Published Thursday 21 May 2020 at 15:05
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
Funding to Tackle Loneliness during the Coronavirus Outbreak
Charities, and benevolent and philanthropic frontline organisations are invited to apply for a share of £5 million of UK Government funding to help tackle loneliness during the coronavirus outbreak and period of social distancing.
Through the Loneliness Covid-19 Grant Fund grants of between £500,000 and £1,000,000 will be available to help organisations to continue and adapt their critical work in helping vulnerable people affected by social isolation.
Eligibility:
- charities or benevolent and philanthropic organisations providing frontline services
- applications from consortia are not eligible for this funding
- No more than 20% of an organisation’s turnover through direct grants (and not more than 50% through grants made by umbrella organisations) will be funded
- Activities in England
The expected outcomes of the fund are:
- effective, targeted relief for those most at risk of loneliness as a result of Covid-19
- contributing to the evidence base on Covid-19 and loneliness
Services must meet all of the following aims to be eligible for this funding:
- can demonstrate their ability to reach people in ‘cold spots’ where informal neighbourly support and small local charities are not able to fully meet needs around social connection
- serve the needs of groups particularly at risk of loneliness, including those noted in ONS analysis and Community Life Survey and Active Lives Survey data
- continue, adapt or expand existing provision where there is a track record of successful delivery
- cannot be provided without this additional funding
Funding will be for services such as face to face contact in line with social distancing, adapting services for digital delivery, and expansion of helpline or volunteer capacity. This can include costs such as administrative costs, salaries, IT equipment and training.
80% of funding must be spent by 31st October 2020, and all funding must be spent by 31st December 2020
The deadline for applications is 12pm Friday 29th May 2020.
Funding opportunities between £25,000 and £100,000
BBC Children in Need Covid-19 Response Grants
In response to the coronavirus, BBC Children in Need are temporarily pausing their current grant programmes to launch two new Covid-19 Response Grants to enable organisations to continue to support disadvantaged children and young people aged 18 years and under.
The funding will be open to current grantees and new applicants to help them to respond and adapt to the short, medium and longer-term impact of the coronavirus.
The COVID-19 Response Programmes are as follows:
- From the 18th May 2020 current BBC Children in Need grant-holders will be able to apply for funding of up to £5,000 over a six-month period through the Covid-19 2020 Booster Grants Programme.
- From the 8th June registered not-for-profit organisations will be able to apply to the Covid-19 Large Grants programme for funding of up to £80,000 over an 18-month period.
Details on both funds will be made available shortly.
Funding to Support People of Colour Affected by the Coronavirus
The Resourcing Racial Justice Fund provides funding to individuals and communities working towards racial justice.
In response to the coronavirus, the Fund will provide financial support to organisations, grassroots and community groups, and individuals who are working to tackle the impact of Covid-19 on those who identify as people of colour (POC).
Grants of between £5,000 and £50,000 will be available to organisations that respond to the immediate needs of the more at risk and vulnerable, and for more long-term initiatives to enable organisations to continue their work towards racial justice.
The Fund is currently made up of financial contributions from foundations, philanthropic organisations and crowdfunding.
What will be funded:
- Projects that meet the immediate needs and/or impact of crisis – be it Covid-19 or otherwise – for communities of colour.
- Ideas that present transformational and radical alternatives that will support people of colour creating solutions for change on a systemic level.
- ‘Ecosystem builders’ – visionaries that exist between the mainstream and the margins who are working to mobilise connections and resources for the benefit of their communities. This could include: Lived Experience Leaders –POC leaders; activists; community leaders; innovators; change-makers working on racial justice.
- Those with an international perspective, seeking to amplify and build relationships with communities in the global south in order to achieve global change.
- Projects connected to faith and spirituality are welcomed.
Applications for this round open on the 18th May 2020 until the 15th June 2020.
Funding to Support Armed Forces Communities during the Coronavirus Crisis
In response to the coronavirus, the UK Government has announced £6 million in funding to help Armed Forces charities and community interest companies continue to provide much needed support to veterans, Armed Forces families, and others from the Armed Forces community.
Grants of up to £60,000 are available through the Covid-19 Impact Programme for Armed Forces Communities grants.
To apply for funding, organisations need to:
- be able to show a strong history of work with people from Armed Forces communities; and your organisation must have at least one year’s worth of published accounts
- have fewer resources coming into your organisation, due to Covid-19
- have the same, or increased, demand for the services that you deliver to people from Armed Forces communities.
Services offered should be in one of nine key areas.
- Support to the elderly (including care homes)
- Mental and physical health
- Welfare
- Domestic violence
- Housing
- Criminal Justice System
- Service families (including childcare)
- Bereavement
- Employment
Costs such as staff time, costs of delivering services online or remotely, and reasonable overheads could be covered.
