BIG Assist- Opportunity for Infrastructure Support

"If you are a voluntary organisation or social enterprise who mainly supports other organisations you can now apply to get help with strategy and change,financial stability, innovation, marketing and more.

The BIG assist programme helps strengthen infrastructure organisations through a diagnostic and voucher scheme, as well as a collaborative peer to peer community to help improve their services for the benefit of the whole sector. Click on the link to apply http://bigassist.org.uk/ "

Going Beyond: Journeys of Exploration

Following the success of last year’s talk by The Mitchemp Trust's co-founder, David Hempleman-Adams, this February we will be welcoming three seasoned explorers to the stage.

Martin Hartley, Paul Rose and Jon Gupta will be sharing their adventures to our planet’s ocean depths, atop its highest peaks and across its frozen poles. Their presentations will be followed by a panel Q+A and a prize draw.

For those harbouring the aspiration to go further, the would-be Edmund Hillarys amongst us (and those who just enjoy learning about the great outdoors) - an evening not to be missed.

All proceeds go to The Mitchemp Trust - www.mitchemptrust.org.uk

To book your place please visit  - St George's Website

Are you interested in safe street play for your children?

The sight and sound of children playing happily in the street seems to belong to a by-gone age of old newsreels, Enid Blyton adventure stories and the BBC’s Light Programme!  But thanks to a new initiative, a street in North Somerset has already tried and tested this out and with a bit of help from neighbours and North Somerset Council’s Street Scene team, organised a street closure so that children could feel as safe as their grandparents did!

Byron Close, Locking village, is the first street in North Somerset to take out a temporary street closure order so that children can play safely for a couple of hours after school.

Mum, Lenna Harris  commented: “There was a general feeling from all involved that this is a wonderful way of taking children away from their computer screens and televisions for a while for some healthy air and exercise. “

The ‘PlayingOut’ project started up in Bristol where two neighbours who shared an interest in free play wanted their children to have some of the same freedom they had growing up.   Now, in a move to introduce the scheme to north Somerset more parents and children living in North Somerset are invited to sign up their street for some safe street play!

Parent organizer Lenna Harris said, “It was an unbelievable success that we must repeat! The street closure took place for just a couple of hours and it wasn’t just the children who had fun.  Often we just don’t see our neighbours so it was good to have a street gathering while the children did what comes natural and just played out.”

 If you would like to activate street play in your community and want to find out more about ‘Playing Out’ visit: www.playingout.net  or contact Liz Lansley at liz.lansley@n-somerset.gov.uk  01275 885 143,

Invitation to Express Interest- Portishead Local Commissioning Network

 Dear Provider,

INVITATION TO EXPRESS INTEREST

The Portishead Local Commissioning Network (LCN) has received funding to commission a partner(s) to set up the provision of a sustainable strategy for the delivery and marketing of positive activities for children and young people (aged 0-19) in the area.

The LCN is inviting expressions of interest from providers (individuals and organisations) who feel they may be able to deliver all, part or one of the projects.

**The project aims and expression of interest form are available please let me (Heather) know if you want the full EOI information and forms. (due to the forms not being online**

If you are interested in this exciting new opportunity, please send the completed expression of interest form back to:

Portishead LCN

St Barnabas’ Centre

West Hill

Portishead

BS20 6LN

pilgrim@portisheadparish.co.uk

to arrive by Tuesday 12^th March.  Expression of interest forms received after this time cannot be accepted.  All expressions of interest will be considered on Wednesday 13^th March and candidates invited to tender will hear by Friday 22^nd March.

A detailed service specification including the desired project outcomes for each project and the allocated funding will be available to those providers who are invited to tender for the projects.

We look forward to hearing from you and wish you every success in your application.

With warm wishes  

TINA HODGETT

Vice-Chair

Portishead Local Commissioning Network

Team Vicar Portishead Church of England

Even more funding... including summer playschemes, sports and more

Hi all

A few more here which may appeal to your network or organisation.

