Looking to buy or refurbish a community asset?

The Social Investment Business Group are offering capital grants between £100,000 and £500,000  to organisations ready to take the next step in acquiring a local asset.

Organisations with innovative and ambitious plans for community asset ownership or management will be able to apply for these grants until Thursday 26 June 2014 which will help with its purchase or refurbishment.

You can find out more about this year's preferred themes and download an application pack on their website. (http://www.sibgroup.org.uk/communityrights/)

Community Education Fund (Round 27) - now open!

The latest round of the Community Education Fund is now available to support community learning projects and courses across West Berkshire. The funding will support the delivery of programmes between 1st August 2014 and 31st July 2015 with a focus on family and adults aged over 19 years. Click here www.westberks.gov.uk/cef27 for more information and to download a bid form. 

The deadline for all bids is Friday, 23rd May 2014. For more information contact the Community Learning team on 01635 519060 or email aclteam@westberks.gov.uk

ESF Community Grants Programme - new funding available

If you are a charity, voluntary or community organisation working in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, or Oxfordshire and are supporting unemployed people over 18 years of age you can apply for a grant of up to £15,000.  

Organisations with an income of £300,000 a year are now eligible to apply, as long as you have no more than 9 full-time employees.

Funding for Capacity Building.  This is a new element of the grants programme.  Up to 10% of your total grant request can be for training costs, either related to the project that is the focus of this grant application or for broader issues around the long-term sustainability of your organisation. This could include fundraising, business development, social media, or anything that will build or organisation’s capacity. 

The next deadline is 2nd June, and the final deadline is 1st September.  All projects will need to be completed by 30th March 2015.

For further information, criteria and an application form please contact Hilary Burr – hilary.burr@ocva.org.uk

Funding training from a funder!

FaithAction, who manage the Together in Service fund, will be delivering a workshop in your area to help you get ahead when it comes to applying for funding.  With actual examples of funded and unfunded applications, practical exercises and things to help you through the process, you will leave with a clear understanding of how best to approach grant funding.

Local dates include:
21st May 2014, Bristol Hamilton House, 80 Stokes Croft, BS1 3QY
25th June 2014, London UK Health Forum, Fleetbank House, 2-6 Salisbury Square, EC4Y 8JX

Topics include:
Funding types
Help from the Funders
Why applications fail
Budgets
Layout and Impact

All for £30 for members of FaithAction and £50 for non-members. Discounts are available, please contact for code.

To book or find out more contact Andrew.Welsby@faithaction.net or call 0845 094 6350.

Organisational Development Training: Fundraising Strategy

Are you new to planning your fundraising?
Do you know that the financial future of your organisation is unstable?
Would you like a structure that will help your organisation to survive in the future?
Do you need support in planning fundraising applications? 

RVA are running a training course that will enable you to

• Identify what could go into a fundraising plan
• List advantages and disadvantages of different funding sources
• Identify three ways to fundraise for their organisation
• Search for appropriate bodies to apply to for grant funding
• Identify what steps to take to plan their fundraising applications

25th April, 10:00am to 1:00pm
Highbridge House, 16-18 Duke St, Reading, RG1 4RU
This is a wheelchair accessible venue

More information at http://rvadirectory.org.uk/event/20140425/organisational-development-training-fundraising-st

Courtesy of Reading Voluntary Action Directory

Pub is the Hub given Big Society award

Last week Pub is The Hub that supports country pubs to provide community services 
such as shops, book clubs and even cinemas, was announced as the latest winner of 
the Prime Minister’s Big Society Award by Community Pubs Minister Brandon Lewis 
MP at the Publican Awards. Pub is the Hub has worked with over 400 pubs across 
England and Wales including the Black Swan Inn, Ravenstonedale, Cumbria where 
they provide freshly cooked school meals for the local primary school and the 
Cholmeley Arms in Burton Coggles near Grantham which hosts a butcher’s in an 
adjoining building. They are funded to £170,000 to help pubs, especially rural ones 
to diversify services. 

View the article at Gov.uk and find out more about Pub is the Hub via their website.