Grants of up to £125,000 or more are available in exceptional circumstances.
Applications can be made at any time until the 29th May 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 28th May 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.
Grants of up to £50,000 Available for Community Projects
Aviva has announced that it has expanded the Aviva Community Fund application criteria to include projects that allow causes to adapt or continue their vital services, so they can help their beneficiaries and communities during this time of need.
Aviva has teamed up with the fundraising platform Crowdfunder to offer funding of up to £50,000 to small charities and community interest groups in the UK with innovative ideas that benefit their community. Every three months from January 2020 onwards, £250,000 will be split equally among Aviva’s UK employees to donate to the projects that matter to them most.
Aviva want to support projects that boost the resilience of communities in the face of uncertainty and will be supporting projects in two key areas:
- Community resilience: tackling inequality and improving environments by building inclusive and resilient communities; or
- Financial capability and inclusion: promoting financially inclusive communities, where people can better manage their finances and avoid problem debt
In response to the Covid-19 Aviva are temporarily opening up the Fund to projects that will ensure organisations can adapt or maintain critical services and infrastructure in response to the impacts of COVID-19. Projects must still relate to one of Aviva’s key funding areas.
Once applications have been submitted, applicants will need to create a fundraising page on Crowdfunder that Aviva employees can browse and donate funds to. Applicants can also showcase their projects to raise additional public donations.
The closing date to apply to the Aviva Community Fund is the 28th July 2020.
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 organization
- 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 16th July 2020.
Covid-19 Grant Round to Support Vulnerable Young People at Risk of Youth Violence
In response to the coronavirus, the Youth Endowment Fund has launched a new £6.5 million Covid-19 grant round to fund and evaluate work which supports vulnerable young people at risk of youth violence in England and Wales.
Charities, social enterprises, for-profit companies and public sector agencies can apply for grants of a minimum of £25,000, with the average grant expected to be around £50,000.
Because of the financial pressure they are under, 50% of the total funding available will be reserved for charities and social enterprises.
Funding will be focused on two key areas of work:
- Digital/virtual delivery of programmes, specifically:
- Remote/digital/virtual delivery of programmes delivered on a one-to-one basis
- Remote/digital/virtual delivery of group-based programmes
- Remote/digital/virtual delivery of guided self-help or interactive content
- Face-to-face activity that can be delivered whilst adhering to social distancing/stay at home guidelines, specifically:
- Face-to-face activity delivered within schools, including activities to help vulnerable young people return to school
- Face-to-face delivery of detached youth work
The deadline for applications is midday on the 3rd June 2020.
Funding for Food Aid Charities
Grants of up to £100,000 are available to front line food aid charities that are unable to meet an increased demand for food from vulnerable individuals as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. This includes
- providing food for people that cannot afford food
- who have moved into temporary accommodation as a result of COVID-19, for example those who have left home due to domestic abuse, newly released prisoners, the newly homeless.
The funding is being made available through the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Food Charities Grant Fund.
To be eligible charities will need to show that they:
- are unable to meet an increased demand for food from vulnerable individuals or supporting charities
- have the capacity to distribute all of the food purchased under this grant by 9 August 2020
This grant is not to provide food for the extremely clinically vulnerable, who are already being supported by the government.
The closing date for applications is the 6th July 2020.
To apply charities will need to register and apply through with the eSourcing portal.
Funding Available for Zoos and Aquariums
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has announced a new £14 million fund to support Zoos and Aquariums in England in response to financial losses incurred due to Covid-19. Establishments covered by the Zoo Licensing Act will be able to bid for grants of up to £100,000 through the Zoo Support Fund.
The grant can be used to cover animal care costs that cannot be lowered such as:
- keepers’ wages
- animal feed and bedding
- veterinary care and medicines
- electricity and heating
- waste removal
Keepers’ wages, animal feed and bedding, veterinary care, electricity, and waste removal.
In addition, Zoos and Aquariums can apply to a number of other support schemes already available to businesses including business rates relief, the business interruption loan scheme and the job retention scheme.
For any questions about the Zoos Support Fund or how to apply, contact Defra by email zoos.branch@defra.gov.uk
Funding for Projects that Help Young People Support Each Other Through Bereavement
Co-op Foundation has launched the latest round of its #Iwill Fund. Through the fund charities, social enterprises or other form of not-for-profit voluntary or community groups can apply for funding to deliver peer support and/or youth-led advocacy projects to help young people up to the age of 20 experiencing bereavement.
In this round, £50,000 is available and the Foundation expect to make around 5 grants of up to £10,000 each, for 1 year. Priority will be given to organisations planning to operate in the 30% most deprived areas of the UK. Successful organisations will be able to apply for additional grants in year 2 and 3 of this fund.