• Tesco Charity Trust
• Funding For Summer Playschemes
• Social Entrepreneurs Programme
• Community Sport Activation Fund
• Holiday Grants for Children

Tesco Charity Trust Support for the Elderly and / or People with Disabilities (UK)

The Tesco Charity Trust has announced that it is currently accepting applications for projects supporting the elderly and/or people with disabilities.  

Through the Trust Community and Voluntary groups can apply for grants of between £500 and £4,000 through the Tesco Charity’s Community Awards.

The types of projects supported in the past have included:

• Befriending schemes
• Luncheon clubs
• Specialist equipment for disabled people
• Day trips / social trips – for elderly / disabled people, etc.

The Tesco Charity Trust Trustees also consider grant applications at their tri-annual meetings. These grants range between £4,000 and £25,000 and are to support local, national or international projects in areas where Tesco’s operate. The closing date for applications is the 31st March 2013.

Funding for Summer Playschemes (UK)

The Hilden Charitable Fund has announced that its Summer Playscheme Grants Programme is now open for applications to help community groups run Summer Playschemes for the benefit of children from refugee and ethnic minority families.

Funding of between £500 and £1,500 is available for Summer Playschemes for children aged 5 - 18 years lasting for 2 - 6 weeks with strong volunteer support. The funding is available to voluntary agencies with an income of less than £120,000. Some priority will be given to projects which show they are inclusive of children from refugee families, and show BME involvement. 

The closing date for applications is the 17th May 2013.

Lloyds Banking Group Social Entrepreneurs Programme (UK)

The Lloyds Banking Group has announced that its Social Entrepreneurship programme is open for applications.  

The programme aims to support individuals and organisations with project ideas to improve local communities.  The programme provides two levels of support.  New organisations or projects at an early stage can apply for funding of up to £4,000 as well as one year of training and development.  Established organisations that are looking to scale up their projects can apply for funding of up to £15,000 and one year of training. 

Previous projects supported include:

• A community micro-brewery employing the elderly
• Yoga classes aimed at vulnerable young parents
• A scheme designed to assist ex-offenders returning to work. 

The closing date for applications is 3pm on the 2nd April 2013.

Community Sport Activation Fund (England)

Sport England has announced that its £40 million Community Sport Activation Fund grant scheme will re-open for applications on the 7th May 2013. 

Through the Community Sport Activation Fund  grants of  between £50,000 and £250,000 will be available to sports clubs, schools, local authorities and other not for profit organisations to support grassroots sports activities at a very local level.

The type of activities that can be funded include

• Activities reflecting a broad range of sports
• Informal opportunities which could lead to regular participation
• Multi-sport activities which provide people with a range of choices and opportunities to suit them 
• Family orientated activities with a focus on 14 plus age group
• Local activator roles that focus on directly organising and delivering new opportunities for participation.  

The closing date for applications will be the 1st July 2013.

Henry Smith's Charity - Holiday Grants for Children (UK)

The Henry Smith’s Charity is accepting applications through its Holiday Grant for Children Programme.

Applications can be made by schools, youth groups, not for profit organisations and charities for grants towards holidays or outings within the UK for children aged 13 and under who are from areas of high deprivation, are experiencing disadvantage, or those who have a disability.

Applications can be considered for holidays or outings that have the objective of providing children with a break they would not otherwise have the opportunity to experience. The maximum grant available is £2,500 for any one trip. Grants are normally limited to a maximum of two-thirds of the total cost of a trip as we would expect some local partnership funding to be in place.

There are no closing dates and applications can be submitted at any time.

Grow Your Charity Online

The ‘Grow Your Charity Online’ campaign will provide free training and tools for charities across the country.

Google, working in partnership with the Media Trust and Charity Technology Trust, is to help 30,000 of the UK's smallest charities improve their online fundraising.
Charities can benefit from an online learning hub, specialised training, and workshops.

Please see here for more information.

Funding update

Happy Monday one and all!

I hope you all had a nice weekend, I hope you find the funding information useful.