Courtesy of ACREheadlines

North Wessex Downs LEADER funding - give your feedback

North Wessex Downs LEADER is funding to improve the rural economy and quality of life for people living and working in the North Wessex Downs.

They are interested to hear what you think the investment priorities should be for a new LEADER Programme 2015-2020. They want to hear your ideas and particularly welcome new innovations and collaborative projects and are holding community consultation meetings in Hampstead Norreys (24th April), Marlborough (7th May) or Vernham Dean (12th May).

As well as giving feedback via the consultation meetings you can also complete a form which is available to download from their website.

For more information please see the website.

North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - Sustainable Development Fund

A new round of funding will start in April 2014.

SDF funding (Sustainable Development Fund) is aimed supporting a range of projects that bring environmental, social and economic benefits to the North Wessex Downs AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and contribute to the objectives of Natural England. The North Wessex Downs AONB has run the SDF grant scheme since 2003.

Expressions of Interest for the 2014-15 financial year, commencing on 1st April are now being taken. See the dedicated SDF website for more information.

http://www.northwessexdownsgrants.org.uk/DB/WBA/clients/NWD/NWDWebsiteV3.nsf

People’s Million opens

The Big Lottery Fund and ITV have launched the People's Millions public voting 
competition for 2014. This year organisations can apply for up to £50,000 for 
projects that help communities to enjoy, as well as transform their local 
environment. The competition is open now until 13 May. 

More information on the People’s Millions website or 0845 0 10 11 12

Rural Community Energy Fund

The £15m RCEF is aimed at helping rural communities in England access funding to carry out feasibility studies for renewable energy projects, fund pre-planning studies and preparation of planning applications. RCEF funds will support eligible rural projects including wind, solar, biomass, heat pumps, anaerobic digestion, gas Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and hydro through initial grants at stage 1 (less than £20,000) and loans at stage 2. For further information and details of how to apply, see the WRAP website.

Bracknell Forest gain Green Deal funding

Last week the Government announced the first six communities being helped under Green Deal for Communities scheme and this included Bracknell Forest. The six communities are funded to just under £20 million in total to deliver over 5,500 Green Deal Plans to over 7,000 households. The areas are Cambridgeshire, Ashfield, Suffolk, Peterborough, six London boroughs and Bracknell Forest. DECC is inviting local authorities (LAs), working with their partners, to come forward with ambitious and innovative street/area based proposals for funding. Proposals should aim to deliver Green Deal plans to as many households as possible. 

Read the full article at GOV.UK 

ESF criteria amended

There have been important changes made to the eligibility of the European Social Fund (ESF). 

Successful applicants will now have 10% of the grant withheld until they have been signed off as having completed all the necessary paperwork i.e. until after their project has been completed.

As a consequence, both the application form and guidelines have been amended. If you feel you may be affected by this change and would like to discuss it or to receive updated application forms and guidelines, please contact Hilary Burr at Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action - hilary.burr@ocva.org.uk.

The Prince's Countryside Fund now open for applications

The Prince's Countryside Fund provides funding towards projects operating in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland that clearly contribute towards one or more of The Prince’s Countryside Fund's objectives.

The grants have to result in things that relate directly to their objectives, one of which is
"Improve the sustainability of rural communities targeting the areas of greatest need"

In this round of grants The Prince's Countryside Fund seeks to address and provide funding to tackle four key issues:

•  Rural Isolation
•  Decline of Rural communities
•  Low Farming Incomes
•  Lack of access to training

To be eligible for a grant you will need to demonstrate that your project is tackling at least one of these four issues.

The fund is open for applications from 3rd March - 10th April 2014.

For more information visit http://princescountrysidefund.org.uk/apply-for-fund/welcome-screen

Rotary Annual Awards

Do you run a community group in the Reading area? Or are you involved in youth sorts and culture? If so the Rotary Club Awards could be your opportunity to raise up to £1000 towards a project you are working on.

Go to http://rotaryawards.co.uk to download an application form. Applications will be reviewed on the 1st May 2014.