Successful applicants can use funding to cover any costs related to carrying out your project, including but not limited to:
- salaries of staff involved in delivering or supporting the project
- costs of project activities
- contributions to organisational running costs
- costs for learning and evaluation activities.
The closing date to submit an Expression of Interest has been extended to 12 noon on the 31st July 2020.
Funding opportunities under £25,000
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 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 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 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 June 2020 (for projects taking place in the following autumn term).
Royal Society of Chemistry – Outreach Fund Small Grants Scheme
Individuals and organisations such as researchers, museums, schools, community groups, not-for-profit organisations, arts groups and libraries can apply for grants of up to £10,000 to run chemistry-based events and activities for public audiences and in schools.
Applications for schools engagement activities should demonstrate how the proposed activities will:
- enrich student’s chemistry education and not solely deliver the curriculum
- provide students with opportunities to explore chemistry through local contexts, AND/OR
- demonstrate career opportunities and develop employability skills, AND/OR
- provide opportunities which would not normally be accessible to the students taking part, e.g. for hard-to-reach student audiences.
Applications for public engagement activities should demonstrate how the proposed activities will:
- increase chemists’ visibility as approachable people AND/OR
- increase the publics’ confidence in discussing chemistry AND/OR
- demonstrate the relevance of chemistry to everyday interests and concerns.
The Outreach Fund is split into two categories: small grants – up to £5,000 and large grants – between £2,000 and £10,000.
Previously funded projects include “Cool chemistry at the seaside” where the Society awarded a grant of £2,000 to volunteers in Ramsgate who transformed an empty town-centre shop into a makeshift theatre, delivering free chemistry demonstrations to anyone.
The closing date for applications to the small grants programme is the 15th June 2020. The closing date for the large grants programme is the 14th September 2020.
Funding for Projects that Combat Abuse and Violation of Human Rights
UK-registered charities that work towards combating abuse and violations of human rights can apply for grants of usually between £10,000 and £20,000 through the A B Charitable Trust. The A B Charitable Trust (ABCT) was set up in 1990 and supports unpopular causes that champion human dignity and to focus on small and medium-sized charities working close to the ground.
Applications are particularly welcomed from charities working to support:
- migrants, refugees and asylum seekers
- criminal justice and penal reform
- human rights, particularly access to justice
The Trust generally makes one-off grants to charities registered and working in the UK with annual incomes of between £150,000 and £1.5m that do not have substantial investments or surpluses. Grants range in size, with most grants awarded being in the range £10,000 to £20,000. ABCT does not normally fund charities with large national or international links.
The next closing date for applications is the 31st July 2020.
Funding to Support Single Parent Families in the UK Fashion or Textile Industry Affected by the Coronavirus
Grants from the Fashion and Textile Children’s Trust can help single parents and carers who have worked in the UK fashion or textile industry and whose household income has reduced as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, or those who were struggling financially before the outbreak.
Applicants may wish to apply if their income has recently been affected in any of the following ways:
- Made redundant or were already redundant and now can’t get a new job
- Have been furloughed (temporarily laid-off) and can’t afford to fund the 20% or more reduction in income
- Have been put on reduced working hours
- Have been made to take unpaid leave to care for your children
- Have lost self-employed income and are not eligible to apply for the new Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) and can’t fund your lost income. OR can’t fund your lost income until the SEISS scheme pays out
- Have to self-isolate and are not entitled to furlough/sick pay or your employer can’t/won’t pay it
The Trust encourages single parents and carers to apply for items their children will need for the year ahead, including:
- Essential clothing, e.g. seasonal clothing and school uniform and PE kit to get you ahead for September
- Baby clothing, equipment or bedding
- Children’s bedroom furniture, e.g. beds, bedding, clothes storage furniture (chest of drawers)
- Essential White Goods, e.g. replacing a broken appliance such as fridge/freezer, washing machine, cooker/oven.
- Specialist items for children with additional needs, e.g. sensory toys, adaptive clothing or SEN adapted computers
Applicants must have worked in the UK fashion and textile industry, for at least one year within the last nine years.
Warburtons – Community Grants Scheme
Charities and organisations with charitable aims can now apply for up to £250 worth of funding for projects that have a direct and tangible social impact on families and solve significant social issues. Funding is available for projects that meet the following themes:
- Health, Health Education
- Financial Stability
- Worklessness
- Aspiration
- Employability and Skills.
The Community Grant scheme is being made available by Warburtons and is administered by the Charities Aid Foundation. Community investment funds are allocated to the local Warburton bakeries and depots. This helps to make the best decisions for the local community, the applicant’s postcode will be used to find the relevant bakery or depot. Application will then be sent to that site to make a decision.
