Funding Opportunities for Districts & Groups Districts and Groups generally have two sources of funding, local fundraising and grants. Local fundraising may include: o Subs o Event and camp fees o Car boot sales / cakes sales / jumble sales o Donations o Contracts o Sponsorship o Gift Aid (see http://woodcraft.org.uk/resources/gift-aid-guidance-district-treasurers) Ideas for local fundraising can be found on the website at http://woodcraft.org.uk/local-fundraising. This list will be added to as we collect ideas from districts. This document deals with the second of the two sources, grant applications. See also: Sources of funding guidance produced by the New Group Project in 2015. The most recent list of available grants can be found at https://woodcraft.org.uk/latest-grants-list Below you will find details of a number of trusts and grant giving bodies that will support Woodcraft Folk on a local level. For more advice on funding visit www.woodcraft.org.uk/funding Funding Sources Alpkit Foundation The Alpkit Foundation was set up in July 2015 to help people overcome obstacles and enable them to Go Nice Places and Do Good Things. Every month Alpkit donates 1% of its sales plus the proceeds from events such as the Big Shakeout. Alpkit will donate at least 10% of its annual profit to the Foundation each year. We support direct action where we can make a positive difference and help people get out and experience wild places. Alpkit Foundation Asda Foundation Asda Foundation is "committed to developing stronger, better connected, sustainable communities across the UK. This programme allows colleagues to nominate initiatives which will make a real long term difference, benefitting the wider community with our vision to Transform Communities, improving lives locally". Asda Foundation
Awards for All Awards for All provide a small grants scheme making awards of between 300 and 10,000 in England and Scotland ( 5,000 in Wales). The Awards for All programme funds projects that address the issues, needs and aspirations of local communities and people. They will fund a wide range of community projects aimed at developing skills, improving health, revitalising the local environment and enabling people to become more active citizens. Awards for All should be considered for all new or one-off activity e.g. new equipment, new groups and any development activity. England Scotland Wales Bags of Help Bags of Help is Tesco s local community grant scheme where the money raised from the 5p bag levy in Tesco stores is being used to fund thousands of community projects across the UK. The projects must meet the criteria of promoting community participation in the development and use of outdoor spaces. Woodcraft Folk groups can apply for a grant for outdoor activities, equipment, etc Apply for a Bags of Help grant BlueSpark Foundation Grants are available for schools, community groups, clubs, societies or other organisations in England to improve the education and development of children and young people through educational, cultural, sporting and other activities. bluesparkfoundation.org.uk BBC Children in Need BBC Children in Need awards grants each year to organisations supporting disadvantaged children and young people in the UK BBC Children in Need grants Bristol Airport Local Community Fund Grants are available to groups in the Bristol area for local projects that benefit the local community and the environment. https://www.bristolairport.co.uk/about-us/community
Comic Relief Comic Relief is a major charity based in the UK, with a vision of a just world, free from poverty. Grants are awarded through UK Community Foundations. Comic Relief Community Foundations Community foundations are charities that aim to strengthen local communities, create opportunities and tackle issues of disadvantage and exclusion. A community foundation is a vehicle for charitable giving. Community foundations work with individuals, families and companies to design bespoke grant making strategies that target particular issues or focus on particular geographical areas. There are 48 accredited community foundations in the UK. Go to the Community Foundation Network website to find your nearest foundation. http://ukcommunityfoundations.org/community_foundations/map Co-op Group The Co-op Group is split up into 7 Regional Co-ops and each is responsible for distributing funding to local community groups in its region. Historically, each Woodcraft Folk Region received a lump sum for groups in their area and then distributed this to groups to pay for hall hire and other associated costs. The level of future funding from the Co-op is uncertain [January 2016]. Sometimes groups, districts or regional committees are able to request additional funds to pay for specific projects or costs e.g. training co-ordinator. For further information on what funding is available in your region contact your regional membership department http://www.co-operative.coop/membership/local-communities/contact-us/ Co-op Community Fund Community Fund grants, between 100 and 2,000 are awarded to community, voluntary, or self-help groups to run projects that meet the following criteria. To be successful, a group must carry out positive work in the community and a project must: address a community issue provide a good long-term benefit to the community support cooperative values and principles ideally be innovative in its approach. This fund is not suitable for ongoing costs, but for new or one-off activity it is very flexible. For more information visit: causes.coop.co.uk
