Funding News

The Princes' Countryside Fund

Up to £500,000 of new funding has been made available through one of the country's leading rural charities. The Prince's Countryside Fund opened its latest round of grant applications for projects that will have a lasting positive effect on rural communities. The charity has already provided more than £2.1 million, directly benefiting more than 40,000 people since 2010.

Fund director Victoria Harris said: "The aim of our funding is to assist projects that tackle the big issues surrounding the countryside, the decline in rural communities, low farming incomes, jobs and training for young people."

So far more than 113 rural communities have benefited from PCF funding and the charity is looking for applications that address the following:

• Improving service provision in rural areas
• Supporting rural enterprise
• Supporting farming businesses
• Providing training opportunities for young people

"We are impressed by how many applications we receive in each funding round," said Miss Harris. "This time we are particularly looking for projects that have long term benefits. We don't want to give handouts but support organisations that work on the ground everyday and know how to make a difference to rural life."

The fund was set up in July 2010 by Business in the Community. Initiated by the Prince of Wales, the fund has so far given over £2.1 million in grants distributed to over 60 projects across the country, directly benefiting nearly 40,000 people.

Projects that have been funded range from apprenticeships for hill farmers, training for young people to gain employment in the rural economy and community transport schemes in isolated rural areas. In addition to its normal application process, the Fund also operates an emergency fund for times of need. All the projects focus on supporting the people who care for our countryside and make it work.

The Prince's Countryside Fund is open for applications until Friday 18 May at 17.00pm.

 

The Big Lunch Community Awards

To celebrate their fifth Birthday, The Big Lunch are running their Community Awards - providing an opportunity to recognise some of the great things happening in communities following Big Lunches. The Awards are open for nominations until Friday 22 February. It's a short, simple application process and anyone can enter so if your Big Lunch has helped make a difference where you live, Big Lunch want to hear from you! Winners will be invited to an all-expenses paid awards presentation in London this April.

More information here

Sports England Small Grants Programme

The Sport England Small Grants Programme uses Lottery funding to make awards of between £300 and £10,000 to not-for-profit organisations to help more young people (aged 14+) and adults take and keep a sporting habit for life.

Eligible sports must be formally recognised by Sport England and projects completed within 12 months.

http://www.sportengland.org/funding/small_grants.aspx

 

Oxfordshire Community Foundation Launches its Diamond Grants

Oxfordshire Community Foundation has announced its plan for distributing some of the funds raised through its Jubilee Fund for Oxfordshire. The Jubilee Fund for Oxfordshire was inspired by her Majesty the Queen's dedication and commitment to community service during her 60-year reign and has received widespread support throughout the county.

The Diamond Grants are exceptional for the Community Foundation for a number of reasons. The CF have no laid down criteria. Every Oxfordshire community group irrespective of size, income and purpose can be nominated by themselves or by someone it has helped, and all will be considered. No formal grant application is required. All they are asking is for you to dazzle them with your brilliance in up to 600 words. They want to feel the impact of your group and why they should consider your group for one of our the special Diamond Grants. They want to see ‘less information and more inspiration’. If they need more facts and figures they will ask.

The Diamond Grants will be awarded at the discretion of an experienced and independent grants panel throughout the year and subject to its usual due diligence. Each Diamond Grant will be worth £5000. This is a bigger grant than they usually award and they hope that this will encourage groups that haven’t approached in the past to rise to the challenge and put themselves forward. They have no end date for the Diamond Grants but the sooner you send a nomination the better. Please send your 600 words to diamond@oxfordshire.org or post to: Oxfordshire Community Foundation, 3 Woodin’s Way, Oxford, OX1 1HD.

The Jubilee Fund for Oxfordshire will be used to support future grants to small, local voluntary groups in need of money to continue their vital work providing support and services to those who need them most in Oxfordshire. More information here

 

Supporting Libraries – Arts Council


An extra £6 million in grants for the arts funding of libraries Grants is now open to applications and will be available until March 2015. The funding will support projects that stimulate ambitious and innovative partnerships between libraries and artists and/or arts organisations, encouraging communities to participate in cultural activities.