The closing date for applications in this round is the 12th August 2020.
Funding to Support Women at Risk of Being Drawn into Crime
The UK Government has announced funding of £2.5 million for community services which support women at risk of being drawn into crime in England and Wales.
Directors of each regional probation area will be able to assess which types of services are most needed to tackle the root causes of offending, and make funding recommendations to the Ministry of Justice.
This might include services such as:
- domestic abuse support
- drug and alcohol rehabilitation
- work with particular ethnic minorities or specific ages ranges
Funding will be awarded later this year to support services when lockdown measures due to the
Coronavirus have been eased.
Funding can be used to cover core costs such as:
- wages
- rent
- bills
The funding announcement builds on investment already awarded under the government’s Female Offender Strategy.
Application details will be made available in due course.
Religious Education Grants for Schools Scheme
The Jerusalem Trust makes available to schools a number of grants to support the purchase of resources for teaching Christianity in Religious Education. The fund is open to secondary schools in the UK.
The scheme is open to state secondary schools in England and Wales, including middle deemed secondary and upper. There are currently no primary school grants available.
The maximum size of any grant is £600 and applications can be submitted at any time.
Grants can cover teaching resources including textbooks, teacher resources, artifacts, videos, tapes and CD-roms for use in RE lessons.
Applications are currently being considered for the summer term.
Recently purchased items include:
- 20 x NIV Bibles
- Lent and Easter artefacts collection
- Commentary on Paul’s Epistles
- Illustrated Easter story books
Grant Programme to Fund Biochemical Outreach Projects Opens for Applications
The Biochemical Society has announced that its Outreach Grants programme has re-opened for applications. Grants of up to £1,000 are available to increase participation in the molecular biosciences at school level and the community through engagement activities. Within school projects the Society is looking to support projects with emphasis on molecular bioscience for upper secondary school age audiences and above. For primary school age audiences, the focus can be on biology or on all sciences.
The type of events funded could include:
- Activities for a science club
- Workshops for students or teachers
- Lectures from research scientists (including PhD students and post-doc’s).
Projects more likely to receive funding will involve collaborations between, several schools/universities or a mix of organizations; establish links/relationships between schools and universities or industry; promote molecular bioscience career opportunities; or be submitted by an applicant with previous experience in outreach activities (although first time applicants are also welcomed).
Past projects include “Detective Sciences” – an event that formed part of the Science week activities at Abercanaid Community School, Merthyr Tydfil. The focus of the event was centred on promoting scientific investigation, scientific thinking and enhancing English language skills.
The closing date for applications has been extended to the 24th September 2020.
The Rank Foundation Emergency and Resilience Funds in Response to the Coronavirus
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, The Rank Foundation has temporarily suspended its major grants programme to focus on the immediate operational needs of its network. The Foundation has launched two funds to help existing network and current grant recipients:
- The Emergency Fund is for immediate grants of up to £750 to purchase equipment, technology or memberships;
- The Resilience Fund will provide grants to cover cashflow, fundraising and loss of income, and to help with increased demand for services.
Initially, funding will only be available to the Foundation’s RankNet members, but public access may be given at a later date.
BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme
The BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme which supports children and young people up to the age of 18 living with severe poverty as well as additional pressures such as domestic violence, disability or poor health in the family is currently open for applications from referral organisations that will be able to apply for grants on behalf of families or young people.
The fund will cover the purchase of critical items such as:
- Gas or electric cookers
- Essential household items
- Furniture and kitchen equipment
- Children’s beds and bedding
- Washing machines
- Fridges and freezers
- Baby equipment
- Clothing in exceptional or emergency situations.
Applications must be completed by a registered referrer who is part of an organisation that is supporting the family or young person and capable of assessing their needs. The referrer’s organisation should also be able to administer and supervise the grant on behalf of the BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme.
Funding is also available to families affected by the recent severe flooding.
The Emergency Essentials Programme is currently operating as normal and we aim to process applications within 10 working days.
Co-operative Bank – Customer Donation Fund
Organisations such as Registered Charities, Community Interest Companies, Co-operatives and Credit Unions; etc. that have a Community Directplus account with the Co-operative Bank have until the 30th September 2020. To apply for funding of up to £1,000 from the Customer Donation Fund.
Since 2003 the Co-operative Bank Donation Fund has donated over £750,000 to 866 organisations. The money can be used to support special projects and fundraising activities; and all Community Directplus account holders are eligible to apply.
Previous projects supported include:
Theatre Company 20 Stories High which received funding towards three dictaphones, 12 MP3 players and the work of an experienced Technical Manager to help develop and stage a new production.
Wiltshire Wood Recycling, a not for profit organisations, which received funding towards new tools, boots, hard hats and high-viz jackets for the workers.