Published Tuesday 28 April 2020 at 12:02
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
£195 Million Package to Help the Sport and Physical Activity Sector Through Coronavirus
Sport England is making up to £195 million of funding available to help the sport and activity sector cope with the short and long-term impact of the coronavirus.
The package, which is a combination of National Lottery and government funding, is made up of the following:
- A £20 million Community Emergency Fund, which will be opened immediately for clubs and community organisations to bid into. Grants between £300 and £10,000 are available
- A £5 million pot for existing partners to bid into if they’re facing specific financial difficulty
- An additional £55 million to support our sector during an ongoing period of restrictions, to fund new and innovative ways to keep people active and, when the period of restrictions is over, to help organisations get back to business and adjust to a different environment
- A £115 million rollover of current funding into 2021/22 to give long term certainty to over 100 well established partners who play a vital role in the delivery of sport and physical activity in England.
To help cashflow concerns, Sport England will also consider requests from partners to release six months of this coming year’s funding (50% of awards) so that additional funding will be available sooner.
Paul Hamlyn Foundation £20 million Emergency Fund in Response to Coronavirus
The Paul Hamlyn Foundation provides funding to organisations in the arts world which aim to help people overcome disadvantage and lack of opportunity, enabling them to realise their full potential and enjoy fulfilling and creative lives. In response to the coronavirus, the Foundation has created a £20 million Emergency Fund to provide additional support to some organisations already funded by the Foundation.
The aim of the funding is to support immediate and longer-term concerns which may include help with adapting activities and existing services or setting up new ones, channeling funds to front line groups or providing financial support and flexibility.
The Foundation will contact organisations they currently fund.
£1.8 million Fund to Help Businesses Tackle Childhood Obesity
UK businesses promoting healthy eating for children can apply for financial and business support from a new £1.8 million Accelerator and growth Venture Fund. The Good Food Fund, created by Big Society Capital and Guys and St Thomas’s Charity, will provide debt or equity to small and medium sized enterprises and start-up brands who want to tackle childhood obesity by bringing an increased number of healthier, affordable snacking products to the market, particularly for communities on lower incomes, and offer competition to dominant brands.
Applications are open to any UK business helping to promote healthy eating for children, for example, companies providing snacks and drinks, ready meals and frozen food, convenience stores, school catering, but also tech and hardware businesses focused on tackling childhood obesity.
Focus will be on after-school snacking, but will also look at opportunities for healthier drinks, ready meals and frozen food, fast food and takeaway, and school catering. Brands will be tested in Lambeth and Southwark.
The free 12-month Accelerator programme will be delivered by a range of business professionals including experienced entrepreneurs from the food and drink sector, offering expert coaching and specific business support.
The deadline for applications is the 27th April 2020.
Rural Mobility Fund – Deadline Extended to the 4th June 2020
The Department for Transport is inviting applications from Local Authorities under the Rural Mobility Fund to trial on-demand bus services in rural or suburban areas. The focus of the fund is on setting up services where they do not already exist.
A total of £20 million available and the DfT expect to see a range of project sizes coming forward, many of which would receive funding of between £500,000 and £1.5 million.
All tiers of local government in England with responsibility for transport, except London boroughs can apply and will need to demonstrate that services predominantly serve communities in areas that have a population of fewer than 10,000 residents. Eligibility is also extended to include non-built up parts of urban census output areas and discrete built up areas of 10,000 residents or fewer. encourage local authorities to develop and deliver proposals working in partnerships with bus operators, local residents, other local partners such as transport providers for NHS services, social care providers or education providers, employers, etc.
The deadline for submitting an expression of interest has been extended from the 30th April 2020 to the 4th June 2020.
Charities encouraged to apply to the £15 million tampon tax fund
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport has announced that it is inviting large charities to apply for a share of £15 million from the Tampon Tax Fund. Applications should be for £1 million or more. The aim of the Tampon Tax Fund is to fund projects which directly benefit disadvantaged women and girls, tackle violence and support their mental health and wellbeing.
Charities that successfully bid for funding are expected to distribute these grants through their networks to support women and girls and to organisations that offer small and medium- sized onward grants.
Applications are welcomed from individual organisations, or groups with an identified lead organisation. The value of the grant requested must not represent more than 50% of the applicant’s or consortia’s collective annual income.
Please note that the £15million total fund is allocated between each administration using the Barnett Formula as a guide. Wales is allocated £905,000, Northern Ireland is allocated £530,000, Scotland is allocated £1,570,000 and England £11,995,000.
Grants may be for one or two-year projects, and all activities must be concluded, and funds spent by 30 June 2022.
The deadline for applications is the 31st May
Fund to Train Thousands More Customs Experts Extended to End of 2021
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has extended the deadline for businesses to apply for customs support funding to the 31st January 2021. The funding is available to help businesses train staff in making customs declarations, and to help businesses who support others to trade goods to invest in IT. This is to ensure that trade with the EU continues as smoothly as possible after Brexit.
