FSC courses.
All applicants must be based in the UK, Isle of Man, Channel Isles and Republic of Ireland.
One free staff/adult place is provided for every 12 young people; additional adults pay 20% +VAT. This includes all equipment, tuition and waterproof hire costs. Food and accommodation are included for residential courses.
The next closing date for applications is the 1st November 2019.
New funding programme from power to change
A major new funding programme to help communities save their local pub through community ownership is due to open in the Summer 2019. This funding programme will build on the success of the current More Than a Pub programme, which is led by Plunkett Foundation. To date, the More Than A Pub programme has supported 190 communities and seen 26 pubs open their doors under community ownership since 2016. Community pubs offer a range of services ranging from retail and post office, social clubs and volunteering opportunities.
Power to Change supports businesses that are incorporated organisations, for example; Charitable Incorporated Organisation; Community Benefit Society; Community Interest Company Limited by Guarantee; Community Interest Company Limited by Shares; Company Limited by Guarantee; Company Limited by Shares; Co-operative Society.
Previous grants have been awarded to a wide range of businesses including: community libraries, bakeries, pubs, farms, hubs, transport, energy schemes, art centres and construction organisations.
Grants for families facing financial hardship whilst caring for a child with a serious illness
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 5pm on the 28th June 2019.
Grants of up to £1,000 available for projects that improve the wellbeing of children
Grants of up to £1,000 are available to registered charities and non-profit organisations who work to improve the education and physical and emotional wellbeing of children.
Applicants applying for funding may focus on one or more of these areas:
- Living in Poverty
- Physical & Mental Health Problems
- Health & Wellbeing
- Living With Disability
Examples of grants awarded in the past include:
- £500 Clydesdale Hockey Club – for coaching and equipment costs for primary school hockey competitions in Greater Glasgow
- £1,000 Shadwell Community Project – to develop its outdoor play space which is used by children and young people from deprived areas in the local community
The next closing date for applications is 5pm on the 18th November 2019.
School grants to promote physics
The Institute of Physics has announced that UK schools and colleges can apply for grants of up to £600 for small-scale projects or events linked to the teaching or promotion of physics and engineering to pupils aged 5 – 19. Grants can be used to support a wide range of projects such as school based science weeks, extracurricular activities, science clubs, careers event or a visit from a working physicist or engineer. Grants may be used for the following project-related purposes: materials / resources; transport; marketing and publicity; other purposes deemed appropriate by the judges; and supply cover (in certain circumstances).
The Institute of Physics is particularly interested in proposals that look at:
- particle physics
- astronomy
- space and nuclear physics
- energy
- transport
- information and communications
- design and promotion
- built environment.
Previous projects to receive funding include:
- Ampleforth College for a visit to Jodrell Bank Radio Observatory.
- St John’s High School for a Practical Rocketry workshop to design a water propelled rocket.
The closing date for applications is the 1st November 2019.
The Classical Association grants
The Classical Association (CA), which awards grants to support classical projects and conferences, has announced that the next closing date for applications is the 1st September 2019.
The Association will consider applications for summer schools and to institutions offering courses in Greek, Latin and classical civilisation; and bursaries for teachers attending courses abroad to support their professional development. The Association will also support school teaching and outreach work such as Greek and Latin reading competitions, regional Greek/Roman days and school conferences; etc. The Grants Committee meets four times a year.
Applications which exceed this amount are passed to Council for decision. Schools and other organisations that are applying for more than £2,000, must submit their application in time for either the March or September deadlines.
Nature grants for schools
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 30th August 2019.
Interested schools can also email LSNG@ltl.org.uk for further information.
Magic Little Grants 2019
Small charities and community groups that are either in their first year of operation or have an annual income of under £250,000 are being offered the chance to apply for a grant of £500 to help them to deliver engaging physical activities which help to overcome barriers to participation. The cash can be used to help support the general costs involved in running new or existing activities that inspire people to participate in sports or exercise. The aim is to improve the physical health of the people who take part. Apply by midnight on the 30th November 2019 to the Magic Little Grants Fund offered by Localgiving.
Localgiving has once again partnered with the Postcode Community Trust and has a total of £550,000 to award as grants of £500 to its members. Non-members can still register and apply and, if successful, will receive a years membership (worth £96) as part of the award plus access to all of Localgiving’s wider online fundraising services, such as regular fundraising campaigns and training.