Rural Community Energy Fund

The Centre for Sustainable Energy's communities team is offering support to groups who want to apply to the Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF). RCEF is a £15m funding initiative to support community groups in developing low-carbon projects in rural areas.

Are you a member of a constituted community group residing in a rural area, wanting to develop a community renewable energy project? If so, RCEF could be the opportunity you have been waiting for.

The funding provides a grant of up to £20,000 for investigating the viability of renewable energy in your area.

To find out more go to http://www.cse.org.uk/projects/view/1227

They are also holding an advice cowrkshop for groups considering an application on Tuesday 18 March in Bristol, see http://www.cse.org.uk/downloads/file/Ready%20for%20RCEF%20event%20invitation.pdf

Bracknell Forest Homes Starfish Programme Community Fund

Bracknell Forest Homes have a Starfish Programme Community Fund which provides small grants that local organisations and groups can apply for to help them to carry our services and projects that directly benefit Bracknell Forest Homes Customers.

Each application will be assessed by the grant panel.  The maximum amount that can be awarded is £5000.  The grant panel will favour applications between £250 and £2000, with grant requests for higher amounts up to the maximum to be considered in exceptional circumstances.

The Community Fund is open to customers of Bracknell Forest Homes, voluntary groups and not-for–profit organisations working within communities in Bracknell Forest.

The deadline for a 2013/14 award is Monday 24th February 2014.

For further information contact:
Joanna Flaxman, Community Development Manager
Telephone: 01344 382886
Email: joanna.flaxman@bracknellforesthomes.org.uk
http://www.bracknellforestpartnership.org.uk/494

Parish Plan Grants awarded in West Berkshire

Parish Plan Grants have recently been awarded to four West Berkshire Communities. Ashampstead and Padworth have received money towards the refurbishment of their Village Halls and Aldworth have received the grant towards re-building their hall.  Inkpen are buying goals and nets for their Junior Football team.

The grant is available to any community for a project which is identified in the Action Plan of an endorsed Community Led Plan (formerly Parish Plan).

The funding is for capital costs not revenue and applicants must have access to at least 15% of the total cost from other sources either in cash or in-kind and demonstrate other sources. Applications may be for a minimum of £50 and a maximum of £5,000.
The grant is there to help projects that the community is supporting through their Community Plan, get off the ground.

If you have would like to apply for a grant to help with a  project from your plan   please contact :
Jo Naylor email jnaylor@westberks.gov.uk or phone 01635 503019 Ext 3019 or Tessa Hall  email: tessa.hall@ccberks.org.uk  or phone 07966 236408

The Peoples Postcode Trust Small Grants Programme - start thinking about your application!

Does your organisation fall under one of these types? If so, then you are probably eligible to apply for funds. 

• Registered charity (requires a number from OSCR or Charity Commission) 
• SCIO 
• Constituted voluntary or community group 
• Social enterprise 
• Community interest company (CIC) 
• Not-for-profit organisation 
• Sport club 

Grants of up to £20,000 are available, depending upon eligibility criteria. 

The Small Grants Programme has four funding rounds in 2014 and their opening and closing dates are April 5th and May 20th 2014 respectively for organisations from the South East so you could begin thinking about your application now.

For more information go http://www.postcodetrust.org.uk/small-grants.aspx

Latest national affordable housing funding launched

The Homes and Communities Agency launched the prospectus inviting housing 
associations, councils, developers and others to bid for a share of up to £1.7bn of 
grant funding for delivery of new affordable housing outside London for 2015-18. 
Homes delivered with this funding during this period will contribute to the 
Government’s ambition to deliver up to 165,000 new affordable homes across the 
country. The HCA has introduced some improvements based on learning from the 
current programme. 

Full details on the HCA’s website 

Courtesy of AcreHeadlines

Funding Central

Funding Central is a free website for charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises.
Run by NCVO the site provides 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.

Go to www.fundingcentral.org.uk to find out more.

ESF Community Grants Workshop in Reading

Find out if your organisation can apply and how to maximise your chance of application success for the European Social Fund (ESF) Community Grant programme in the South East Region.

