EPNAVCOs Funding Advisor supports voluntary and community organisations to get the resources they need. We provide advice, info and training to help organisations become more confident and self reliant in fundraising.

We can help you identify appropriate funding streams with the help of search engines including Grantfinder, Funderfinder and Grantsonline. If you require a funding search, please click here

For further help why not try Apply Yourselves, this is free software provided by Funderfinder to help groups with funding applications.

Once you have mastered this software why not try Budget Yourself or Full Cost Recovery to produce your budget.

Funding News

European Social Fund Community Grants Programme (North West)

The North West Workers Education Association has announced that its 3rd round for applications through the European Social Fund (ESF) Community Grants Programme will open for applications on the 2nd July 2012. 

Through the programme grants of up to £12,000 are available to small, third sector, voluntary and community organisations in the North West to engage with local communities to deliver a range of skills and employment support activities to enable people from the hardest to reach communities, experiencing multiple disadvantages, to make progress towards the labour market.  The type of activities funded can include:

• Taster work experience
• Training advice and guidance
• Job search assistance
• Confidence building
• Personal development and support to overcome barriers to training and employment. 

The closing date for applications will be the 7th September 2012.

http://nw.wea.org.uk/esf_grants/about.php

Innovation in Giving Fund to back Established Charities (England)

The Cabinet Office and Nesta today announced the second round of the £10 million Innovation in Giving Fund, which aims to find and back innovative ideas for increasing levels of volunteering and charitable giving. Following the first round, which backed innovative ideas to increase giving, the second round will include a search for established charities that want to use their expertise, networks, assets and capabilities to find new ways to engage people in giving.  Over the next year, Nesta will support a group of medium and large charities with national reach to increase their impact through adopting and integrating innovations that support their mission. Approximately 10 charities will be selected to receive a share of £1.5 million.  

£2.45 million has already been awarded to 31 organisations that have developed game-changing innovations that have the potential to deliver a significant increase in giving and exchange of time, assets, skills, resources and money technology-based ideas. These include:

The Good Gym, a community enterprise that connects people who want to get fit, with physical tasks that need to be done in the community.

The DoNation, an online platform that offers an alternative to sponsoring people money, instead allowing them to donate by pledging to do socially useful tasks.

A second call for more game-changing ideas will be announced in May 2012.

Greggs Foundation Breakfast Club Grants (England, Scotland & Wales)

The Greggs Foundation breakfast club programme supports young people of primary school age who live in disadvantaged areas of the UK. The Greggs Foundation currently supports 180 breakfast clubs throughout England, Scotland and Wales.  Schools that are interested in opening a breakfast club at your school must be able to show that at least 40% of your pupils qualify for free school meals and that the school serves a disadvantaged community. School should able to attract adult volunteers to help run the scheme and attendance at the club must be free for all pupils. The grant can even be used for games and sports equipment to help children play together. Greggs also provides bread donations from the nearest shop.

Recently set up breakfast clubs include:

• clubs at Hillside Community Primary School, in Skelmersdale which received funding of £600 for its breakfast club which around 45 young people attend each day.
• Swalwell Primary School, in Gateshead where nearly 50% of school children are entitle to free meals received a grant of £1,100. 

Although applications can be made at any time, there is currently a waiting list for funding whilst new sponsorship partners are being identified.

McDonald’s KickStart Grants (UK)

McDonalds has announced the launch of a new grant scheme to support community football throughout the UK.   A total of £75,000 is available in 2012 through the McDonalds Kick Start scheme and local community football teams can apply for grants of between £500 and £2,500 for activities such as:

• Improving club facilities
• Grounds-keeping tools
• Training courses
• Pitch hire; van hire
• Washing machines for kit; etc.

Individuals can apply for a grant on behalf of their club, as long as they are recognised by their national FA, and have at least one team at or below junior (U18) level.  Applicants must be over 18 and involved with the club at some level, such as a coach, volunteer or parent. 

There are three application rounds during 2012 and the next deadline for applications is the 30th June 2012.

http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/ukhome/Sport/Football/Investment/small-grant.html

Grants to Help Disadvantaged Young People Participate in Sports (UK)

Disadvantaged young people under the age of 18 who do not have the financial means to participate in sport can apply for financial support from the Dickie Bird Foundation. The foundation aims to help disadvantaged young people to participate to the best of their ability in the sport of their choice irrespective of their social circumstances, culture or ethnicity. The Foundation grants can help with the cost of clothing and equipment and make a small contribution towards travel expenses within the UK. The Foundation will only accept applications from individuals not organisations.

Applications can be submitted at any time and will be considered at Trustees meeting in February, April, June, August, October and December.

Links to other forms of support and funding advice

www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk
The Institute of Fundraising has produced 'The Good Fundraising Guide', an introduction to fundraising for charities and fundraisers. The comprehensive 64-page guide is aimed at new fundraisers and volunteers.

www.fundraisingcentral.org.uk
Funding Central is a free smart website for voluntary and community sector organisations, including community groups, 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.cash-online.org.uk
Community Accountancy Self-Help run the CASH Online website, which aims to provide people with the basic financial skills needed to run successful charities and voluntary organisations.

www.cranfieldtrust.org
The Cranfield Trust is a free management consultancy for UK-based voluntary organisations working to address issues of poverty, disability or social exclusion, and can offer support in such areas as business or strategic planning, marketing, IT, human resources and finance.

www.inkinddirect.org
InKind Direct does not offer funding, but does distribute high-quality new surplus goods to UK voluntary organisations.

www.funderfinder.org.uk
The Looking for a Grant? section of the Funderfinder website offers a great deal of free information and advice for groups and individuals seeking grants, including leaflets on various aspects of fundraising, links to a wide range of funders and signposting to further organisations or agencies which may be able to offer support.