Edge Fund Edge Fund supports those taking action for a just, equitable and sustainable world. They fund work that challenges abuses of power and aims to bring an end to the systems that cause injustice. This could be our economic system, our political system, or any system that discriminates against people based on their identity or background (eg class, ability, gender, race, nationality, religion, sexuality, age or other factors). Edge Fund Esmee Fairbairn Foundation The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation fund across four main sectors Arts, Children and Young People, Environment and Social Change as well as through their Food funding strand. Across all our funding they aim to unlock and enable potential, back the unorthodox and unfashionable, build collective networks and catalyse system change. Esmee Fairbairn Foundation Essex Community Foundation Youth Social Action Fund Grants are available for community groups working in Harlow for projects which engage young people in ongoing regular volunteering or demonstrate how another youth-led method will be as effective at engaging young people in social action. http://www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk/index.php Galaxy Hot Chocolate Fund "We are looking to help small, local community projects and groups through our GALAXY Hot Chocolate Fund. From November 7th 2016 until February 26th 2017, we are seeking to award a total of seventy, 300 donations to help community groups and people across UK and Ireland. Five donations will be awarded each week, four by our panel of judges and one through the People s Choice award to the organisation with the most weekly votes." Galaxy Hot Chocolate Fund Garfield Weston Foundation One-off grants are available to charitable organisations in the UK for a wide range of projects in the areas of welfare, youth, community, arts, faith, environment, education, health and museums and heritage. https://garfieldweston.org Heart of England Community Foundation Grants are available to registered charities and community groups that promote or improve health, education, innovation or social development in Coventry, Solihull, Birmingham, Warwickshire and the Black Country. http://www.heartofenglandcf.co.uk
Heart of Experian Grants are available for schools, small local groups and charities in the UK so that they can become sustainable or expand their work in their local community. http://www.charityfund.org.uk Hedley Foundation Grants are available for small UK registered charities working with young people in the areas of recreation, sport, training, health and welfare, support and outdoor education of young people. The Foundation makes grants to small charities working with young people in the areas of recreation, sport, training, health and welfare, support and outdoor education of young people. The Foundation is particularly keen on open air and adventure-type activities and the funding of appropriate kit and equipment. hedleyfoundation.org.uk Jack Petchey Foundation The Jack Petchey Foundation funds a number of programmes, all of which support young people, aged 11-25 throughout London and Essex. Jack Petchey Foundation John Lyon's Charity John Lyon s Charity gives grants to benefit children and young people up to the age of 25 who live in nine boroughs in North West London: Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Kensington & Chelsea and the Cities of London and Westminster. The Charity s mission is to promote the life-chances of children and young people through education. John Lyon's Charity Lloyds Bank Foundation "Our funding programmes Invest and Enable offer short and long term grants. Support is adapted to the needs of small and medium-sized charities that are committed to delivering work which breaks or prevents cycles of disadvantage." Lloyds Bank Foundation Local Authority Your local authority may be able to provide funding for your group through sources such as Community Chest grants. If you re unsure how to contact your local authority, you can search here - https://www.gov.uk/find-your-local-council Localgiving Localgiving supports local charitable organisations to diversify their income through online fundraising. They provide tools, training and advice to help local groups connect with supporters online, improve their digital skills and develop practical fundraising experience. They are also a leading advocate for the