Grants will be awarded to projects that encourage people to participate in sports and exercise with the primary aim of improving the physical health and well-being of participants and can be used to support the general running costs of new and existing sports and physical activities. For example, this could include: Facilities hire; Kit & equipment; Coaching qualifications and other volunteer expenses.
The fund is open to Registered charities: Community Interest Companies: Charitable Incorporated Organisations: Social enterprises and other not-for-profit community organisations operating within Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland) with an annual income of under £250,000 that are:
- In their first year of operation or have an annual income of under £250,000
- Running or planning to run a project that will encourage people to engage in some form of physical activity to help to improve their physical and mental health and well-being.
Organisations that are not already a member of Localgiving are required to complete the registration process before completing the application. The closing date is the 30th November 2019.
Previous projects supported include:
- Leith Community Archers, who received a grant to help them purchase new archery equipment.
- Happy Wanderers Ambulance Organisation received a grant to provide free transport for older people and wheelchair users to access local physical activities.
- LEGS (London Exercise Group for Stroke), received a grant to increase access to physical activities for stroke survivors
New £1 million fund to diversify people coaching and volunteering in sport
A new £1 million Workforce Diversity Great Ideas Fund has been launched by Sport England to engage women and/or BAME communities in volunteering or coaching opportunities. The aim is to help ensure people working in sport and physical activity as coaches and volunteers are skilled, motivated, valued, equipped for their role, are enjoying a positive experience and are representative of their community. There is no expectation of how long the project should be, or how much it will cost – ideas and project outlines are welcomed.
Sport England are looking for ideas that will deliver sustainable impact – for the people involved, as well as the wider local community, and potentially beyond. This National Lottery funding has been allocated to address the fragmented workforce – partly comprised of coaches and volunteers – that is currently lacking diversity. Anyone with a great idea about how they can engage women and/or BAME communities into quality volunteering and/or coaching opportunities, is welcome to apply.
Applicants will need to have access to the target audiences and be looking to work in partnership with an organisation who can support with the provision of sports volunteering opportunities. Experience of the sport sector is not essential – it is more important that the applicant has a good understanding of the needs of the people in the area that they are trying to connect with and that they, or their partners, are trusted and respected by the people they want to reach.
There are no grant limits or project timescales specified.
The closing date for applications is the 3rd July 2019.
Grants of up to £15,000 for science and the arts projects
Organisations (preferably with charitable status) based in the north-west of England are invited to submit imaginative proposals for projects that encourage and promote the study, practice and appreciation of science and the arts. Awards of usually £500 to £15,000 are made 3 times a year (with the average award being around £3,000) to support a wide range of activities that have in the past included capital costs for buildings, work in schools and support for outreach projects. The next closing date for applications to the Granada Foundation is Monday 15th July 2019.
The aim of the Granada Foundation is to make the north-west of England region (including Cheshire Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside and Cumbria) a richer and more attractive place in which to live and work. Currently, applications for capital and revenue costs from projects that will engage and inspire people of all ages to take an interest in science are particularly welcome.
The Foundation is not currently accepting applications for large scale capital projects.
Awards are unlikely to cover 100% of project costs. Previous awards have been made to support a wide range of projects and have included, for example:
- The Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths Network (STEMNET) received a grant of £4,000 to purchase STEM Club boxes for use in after school science clubs across the region.
- Contact Theatre received £60,000 over three years to support the redevelopment of the theatre.
- Blackburn Cathedral Trust received £2,000 for a Music Outreach project.
Preference is given to new projects, festivals and other annual events are supported but there is no guarantee of year on year support.
If you would like to apply please email brief details in the first instance to enquiries@granadafoundation.org If the project meets the funding criteria a full application pack will be sent by email.
The next closing date for applications is Thursday 27th June 2019.
Equipment grants for disabled and disadvantaged young people
Schools and not for profit organisations have the opportunity to apply for funding through the Wooden Spoon Society’s Capital Grants programme. Wooden Spoon is the British and Irish Rugby charity which supports projects help mentally, physically disadvantaged children. Each year the charity supports around 70 projects.