• The North Face Explore Fund
• The Galaxy Hot Chocolate Fund
• Community Plus Fund
• Reaching Communities Fund
• The Big Tree Plant Scheme
• Catalyst Heritage Building Fund Raising Capacity
• Andy Fanshawe Memorial Trust
• Grants for Scouting Groups
• Kelly Family Charitable Trust
• Peter Cruddas Foundation
• Tudor Trust

The North Face® Explore Fund

The Explore Fund is a financial support-giving program committed to supporting non profit, community organisations that break down the barriers to getting young people outdoors.

North Face are firm believers in the physical, mental and social benefits of a healthy, active outdoor lifestyle, and that a strong connection with the outdoors will lead to greater support and protection of our natural landscapes.

Grants of up to €2,500 are available. The Explore Funds projects that:

• Focus on breaking down barriers to getting young people outdoors.
• Have clearly defined goals and objectives, target a specific issue/youth community, are action-oriented and quantifiable and are committed to long-term change.
• Build community and encourage public involvement.

The deadline for applications is 28 February 2013 & decisions will be made by 12 September 2013.

The Galaxy Hot Chocolate Fund

The Galaxy Hot Chocolate Fund are looking to help small, local community based projects and community minded people. So from January 2013 to March 31 2013 we are seeking to donate sixty £300 awards to help people or groups with their community programmes.

Community Plus Fund (UK)

The Santander Foundation has announced the launch of a new £1.23 million Community Plus Fund to support charities helping local disadvantaged people across the UK.

Applications for up to £5,000 will be regularly considered by a panel across the region.

Reaching Communities (England)

The Big Lottery Reaching Communities Fund providers financial assistance of £10,000 - £500,000 is available for projects which encourage voluntary and community organisations to identify their own local ideas for funding.  It will support projects that improve the quality of life in communities across England, offering help where it is most needed.

The Big Lottery Fund supports charities and the voluntary sector, health, education, the environment, and regenerative projects to regenerate and revitalise communities.

Every project must:

• Respond to need - this is a problem, issue or situation where something needs to change to make things better for a person, group of people or environment.
• Involve the people who will benefit from the project in planning and running the project.

Achieve one or more of the following four outcomes:

• People having better chances in life, with better access to training and development to improve their life skills.
• Stronger communities, with more active citizens working together to tackle their problems.
• Improved rural and urban environments, which communities are better able to access and enjoy.
• Healthier and more active people and communities

Vinspired, igniter

Vinspired Support young social entrepreneurs to get their ideas off the ground from as little as £1. Vinspired has launched a crowdfunding platform to help young people achieve their own social action projects.

Igniter lets young people seek funding for their ideas and activities from members of the public.

As with most other crowdfunding sites, pledges are only collected if the project hits its financial target within the set period.

The Big Tree Plant Scheme

The Big Tree Plant Scheme offers grants to community groups in England for the costs related to planting trees in neighbourhoods where people live and work. Deadline is 15 March 2013.

Grants of between £500 and £25,000 are available for single projects. Applications for larger grants may be considered, for example, for a city wide project.

Regional Growth Fund

The Regional Growth Fund (RGF) is a fund operating to support projects and programmes that lever private sector investment to create economic growth and sustainable employment.

Round 4 is now open for applications and will allocate a further £350m.

The RGF is a flexible and competitive fund, with bidders able to submit bids either as a project or a programme. It has a minimum bid threshold of £1 million.

Eligibility for round 4 remains the same as in previous rounds, see website for more information. Private sector organisations are eligible to bid either individually, or in partnership with other private or public sector organisations either for a project or programme.

For the purposes of RGF, universities and charities are generally considered to be private sector.

Public sector organisations can only bid as part of programme/consortia bid and there must be a private sector lead for that bid. Organisations can be part of more than one bid. For example, a company may be submitting a bid of their own and be one part of a programme bid as well. Duplicate bids will not be accepted. Each project should only have one bid associated with it. Applicants who were unsuccessful in previous rounds are eligible to bid in the new round. 