sector and work to raise awareness and support for local groups from the public, government and businesses. https://localgiving.org Lush Charity Pot "The majority of our funding is allocated to small, grassroots groups that are often best placed to make a real difference with limited resources and often struggle to find funding. We support small, grassroots organisations around the world working in the following areas: environment; animal protection; and human rights." Lush Charity Pot Milton Keynes Community Foundation Youth Social Action Fund Grants are available for community groups working in Milton Keynes for projects which engage young people in ongoing regular volunteering or demonstrate how another youth-led method will be as effective at engaging young people in social action. http://www.mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk National Lottery Lottery Funding is a joint website run by all Lottery funders in the UK. You are able to enter search criteria such as amount of funding required, location of your project, area of work etc and it will search for suitable grant programmes to suit your requirements across all of the Lottery funders. You can then access further information about each programme through direct links to the individual Lottery funders websites. http://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/funding-finder The Nineveh Charitable Trust Grants are available to UK based not-for-profit organisations and schools for a broad range of projects and activities that promote a better understanding of the environment and countryside, whilst facilitating improved access, education and research. https://www.ninevehtrust.org.uk One Stop Carriers for Causes Grants Carriers for Causes grants are available for good causes within two miles of a One Stop shop. Grants, of up to 1000 will be available to support projects that benefit local communities - helping to improve lives and local places. One Stop Carriers for Causes Grants People's Postcode Trust People s Postcode Trust operates its own society lottery and receives all of its funding from players of People's Postcode Lottery. In 2016, Small Grants will invite applications for projects that focus on the prevention of poverty, healthy living initiatives, upholding human rights and facilitating reconciliation projects which help disadvantaged or at-risk groups. http://www.postcodetrust.org.uk
Reaching Communities The aim of Reaching Communities is to fund projects that can help meet our aim of improving communities and the lives of people most in need. A community can be people living in a local area or those with similar interests or needs. Reaching Communities Sir James Knott Trust Grants are available to charities in the North East of England to help improve the conditions of people living and working in the North East of England. Grants are awarded in the following areas: arts and culture; service charities; public services; housing; heritage; health and sport; education and training; environment; and community issues and events. http://www.knott-trust.co.uk Steve Morgan Foundation Grants are available to small to medium-sized registered charities and charitable organisations working with children and families or people who are older, disabled or socially isolated in North Wales, Merseyside, West Cheshire and North Shropshire. https://stevemorganfoundation.org.uk Think Big Support all types of projects in the UK, with two grant streams (small up to 300 and larger up to 2,500). All projects must be: Projects led by young people aged 13 25 years old who are based in the UK. Projects that have a clear aim and benefit a community. Project ideas that are socially beneficial and harness the best of digital to make them a reality. For more information visit www.o2thinkbig.co.uk/ Vinspired Cashpoint Vinspired looks to giving young people the opportunity to bring their ideas for social action projects to life. If you're 14-25 and have an idea that will solve a problem in your community they want to help. How? They re offering grants of up to 500 to turn your ideas into reality, and get your projects of the ground. The great thing about Cashpoint is that once funding's signed off you run your project the way you want to. For more information visit: https://vinspired.com/cashpoint
WHSmith Trust Community Grants WHSmith Trust is now offering grants of up to 500 to voluntary organisations and schools from the proceeds of the compulsory carrier bag levies across the UK. Grants are awarded every six months to charities, schools and community groups of any size, provided they support the community in the UK. WHSmith Trust Community Grants Application Young Roots Young Roots is a scheme from the Heritage Lottery Fund that awards grants of 10,000-50,000 to help young people aged 11 to 25 to explore their heritage, from green spaces, museums, and historic sites to language, local memories and youth culture. The programme is intended to: provide new opportunities for a wide range of young people aged 11 to 25 to help shape and deliver engaging heritage projects; bring heritage and youth organisations together to combine knowledge and experience; and create opportunities to celebrate young people s achievements in the project and share their learning with the wider community. For more information visit https://www.hlf.org.uk/looking-funding/our-grant-programmes/youngroots#.ukvv1vi0fny Youth Music Programme Youth Music s vision is that life-changing music-making is available to all children and young people. Youth Music s grants programme provides funding for music-making projects in England. It is made up of three separate funds: Fund A offers small grants for high quality music-making projects and involves a simple application process. Fund B offers medium-sized grants for larger programmes of work. Fund C offers grants for strategic programmes to help embed sustainable, inclusive music-making across a local area. For more information visit http://network.youthmusic.org.uk/funding/about-youth-musics-grantsprogramme