To date, applications have been made for around £18.5 million out of a possible £26 million – meaning there is at least £7.5 million left to claim from HMRC.
Customs agents currently help businesses who trade outside the EU. This funding will help increase the capacity of the sector as businesses trading with the EU consider whether to get an expert to complete customs documentation for them after Brexit.
Businesses based in, or with a branch in, the UK can apply for funding to support:
- training costs for businesses who complete customs declarations, or who intend to in the future
- funding for IT improvement, which is available to small and medium sized employers who are currently involved in trade as an intermediary
To ensure maximum impact, the second wave of the grant scheme allows businesses to apply for the full cost of training, within certain limits as set out in the guidance
Funding of £8 million to Help Vulnerable People Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme
The Home Office has announced a further £8 million of funding to help vulnerable EU citizens apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, which allows them and their families to continue living and working in the UK after 30 June 2021.
Charities and local authorities can apply for further funding to provide face-to-face, online and telephone support which may include legal support, caseworker services or general advice as either individual or in group sessions across the UK. Home and telephone support from a tutor will also be available to those without internet access or those lacking in digital skills.
The bidding process will begin shortly with more details being announced in due course.
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 6th May 2020.
Funding opportunities between £25,000 and £100,000
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.
War Memorials Grant Scheme
The The War Memorials Trust 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 30th June 2020.
Arts Council England Launches Roundamazon
2 of its £160 Million Emergency Funding Package
Arts Council England has launched the second funding round of its Convid-19 support funding programmes. The Arts Council are making £160 million of emergency funding available for those organisations and individuals who will need it during this crisis.
Currently two funding programmes are open.
Funding for individuals
£20 million of financial support is available to individuals, so they can better sustain themselves, and their work, in the coming months. The maximum grant available is £2,500.
Funding for organisations outside of the National Portfolio
£50 million is available to organisations that are not currently not in receipt of regular funding from the Arts Council. The maximum grants available is £35,000.
Applicants will need to register on Grantium by 27th April in order to make an application before the deadline of 12pm (midday) 30th April 2020. Applications for a £90 million funding programme for National Portfolio Organisations will launch shortly.
Applications for a £90 million programme for National Portfolio Organisations will launch shortly.
More information, as well as information on other support measures, is available on the Arts Council England website (link below)
Childs Charitable Trust
The Childs Charitable Trust is a grant-making trust, supporting Christian UK registered and excepted charities and organisations both in the UK and overseas. During 2017 the Trust awarded grants to 81 different organisations all based in the UK but operating in more than 100 different countries worldwide.
Projects will be considered that fall into the following categories:
- Youth – the trust looks to support projects working in schools and with vulnerable and disengaged young people in the UK. Supported activities may include RE Lessons; School Assemblies; Lunchtime/After school clubs; Evangelism; Personal Development Programmes; Homelessness Prevention.
- Outreach – the trust works to share the gospel of Christ by supporting all aspects of Christian outreach both in the UK and overseas and can fund, for example, Church Plants; Overseas Mission; Training in Evangelism; Chaplaincy.
- Society – the trust believes people of faith bring a valuable contribution to social action and justice and support initiatives that have a positive impact in their society. Grants could support, for example: Counselling; night shelters; alcohol/drug rehabilitation; homelessness; or prison/ex-offenders work.
- Education – the trust supports initiatives involved in all areas of Christian education including Bible Translation; Media Initiatives; Bible Colleges; Literature; Apologetics.
Applicants must be registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator or the Charity Commission of Northern Ireland or be ‘excepted’ charities. Organisations with a turnover in excess of £5,000,000 should contact the office prior to submitting an application, to check eligibility.
No minimum or maximum funding amounts are specified, however in 2017, 16 grants of between £5,000 and £9,999, 18 grants of between £3,000 and £4,999 and 34 grants not exceeding £2,999 were made. Nine other grants ranging from £12,000 to £34,000 were also awarded.
The deadline for applications is the 31st May 2020.
Funding opportunities under £25,000
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.
Funding to Make the Chemical Sciences More Inclusive and Diverse
The Royal Society of Chemistry has announced that the Chemistry Inclusion and Diversity Fund is open for applications. Through the Fund grants of up to £5,000 are available to individuals and organisations with ideas that will help make the chemical sciences more inclusive and diverse. This includes, but is not limited to, members of the Royal Society of Chemistry, member-led groups, researchers in academia or industry, museums, community groups, not-for-profit organisations, arts groups and libraries.
Funding greater than £5,000 may be considered for one project each year.
Innovative products, activities and research projects related to gender, disability, socio-economic background, language and the LGBT+ community have previously received funding. This has included data collection and analysis, workshops, conferences and hackathons.