Public libraries can apply for grants of between £1,000 and £100,000 covering activities lasting up to three years. Applications can be made at any time.
http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/what-we-do/supporting-libraries/


Enhancing Communities Programme – SITA Trust


This fund supports projects that make physical improvements to community leisure facilities and historic buildings / structures. Not-for-profit organisations including community groups, parish councils, local authorities and charities can apply as long as the project is located in one of 115 funding zones around qualifying sites owned by SITA UK. Grants of up to £60,000 are available through the Core Fund and grants of up to £20,000 for smaller projects through a Fast Track Fund.

Applications are accepted in a number of rounds with the next deadline on 26 November 2012 for the Core Fund.
http://www.sitatrust.org.uk/community-funding


Sharing Heritage – Heritage Lottery Fund


This fund is available to not-for-profit groups wanting to explore, share and celebrate their community’s heritage. Activities supported can include events, exhibitions, festivals and celebrations, or producing local history publications, conservation of individual heritage items, volunteer training and support.


Start-up grants will also be available to community groups taking responsibility for heritage, to create the right constitutional framework (including the costs of professional advice on legal forms and governance structures) and to assess options in arriving at a strategy for managing the heritage. They may then make a further application for a grant for a project focused on their heritage.


Grants will be between £3000 and £10,000 and applications can be made in February 2013.
http://www.hlf.org.uk/HowToApply/programmes/Summaryofprogrammes2013/Pages/Openprogrammes.aspx

 

Community Rights Grants Programme – The Social Investment Business Group


From 16 July 2012, community groups can apply for funding to help them use the new Community Right to Challenge in the Localism Act. The Right came into force on 27 June and will empower local community organisations to take over a local service that they can run more effectively.


Pre-Feasibility grants between £5,000 and £10,000 are on offer to help organisations build internal capacity. Organisations that can demonstrate a strong potential to compete for public service delivery contracts can apply for feasibility grants of up to £100,000 to help prepare an Expression of Interest or compete in a procurement process.


The Grant Programme is an integral part of the Community Right to Challenge Support Programme and will offer advice and funding to support organisations through the process of competing for local services and is particularly keen to help small local organisations build capacity to deliver public service contracts. Applications for pre-feasibility and feasibility grants from interested organisations will be accepted on a rolling basis.


A parallel Community Ownership and Management of Assets Grant Programme (including Right to Bid) opened on 30 July 2012 and also accepts applications for pre-feasibility and feasibility grants on a rolling basis. More information from this website:
http://www.thesocialinvestmentbusiness.org/our-funds/communityrights/

 

Community Right to Build


Community groups in England (outside Greater London) are invited to apply for a share of the £17.5m fund which is being made available to provide seed corn funding to help groups to formally establish, build up their development proposals and submit a Community Right to Build Order. The funding is available until the end of March 2015 or until funding is fully committed. It is unlikely that applications made after October 2014 will be successful. Any community group or parish council can seek to access the funding provided that they have constituted a formal organisation that meets certain basic standards. Community groups are encouraged to contact Locality in the first instance to discuss their application and development proposals.
http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/community-right-to-build

Think Big

There is an opportunity for young people to apply for £300 for a community project.

Whether it's setting up a local football team, painting a community centre, running a campaign to educate young people about knife crime, young people are full of great ideas, energy and enthusiasm. But they need support and money to make it all happen.

Think Big is a programme aimed at young people aged 13-25 who want to make positive changes in their community. If they've got a great project idea, we'll help them get going.

Think Big aims to harness the incredible talents of young people to bring people together in their communities. We want to help young people make the most of their potential, and inspire others. To change the way young people think about themselves and their communities. And change the way people think about them.

Initially young people can apply for £300 (Think Big), for their community project. If they successfully complete their Think Big project they will have the opportunity to apply for £2,500 (Think Bigger). For more information or to apply for Think Big please visit the O2 Think Big website


The Prince's Countryside Fund - New Round Open

 

The Prince's Countryside Fund was established to help rural areas in the United Kingdom to become more sustainable. The focus areas for the Fund are:

  • Projects to improve the sustainability of British farming in areas of deprivation.
  • Projects to improve the sustainability of rural communities.
  • Projects to reconnect people with the countryside.