Youth Opportunity Fund Your local authority may be a source of grant income through the Youth Opportunity Fund. You will need to contact your local authority's youth services for further details. A search facility for your local authority is provided at https://www.gov.uk/apply-youth-opportunity-funding Directories of grant-making organisations The following websites provide information on funders and trusts: Children & Young People Now Children & Young People Now is the only dedicated magazine for professionals working with children, young people and families. This essential read for the sector covers childcare and early years, education, health, social care, youth justice, and youth work. They have a directory for funding sources in England, Scotland and Wales. Directory of Social Change The Directory of Social Change (DSC) is an independent charity which provides training and information to the voluntary sector on a range of topics including fundraising, management, organisational and personal development, communication, finance and law. They publish a wide variety of resources for charities, including fundraising guides, directories and funding websites. Some of their fundraising guides are available at local libraries and/or resource agencies and for groups in or near London there is a small in-house reference library with specialist charity and voluntary sector books and publications. o https://www.dsc.org.uk/category/fundraising DSC also offer three databases of available funding : o o o http://www.trustfunding.org.uk/default.aspx http://www.companygiving.org.uk/default.aspx http://www.governmentfunding.org.uk/default.aspx All three require an annual subscription. Funding Central Funding Central is a website for all third sector organisations, providing access to thousands of funding opportunities. The website is funded by the Office for Civil Society, which is part of the Cabinet Office, and managed by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO). The Funding Central website allows you to search for funds using a variety of criteria e.g. project work or ongoing costs, location or
type of activity. It is also possible to search for other organisations to work in partnership with using similar search criteria. http://www.fundingcentral.org.uk/ GRANTnet GRANTnet, is a straightforward free-to-use service from GRANTfinder, which can help charitable and community groups to find suitable funding. Presented in the format of an online, step-by-step questionnaire, GRANTnet enables you to identify and select only funding schemes and awards that are appropriate for your project. The information on GRANTnet comprises in excess of 5,000 funding schemes that are available in the UK from European and national sources, directed at the public, private, charitable, and voluntary and community sectors. http://www.grantnet.com Support Agencies Council for Voluntary Service Your local Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) should be able to offer you guidance on both developing bids and identifying appropriate funders. Details of your local CVS can be found via the NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action) website http://data.navca.org.uk/members/directory. National Council of Voluntary Organisations The National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) champions the voluntary sector and volunteering by connecting, representing and supporting voluntary organisations. It also provides help and support to the voluntary sector by providing video training courses on topics such as Write a winning funding bid and How-to guides with titles such as How to fundraise in tough times. https://www.ncvo.org.uk/practical-support/funding Community Matters Community Matters is the national membership and support organisation for the community sector. They provide advice and resources, practical training and consultancy to community organisations in England and Wales. Their advice on funding can be found here - http://www.communitymatters.org.uk/content/469/finance-and-funding Charity Commission The Charity Commission, the body that registers and regulates charities provides guidance to charities on fundraising particularly around any legal requirements related to fundraising https://www.gov.uk/topic/running-charity/fundraising
Top 10 Tips 1. Ensure that your project meets the criteria Check other exclusions, deadlines for work to be complete and restrictions on how the money must be spent. If you are unsure, ask, most funders will willingly answer. 2. Answer the question 3. Use simple language Avoid the use of jargon and explain any abbreviations or specialist terms. 4. Give clear evidence, identify the need for your project 5. Submit a clear project plan 6. Submit a realistic budget Remember to include all costs e.g. equipment, activities, expenses, administration, travel etc. 7. Have robust methods of evaluation All funders will want to be able to prove that their money has made a difference. 8. Ensure that your bid is well presented 9. Get someone independent to review your bid 10. Ensure that your bid is complete Often funders will require extra documents such as your accounts, annual report or policy documents. And finally, if you are thinking of developing a funding bid for 25,000+ or submitting a regional application please contact Debs McCahon for more advice. (0845 217 8939 or deborah.mccahon@woodcraft.org.uk).