The Regional Growth Fund will provide a mixture of direct support for private sector investments and private public partnerships. All projects should lever private sector investment for long term growth and private sector employment. The criteria for RGF asks bids to show that they would:

• create additional sustainable private sector growth
• rebalance the economy in those areas currently dependent on the public sector
• not otherwise go ahead without support from the Regional Growth Fund
• offer value for money
• be State Aid compliant

Round 4 funding is available until 2016. All potential bids should take into account that they will need to draw down the funding by 31 March 2016. This is a relatively short time frame and projects/programmes need to be high quality and ‘shovel ready’ - ideally ready to start immediately.

The deadline for receipt of completed applications is 12 noon on 20 March 2013.

Applications and supporting evidence should be sent to rgfround4applications@bis.gsi.gov.uk

Catalyst Heritage: Building Fundraising Capacity

The Catalyst grants initiatives form part of a broader partnership initiative between the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), DCMS and Arts Council England (ACE). It aims to encourage more private giving to culture and heritage, and to build the capacity and skills of cultural and heritage organisations to fundraise from private donors, corporate sources, trusts and foundations.

Umbrella grants of £100,000 to £500,000 - Umbrella grants are available to umbrella bodies providing support services for heritage organisations. Projects will deliver a range of capacity building services, learning and networking opportunities to enable heritage organisations to increase the funding they receive from private sources, such as individual and corporate donors, trusts and foundations.

The next deadline is 23^rd March 2013.

Andy Fanshawe Memorial Trust

The AFMT funds projects that give disadvantaged young people the chance to develop an existing interest in the great outdoors.  The AFMT supports projects taking place within the United Kingdom, for reasons of cost-effectiveness.

Please see the website for more information. Applications can be submitted at anytime.

Grants for Scouting groups 

Over the years The Scout Association has been extremely fortunate to receive generous donations from many individuals and organisations who wish to support their work at a national and local level. The result of these donations is that there are a range of funds available, particularly to support local groups/units and individual members who require financial assistance in undertaking their scouting.

Grants are available for:

• Opening or re-opening new sections
• Starting a new group in a recognised area of social deprivation 
• Local development planning events
• capital equipment for promoting Scouting
• adult recruitment events
• youth recruitment events aimed at the cub and network sections
• training adviser recruitment and retention
• Employment of local development staff Non-wood badge leader training
• capital equipment for the delivery of adult training
• young leader training
• activity assessor training and assessment
• activity permit assessments
• DofE asessments
• trustee/executive training
• trainer training
• minibus training and assessment
• Air and sea scout training and capital equipment purchase
• Support for members 'in financial hardship' 
• Volunteer expenses, uniforms, camp and activity costs
• Members with special needs and the development of special needs scouting, including small scale building works to ensure accessibility for all

Applications can be submitted any time but must be at least 6 weeks before the event. E-mail: development@scout.org.uk

Kelly Family Charitable Trust 

The Kelly Family Chatitable Trust is now open to registered charities whose activities support and encourage the family to work as a cohesive unit in tackling problems that face one or more of its members.

The Fund offers revenue and capital grants. Grants are of between £1,000 and £5,000. The next deadline is 1st March 2013.

Please see their website for more information.

Peter Cruddas Foundation

The Peter Cruddas Foundation award grants to Registered Charities to benefit  disadvantaged and disengaged young people in the UK by ensuring the funding reaches those most in need. Priority funding streams are:

• pathways/support for young disadvantaged or disengaged young people into mainstream education, training or employment and crime diversion schemes.

The next deadline is 1st March 2013.

Tudor Trust  

The Tudor Trust is interested in encouraging people to use their own skills and abilities as a resource for change; to find new ways of tackling deep-rooted problems or to cope with and move on from difficult situations.

They are most interested in helping smaller, under-resourced organisations which offer direct services and which involve the people they work with in their planning. The groups they fund don't have to be registered charities, they can also make grants to other groups as long as they can show them how they would use their grant for charitable purposes.

Tudor's focus is on smaller groups, led by people of vision, which are committed to growth, progression and development. Applications can be submitted at any time contact number 020 7727 8522.

Some funding opportunities...

Hello PLANS readers.