The total amount of funding available in each round is approximately £250,000. The maximum level of funding for individual projects will be £50,000. The Fund can pay for a portion or the entirety of the costs of a project and applications for capital, project and resource funding will be considered.

Applications will be accepted from organisations that can demonstrate the support of the community which will benefit from the project and show evidence of consulting the community.

See more on the Prince's Countryside Fund website

The next deadline for receipt of applications is Friday 19 October 2012.

 

Oxfordshire County Councillor Community Budgets

All county councillors in Oxfordshire have a £10,000 councillor community budget for 2012/13 to support the projects that matter most to their local communities.

The scheme reflects Oxfordshire County Council’s commitment to the Big Society vision and the principle that councillors are best placed to recognise and meet the needs of their local communities.

To apply for funding you must be a not-for-profit organisation looking to meet a recognised need in your community. Eligible organisations are able to submit requests for funding by completing and passing a funding request form to their local councillor.

If you are interested in applying for funding then we strongly recommend that you contact your local councillor to check the feasibility of your proposal before submitting an application.

More details

Further guidance on the scheme, including who and what is eligible for funding, is also available on the funding request form on the County Council website

 

BIFFA awards

Biffaward awards grants to projects that provide or improve community spaces, cultural facilities and places for outdoor recreation. You may have a building that needs improvement in order to increase the range of services on offer to the local community. Or maybe an open space such as a park, play area or woodland that needs transforming to benefit local people of all ages. In a nutshell, they want to make sure that everyone has access to high quality local community facilities. Grants between £5,000 and £50,000 are available.

Over the past 11 years Biffaward has awarded funding to over 2,000 projects. They receive a continuous high number of Expression of Interest forms, resulting in strong competition when granting full applications. The main criteria for the Main Grants Community Scheme:

If you have answered 'yes' to all of the points listed above, please download an Expression of Interest Form from the Biffaward website, complete and return to Biffaward. There are no deadlines.

Biffaward, Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, The Kiln, Waterside, Mather Road, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG24 1WT Tel: 01636 670000

email: biffaward@rswt.org

Website: http://www.biffaward.org/about/coverview

http://www.tax-effective-giving.org.uk/

 

Funds Available for Projects in Chilterns

1. Funding for Chilterns Commons small grants fund: January 2012 – June 2015

The Chilterns Commons Project encourages and enables people to reconnect with, and care for, their commons. The Small Grants Fund was created to help groups fund practical works, tool acquisition, special training, local events and much more.

Who can apply? Commons 'friends groups'. Other volunteer groups in the Chilterns, which regularly work, on commons. Owners and/or managers of commons.

A Project must demonstrate that it will:

For more information contact Rachel Sanderson at rsanderson@chilternsaonb.org

2. Sustainable Development Fund

There is still money left in this year’s Chilterns Sustainable Development Fund for good projects which will help to conserve and enhance the Chilterns and / or raise public awareness and understanding of the area’s special features.

The deadline for applications is Friday 24th August. Copy of application form and guidelines attached. For more information please see http://www.chilternsaonb.org/conservation-board/sustainable-development-fund.html.

Kath Daly, Countryside Officer
Tel 01844 355524
Email kdaly@chilternsaonb.org

 

BT Community Connections Award

BT have launched a Community Connections award scheme. This scheme gives eligible community groups across the UK the chance to receive 12 months free broadband. Groups simply have to offer internet access to the community and help the wider community improve their ICT skills. In order to receive an award groups need to have a BT business line.

The closing date for the scheme is Friday 7th September 2012.

more details from BT

 

Paths for Communities Grant Scheme – new guidance available

The Paths for Communities grant scheme launched in May and has started to receive expressions of interest from community led partnerships.

The aim of P4C is to encourage and support local communities to work with land owners to make improvements to the network of Public Rights of Way. In all cases P4C projects must include some element of new Public Right of Way creation. In most cases projects will include an element of new Bridleway creation but projects that include Footpath creation alone will also be considered where community and economic benefit can be demonstrated.

The following information has recently been added / updated is now available via the Natural England website at http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/access/rightsofway/p4c.aspx

- Revised Applicant Handbook – for applicants to read before submitting the Expression of Interest Form.

- Revised FAQs in response to enquiries

- Grants panel Assessment Form - to guide applicants and make the process as transparent as possible.