Through the programme funding is available for:
- Buildings and extensions
- Equipment & activity aids
- Sensory rooms and gardens
- Playgrounds and sports areas
- Soft playrooms.
Since being founded in 1983, Wooden Spoon has made grants of over £24 million to more than 500 projects in the British Isles.
Projects funded in the past have included:
- Ashmount School in Leicestershire, which received a grant of £13,500 towards a sensory room.
- Enfield Heights Academy in London which received a grant of £23,000 to improve its play areas.
- The Colehill & Wimborne Youth & Community Centre which received a grant of £8,000 towards a wheelchair lift.
Applications can be made at any time and applicants should contact their regional volunteer group. Subject to an application being approved by Wooden Spoon Trustees, the Society require a minimum of one Wooden Spoon membership to be taken out by a representative of the applicant organisation.
For more information on how to apply, please click on the link below.
Funding to mark the International Year of the Periodic Table
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 deadlines of Monday 15th July 2019 and Monday 14th October 2019. There are limited funds available and applications will be considered at each of these check points until all funds have been allocated.
Funding to enable disadvantaged young people reach their potential
Registered charities (including Schools that are registered as charities for young people with disabilities) that work with disadvantaged children under the age of 25 can apply for funding of up to £10,000 through the Ironmongers Company’s grants programme. In particular, the company wants to support projects that provide opportunities for disadvantaged children and young people to fulfil their potential and educational activities that develop learning, motivation and skills.
Projects could, for example, support special educational needs; address behavioural problems or promote citizenship; and parenting or life skills. Preference will be given to projects piloting new approaches where the outcomes will be disseminated to a wider audience. Although the grants are available within the UK preference is given to projects in inner London.
The next deadline for applications is the 31st July 2019.
Funding for music making activities
The Michael Tippett Musical Foundation, the charitable Trust established by the composer to encourage the music of the future, has announced that it is open for applications.
Funding of between £500 and £4,000 is available with the average grant being £2,000. Grants are awarded for the development of group music making, especially involving young people. Because of the Trust’s link with a major composer, the Trustees wish to see composition as central to projects put forward for support. Projects in and out of schools or in community situations will be considered. The Trustees will consider applications for first-time initiatives as well as the development of existing projects.
Successful applications will have demonstrated that they:
- Involve young people and aim to open young people’s ears, to stimulate creativity in sound and provide a springboard for young composers to move forward with aspiration.
- Are aiming for music making of high quality within the project context which may take many different styles and forms.
- Take place in or out of school, college or university, or in community settings and where young composers are involved that the project will assist their professional development.
- Demonstrate artistic leadership i.e. that the artistic leader/s involved in the project (composer, musician, conductor, director, workshop leader etc.) should be clearly identified and named in the application.
- Show how the project will be planned managed and evaluated and who will be responsible for the management of the schedule, the participants, appointment of the leaders, evaluation and the budget.
In 2017, the Foundation awarded grants to the value of £15,000. The trustees generally hold one meeting a year, in the autumn and the closing date for applications is Friday 30th September 2019.
Funding available to increase engineering knowledge among young people
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) has announced that its Engineering Education Grant Scheme will re-open for applications from the 22nd June 2019.
The Engineering Education Grant Scheme (EEGS) supports UK-based educational projects that nurture and support the increase of engineering knowledge among young people between the ages of five to 19. The scheme also supports projects that improve wider engineering literacy.
Any organisation able to develop and deliver STEM activities to a local UK audience is eligible to bid for funding. This includes schools, science communicators, youth clubs, science festivals, museums, science centres, STEM based companies, FE colleges, Higher Education Institutions and members of the IMechE and IET.
There are two levels of funding available. Awards of up to £5000 are available for standard applications to the fund, and a small number of awards of up to £15,000 are available each year for projects that aim to make a bigger impact.
The deadline to apply will be the 14th October 2019 for projects taking place from 1st January 2020.
Projects funded in the past have included Dismantle and Discover, led by Loughborough University and Loughborough Secondary School, involving student role models who set up an engaging after school club giving children the skills, enthusiasm and confidence to take up STEM subjects.
This document is produced by Corporate Policy, Research and Partnerships, Blackburn with Darwen Council.
Tel: 01254 585825