Latest
Eco-Minds
Ecominds aims to reduce the stigma and social exclusion faced by people with mental health problems by funding environmental projects that bring people together right across the community. Over the next five years Ecominds will award grants up to the value of £250,000 to 125 environmental projects. Examples of eco-projects eligible for funding could include returning habitats to their natural state, starting up recycling initiatives or community agricultural projects.
National
'Sources of Funding for Food Related Initiatives' (PDF). Info and guidelines from the Food Standards Agency.
Local Food is a £50 million programme that will distribute lottery grants to a variety of food-related projects to help make locally grown food accessible and affordable to local communities.
The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation has a Food strand which aims to promote an understanding of the role of food in enhancing quality of life. It will prioritise the enjoyment and experience of food rather than its production and we seek to enable as many people in the UK as possible to access, prepare and eat nutritious, sustainable food.
The Plunkett Foundation provides funding and support for rural communities looking to set up and run a community-owned shop.
Community Matters is a giving initiative from Waitrose. Each trading month, each store will have £1,000 to divide between three local organisations – such as welfare organisations, community groups, schools or local divisions of national charities. Ask your local store for a nomination form if you wish your project or organisation to be considered.
Sheila McKechnie Award
This award scheme is made annually to community food initiatives to commemorate the contribution that Dame Sheila McKechnie made in helping to set up the Agency. Two community food initiatives will be chosen every year and each will receive £15,000 (£5,000 a year) over a three-year period. The awards are available to any community food initiative in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Regional
Thames Valley
Aylesbury Vale and Rural Milton Keynes LEADER Programme
Financial assistance is available for farmers, foresters, growers, rural businesses, social enterprises and community groups operating in the Aylesbury Vale and Rural Milton Keynes areas.
Maximum Value: £ 50,000
The Aylesbury Vale and Rural Milton Keynes LEADER Programme is provided by the South East England Development Agency via the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) and is delivered on their behalf by Ngage Solutions Ltd.
The programme can provide grants for projects that improve the competitiveness, environmental sustainability and economic performance of the local rural economy.
For more information contact Nick Phillips on 01844 210430.
Kent
The Funding Buddies project is a programme to assist community and voluntary groups access funding opportunities.
It will also develop training courses to increase and enhance the skills of community organisations.
Sussex
Novas Scarman Group
"Can Do Health" is a grant fund aimed at new & developing community groups in Brighton and Hove that focus their activities on health and wellbeing.
The fund will offer:
- Small grants of up to £1500
- Development worker support to help with your application
- An extended period of 'post-award support' focussed on strengthening the group and addressing routes to sustainability for the future.
This fund is aimed at groups with a health related idea to help start or develop a project that will be inclusive of the people that are intended to benefit from the funds and additional support. Please note: We cannot accept applications that are general
fundraising appeals, building projects or that are requesting money to subsidise existing statutory provision.
To find out about the criteria or if you want to find out more call the Can Do Health Development Worker on (01273) 234014 or email
nora.mza...@novasscarman.org
The deadline for applications is: THURSDAY 6TH MAY 2010
Useful websites
www.fundingcentral.org.uk
Funding Central is a free smart website for the whole voluntary and community sector, including social enterprise, providing access to thousands of funding and finance opportunities, plus a wealth of tools and resources supporting organisations to develop sustainable income strategies appropriate to their needs.
www.governmentfunding.org.uk
Signposts to European, Central and Local government, Directory of Social Change and Big Lottery Fund weblinks.
Also has Grantnet – a free service from Grant funder.
www.fundraising.co.uk
Runs a number of workshops relating to fundraising.
www.j4bgrants.co.uk
A good funding search site.
www.raise.org.uk
Free registration as member and you access list funding database.
www.dsc.org.uk
Workshops and publications on funding and fundraising
www.wellbeingsoutheast
Occasional alert to funding and up-to-date policies and resources to back up your bids.
www.voluntaryarts.org
Free newsletter with funding alerts tailored to the arts sector.
www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Current schemes that may be worth a look – Ecominds, Local Food, Access to nature.
www.fit4funding.org.uk
Contains a good section on introduction to when funding ends with sections
on sustainability, exit strategy and social enterprises.
www.ladder4learning.org.uk
E-learning resources on various topics including finance and funding.
www.financehub.org.uk
Another website that offers information on funding and fundraising.