Reading Voluntary Action (RVA) are holding a free workshop in partnership with Oxfordshire Community Voluntary Action (OCVA) to support you in applying to this fund.

Grants up to £15,000 are available to enable small voluntary organisations to put on activities and training that offer new skills and confidence building to unemployed and disadvantaged people to help them move towards employment.

The workshop takes place:

Thursday, 13 February 2014
10:00am to 1:00pm
Wheelchair accessible
Highbridge House, 16-18 Duke St, READING, RG1 4RU

For further information about ESF Community Grants and to book on the workshop please Click here 

Telephone: 0118 957 4123
Email: info@rva.org.uk
Web site: www.rva.org.uk

Courtesy of Voluntary Sector Digest from RVA

THAMES VALLEY ESF COMMUNITY GRANTS

Developing the skills of local people and supporting people into employment

If you are a charity, voluntary or community organisation working in:

Berkshire
Buckinghamshire
Milton Keynes
Oxfordshire

and are supporting unemployed people over 18 years of age you can apply for a grant of up to £15,000.  The grants are intended to fund small local projects, so if your organisation has had an income of more than £300,000 in the last three years, you will not be eligible.

Grant application workshops are being held across the Thames Valley and OCVA would strongly encourage any organisation thinking of applying to attend. Dates of the workshops can be found here: http://www.ocva.org.uk/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=1491

For further information, please contact Hilary Burr – hilary.burr@ocva.org.uk.

Courtesy of OCVA

£10 million funding available to improve broadband in remote areas

A £10 million fund is being made available to alternative technology providers who come forward with innovative ideas to help superfast broadband reach Britain’s most remote communities. The new £10 million fund will enable a range of pilot projects to be undertaken up and down the country, as the Government seeks the most effective way to ensure that the most remote areas are included in the broadband transformation taking place across Britain. The funding applies to the 5% of the population, which is not part of the Government’s programme to deliver superfast broadband speeds by 2017.

View the article at GOV.UK

Coutesy of ACREheadlines

Comic Relief Local Communities Programme - Grants of £1,000 to £10,000

Comic Relief Local Communities Programme -  Grants of £1,000 to £10,000 (inclusive) available through Berkshire Community Foundation.

The programme aims to empower local people, enabling them to create lasting change in their communities.  Projects  should be run  by people directly affected by the issues they are dealing with and priority will be given to small, locally based groups or organisations in areas of disadvantage that have a clear understanding of the needs of their community.

Under the programme, organisations can apply for funding to:increase local services,

•     build skills of local people,
•     increase community cohesion
•     respond to local economic needs
•     increase access to sport & exercise for people who face social exclusion and isolation.

Organisations which have received a Community Cash grant or any other grant from a Community Foundation can apply for a Local Communities grant. However organisations which hold a grant directly from Comic Relief, can not apply for a Local Communities Grant.

A Local Communities grant must be at least 30% of the total cost of the project.

For an application form please email grants@berkshirecf.org with a brief outline of your project.   Deadline for applications 3rd February 2014.

Courtesy of BFVA E Bulletin

Locality Brokers service

The Locality Brokers service is launching a new round of support for community organisations which are acquiring, refurbishing or looking to build a community asset. Additional funding has been made available for a limited time only, applications accepted until 3 March.

Courtesy of LINX - News from NAVCA

Funding still available for community led projects

Funding remains available for the Community Led Project Support Fund. The Fund can be used to support the pushing forward of a range of building projects from village halls to housing schemes. The grant pot managed by the HCA (Homes and Communities Agency) can be used to cover the cost of getting ideas for community building development off the drawing board and up to planning application stage,including paying for detailed site plans and professional fees.

Read more on the My Community Rights website.

Hilton in the Community Foundation

The Foundation makes grants of up to £30,000 to help disadvantaged young people in the UK and Ireland. Applications should be addressing one of four areas in education or health:

•     children and young people with disabilities
•     children and young people who are sick in hospital
•     young people who are homeless
•     young people and children who are life limited (requiring palliative care)

They have announced their quarterly deadline dates for 2014 - the next one is 11 February.

Courtesy of LINX news from NAVCA.