We've some more funding ideas for you today- including

• Waitrose community fund
• Live Utd
• Arts Council
• Quartet Community Foundation

Please let us know if you could across any others that may be interesting positive.activities@n-somerset.gov.uk

Thanks for now,

H :)

Waitrose - Community Matters

Each month Waitrose donate £1,000 which is shared between three local causes. Customers drop tokens into the box of the local cause they would like to support. More information can be found on their website.

Waitrose - Partnership Volunteering

Waitrose match volunteers from their shops, distribution centres and head office with good causes that can use their skills. The type of support given includes:

• Transforming a woodland or garden for hospice or hospital patients to enjoy.
• Sharing retail and customer service skills with a local charity shop.
• Supporting a local litter pick to benefit the local environment.

If you would like to nominate a local group, project or organisation for either of these opportunities you can pick up a form at your local Waitrose including Weston-super-Mare, Nailsea and Portishead and hand it in at the Welcome desk or check out their website.

Live UnLtd

Live UnLtd offers financial assistance to young people between the ages of 11 and 21 who live in the UK to start up their own social venture that will have a positive social impact on the applicant's community.

This grant offers up to £5,000 towards innovative projects and can help anyone working in music, sport, arts or traditional business to change the world around them for the better. Applications can be made on the Live UnLtd website. 

Skinners Company - Lady Neville Charity

One-off grants of between £500 and £1,000 are available where it would be a significant contribution towards non-recurring expenditure, eg equipment, an event, or a particular element of capital building works.

Organisations can apply for grants in the priority areas which include

• Local Heritage projects which help local groups to conserve and restore their landmarks, landscape, traditions and culture
• Performing & Visual Arts groups involved in undertaking any activity in any field in this area.

Please contact the grants administrator to discuss potential ideas on 0207 213 0 562 or email at charitiesadmin@skinners.org.uk

If you wish to apply, click to download the Guidelines to Applicants & Summary Application Form.

The deadline for applications is Friday 8 March 2013 which will be considered at the Committee meeting in May.

Grants for the Arts

Grants for the Arts are available for activities carried out over a set period of time and which

• engage people in England in arts activities
• help artists and arts organisations in England carry out their work.

You can apply at anytime. Grants of up to £100,000 are available. 

Quartet Community Foundation – Express Grants Programme 

The Express Programme awards grants of up to £2,000 to small, local voluntary and community organisations where a small amount of funding can make a difference in disadvantaged areas.

The work of your organisation must benefit people who are disadvantaged or isolated. People may be isolated due to poverty, disability, age, location or culture. Priority is also given to groups that:

• Enable people to take opportunities that would otherwise not be available to them.
• Reflect the concerns and priorities of people living and working in the area.

From time-to-time we have funding for specific types of activities, we are currently welcoming applications tackling the issues of:

• Homelessness
• Disability
• The Care and Resettlement of Offenders
• Disadvantage among Children and Young People

There are no closing dates. Applications are accepted at any time and are looked at on a rolling basis.

Happy bidding!

Population update (Portishead)

Please see updated population for children and young people.

A year older, a year wiser?

Hello PLANS readers

Since I last wrote, I have celebrated reaching my 28th year which got me thinking about the last 12 months. There has been a lot of change; changes in the way the Council delivers and looks at its services as well as how we, as residents, help our communities grow and thrive.

Some of the Council's universal services have seen a redesign in the last 18 months; this is to help meet the deficit in funding that Local Authorities across the country are facing. In North Somerset, that included the Youth Service which has seen a redesign into a targeted service.

However 12 months on, and thanks to voluntary youth club management committees and Local Commissioning Networks, there continues to be a great offer for young people who like to go to youth club in the week. Currently, you can find open access youth provision in over 15 areas of North Somerset!

These youth club sessions help make up the hundreds of other positive opportunities for children and young people alike, from zero right through to adulthood. 

It is positive to see the Local Commissioning Networks are developing well too. The networks are made up of some really committed volunteers and I am sure your local residents are already appreciating the work of the network.

Most networks are commissioning needs led services or are ready to tender for them. Many networks have found additional, external funding for activities; and some looking at the needs of their whole community not just children and young people.