There are twice yearly assessments and the deadline for the current funding round is the 7th September 2020.
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 is the 1st July 2020.
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.
Kellogg’s Breakfast Club Grants Programme Re-opens for Applications
The Kellogg’s Breakfast Club Grants Programme has re-opened for applications. The programme offers grants of up to £1,000 to schools in the UK to set up Breakfast clubs for those children in most need.
To qualify for the programme:
- The breakfast club must be based in a school in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland;
- A limited number of grants are available so priority will be given to schools that have either:
35% and above of children eligible for pupil premium funding and / or eligible for free school meals.
or
Schools that are based in an area which is classified as falling in the 10% of most deprived areas according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation.
- Additionally, if your school has received breakfast club funding from Gregg’s or Magic Breakfast within the current academic year, your club will not be considered a priority for support.
- Only one grant per school in each academic year is available.
For any queries please contact Forever Manchester on 0044 161 214 0940 or e-mail kelloggs@forevermanchester.com
During the Covid 19 schools shutdown, the Kellogg’s Breakfast Club Programme will prioritise schools who remain open to vulnerable children and the families of key workers.
The National Lottery Community Fund – COVID-19 Response
The National Lottery Community Fund has announced that its Awards for All England funding programme will remain open to all applications but, for the next six months, will prioritise applications from voluntary and community groups that need help to respond to Covid-19.
Awards for All will prioritise applications from:
- Organisations supporting people who are at high risk from COVID-19
- Organisations supporting communities most likely to face increased demand and challenges as a direct result of measures to prevent the result of COVID-19
- Organisations with high potential to support communities with the direct and indirect impact of COVID-19
Grants of between £300 to £10,000 will be available to existing grant-holders and is available to help with costs such as running costs, equipment, one-off events, staff and training costs, and transport etc.
Applications which involve the community in the design, development and delivery of the projects will be more likely to succeed. Groups may hold up to a maximum of two awards within a 12-month period.
Applications will be dealt with more quickly than normal and can be made at any time.
Support for Environmental Outreach Education for Disadvantaged Young People
Schools, colleges and youth groups can receive up to 75% 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 2020.
Funding to Projects that Promote Social Justice, Nonviolence and Environmental Sustainability
Grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 per year are available to registered charities in the UK for projects that contribute to the development of a just society based on a commitment to non-violence and environmental sustainability. Grants can be for up to three years.
The Foundation’s priority is to address systemic threats by seeking to change policy and attitudes at a national or European level. The Foundation also supports organisations or projects that are not UK registered charities if they can indicate a UK registered charity that is able to receive funds on their behalf. Priority will be given to small, pioneering organisations with an income of between 10,000 and £500,000.
Previous projects supported include:
- Conflicts Forum which received a grant of £24,000 over three years to promote understanding between the Western and Muslim worlds by challenging attitudes, values and ideologies that promote conflict.
- Airport Watch which received a grant of £15,000 over two years to educate UK policy-makers about the dangerously unsustainable growth and levels of air freight to the environment and communities, and the influences and interests that lie behind them.
The next closing date for applications to the Polden-Puckham Charitable Foundation is midnight on the 11th September 2020
Grants of up to £5,000 Available for Projects that Help the Homeless
Help the Homeless makes grants of up to £5,000 to small and medium sized charitable organisations (with a turnover of less than £1 million) whose aim is to help homeless people return to the community and enabling them to resume a normal life.
Typically, such organisations may operate small or medium-sized residential or training facilities to assist homeless people.
The grants are available for capital costs and examples of previously supported projects include:
The Booth Centre, an advice and activity centre for homeless people in Manchester, where people undertake education and training courses as well as receiving advice and food, received a grant of £1,500 to transform the centre with new lighting, a new water heater and new decoration.
A grant of £3,000 to the Amber Foundation to enable the Foundation to buy new bedroom furniture for their residential centre in Devon, where every year over 60 unemployed, homeless young people are able to rebuild their lives and gain the motivation, confidence, self-esteem and skills for independent living.
The closing date for the next round of funding is the 15th June 2020.
Sustainable Agriculture Bursary for Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate students starting university in September 2020 can now apply for a £5,000 bursary from the Jordan’s and The Prince’s Countryside Fund to promote sustainable farming. The Sustainable Agriculture Bursary is available to prospective undergraduate students who have a genuine interest in a career in farming, agriculture or a related field and have confirmed the Royal Agricultural University or the University of Reading as their first-choice university.
Through the bursary Jordan’s and The Prince’s Countryside Fund want to encourage the next generation of farmers to explore their full potential and, in addition to financial support, aims to encourage students to pursue their interests by offering expert mentoring, Alumni activity, and training on social media use for marketing.
Applications close at 12pm on 29th May 2020.