 

This is not to say that we are out of the woods just yet, and I like to use the analogy of climbing a mountain range (this is the bit when you may want to sit back and shut your eyes!). We are about half way up, we have weathered the storms and blizzards, we have seen the beautiful view but we also know that we are yet to reach the summit.

North Somerset Council has a commitment to help LCNs reach this summit; and to reach the summit in a way which means you won’t have to rush back down for supplies!

Funding may seem scarce, but by being part of a needs led, multi-partnership network really does stand your community and network in the best possible position for future funding and sustainability. There is a raft of charities, trusts and grant giving bodies out there.

I hope you are finding the PLANS blog useful, please keep in touch. Keep your eyes peeled for funding opportunities and events.

Happy reading!

Expressions of Interest to join a funded South West Young Researchers Project

A message from South West Regional Youth Work Unit.

Recently, the South West Regional Youth Work Unit formed a local Young Researchers Group in Taunton, Somerset and raised some funding for the group to do some short term research on a topic of national interest and receive some accreditation for their work.  We also have a national sponsor for this work – the  British Youth Council  - who need some peer research for their Curriculum for Life Campaign, which we will be undertaking. We can also fund a residential weekend to pull the research together into a report and presentation and for the young researchers to have some fun to celebrate their achievements.

There is sufficient funding to make a limited offer to other youth/peer research projects in the SW region on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis.  Although we appreciate that it might be difficult to bring young people across the region together, we would be happy to co-ordinate a network with other youth workers and peer researchers on peer research projects and to share our learning via a blog and a Facebook page. 

If you are interested in finding out more about a regional peer research network, a sponsored national research project, some accredited learning and a funded residential, please don’t hesitate to contact the project lead, Fiona Phur on 01823 347958 or email fiona_phur@learning-southwest.org.uk.

We look forward to hearing back from you and exploring the potential to work together on this exciting project. If you are not the right person to receive this information, please accept our sincere apologies – and do let us know of any young people locally who might like to take part or share this with your networks and contacts.

4Children monthly e-news

You may find the 4Children monthly e-newsletter an intresting resurce to follow- this month the newsletter includes a fair few funding opportunities:

A better start – early years fund

The Big Lottery Fund is to invest £165 million in early intervention projects for babies and toddlers in up to five council areas over a period of at least ten years. Earlier this month, expression of interest forms went to the chief executives of upper-tier local authorities with a submission deadline of 22 February 2013. Local authorities are asked to identify a voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisation to be the lead applicant if the area is invited to submit a full application. If you are a VCS organisation interested in getting involved in your local partnership, please contact your local authority.

Local sports groups to benefit from £40 million

Sport England invites local projects getting more people into sport to bid for funding. £12.5 million is being invested in the first two rounds of the Community Sport Activation Fund, with more funding available in 2014 and 2015. Community groups, charities and councils are among those that can bid for funding for up to three years, with grants of between £50,000-£250,000 on offer for a wide range of projects. First round bids will be accepted until 4 February 2013.

Tesco Community Awards

These grants offer one-off donations of between £500 and £4,000 to registered charities and not for profit organisations who are working on local projects that support children and their education and welfare. Funding is for practical benefits such as equipment and resources that directly benefit children. The next funding round is for applications for grants for children with disabilities: 1 February – 31 March. Read more about the application process here.
 

Bringing environmental understanding to all

The Kids Fund aims to raise awareness of the natural world by supporting disadvantaged young people aged 8–18 to take part in courses held at Field Studies Council learning locations. You may apply any time, the next decision round is 1 March.

Somerset Storyfest 2013

'In Cider story'- an invitation from Theatre Orchard

In Cider Story

The Theatre Orchard and Living Spit invite you to In Cider Story
by Adam Peck with music by Elizabeth Westcott
at The Old Barn
Bristol Road, Wraxall, BS48 1BU
on Monday 18 March 2013 8.30pm
Followed by a drink in the bar with The Theatre Orchard

RSVP info@thetheatreorchard.org.uk by  Friday 15th March 2013

 For information about future touring plans for In Cider Story contactinfo@thetheatreorchard.org.uk or phone 07757711783
 www.thetheatreorchard.org.uk