For general enquiries email p4c@naturalengland.org.uk. If you have read the online guidance and have any local Oxon/Bucks enquiries please contact Jenny Hanwell jenny.hanwell@naturalengland.org.uk. 01844 351833.

 

How can TOE2 help your parish council?

The Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE2) has been developed by the Oxfordshire Rural Community Council (ORCC) to provide support and funding for local communities wishing to: 

TOE2 is a charity with a clear set of funding guidelines closely matched to strategic priorities in these three areas in Oxfordshire, supporting the delivery of projects at community level. 

What sorts of projects might TOE2 be able to support or fund in your parish?

1. Biodiversity

The Natural Environment and Communities Act (NERC) of 2006 recognized the key role that Parish Councils can play in conserving and enhancing the richness and variety of local wildlife, establishing the biodiversity duty of local authorities. TOE2 can support Parish Councils to manage and improve local green spaces and habitats.  

2. Sustainable use of resources

Community Woodland Management Programme – TOE2 is currently developing a programme for the local production of wood fuel and wood products through the management of local woods including community woodlands. If you would like to find out more, please get in touch, as we will shortly be visiting some Parish Councils with a brief presentation on how this could work for local communities.

Jumpers and Scarfs- Getting to grips with hall energy use – Working in partnership with the Environmental Information Exchange (EIE), TOE2 is offering community volunteers the opportunity to attend free energy training workshops to provide ideas and information about making community buildings more energy efficient.  The first workshop will be held at the All Saints Youth and Community Hall in Didcot on the 12th July.  The second workshop will be held in the Vale District in October.  Please contact TOE2 for further details.

3. Access to green spaces

TOE2 is keen to support projects which improve access to local green spaces and encourage more people to walk or cycle to local facilities and services.

Paths for Communities Grant Scheme  - As well as applying to TOE2, community access projects can also apply to a new funding scheme set up by Natural England. Local community partnerships, including Parish Councils, are eligible to bid to for funds.  The scheme encourages local communities to work with land owners to improve the network of Public Rights of Way. Projects must include some element of new Public Right of Way creation. In most cases projects will include an element of new Bridleway creation but projects that include Footpath creation alone will also be considered where community and economic benefit can be demonstrated.  All details can be found on the Natural England web page: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/access/rightsofway/p4c.aspx

For further information about TOE2 and its funding opportunities:

If you think that TOE2 might be able to support your project with a grant of up to £5,000, please contact Fiona Danks on 01865 883488 or toe@oxonrcc.org.uk

 

The Naturesave Trust

The Naturesave Trust was established in 1995 as the charitable arm of Naturesave Insurance.

As part of Naturesave's environmental commitment, 10% (of specific insurance policies) is paid directly into a trust fund, which is then used to benefit specific environmental and conservationist projects and charities throughout the UK. The Trust prefers to provide start-up capital to small projects to get them going, rather than to contribute to the general administration costs of a larger charity or company.
http://www.naturesave.co.uk/trust_naturesave_about.html

 

OCVA Guides to Funding Opportunities 2011

OCVA have gathered together on their website a list of sources of funding. The list provides a valuable summary of County and District Council funding sources as well as details of local trusts and other resources.

 

Oxfordshire County Council Big Society Fund

Oxfordshire County Council is to continue its successful Big Society Fund for another two years from 2012 to 2014.

The County Council is looking for ways to make public service delivery more local and involve communities more. Local community groups can bid for one-off funds from this pot to help them take responsibility for providing services in their communities.

A total of £1million will be available over two years from April 2012 to March 2014. The County Council is currently evaluating bids received in the final wave of 2011/12.

The Big Society Fund will go live again from April 2012, please go the County Council website, to find out more details about the Fund and how to apply.

The aim of the Fund is to provide a one-off pump priming resource to support communities wishing to start providing local facilities and services. The Big Society Fund is looking for projects that:

Things the Fund has not paid for include:

More information can be obtained on the county council's website at:www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/bigsocietyfund.

 

Armed Forces Community Covenant

armed forces covenant logo


AIMS OF THE COMMUNITY COVENANT GRANT SCHEME

The aim of the Community Covenant Grant Scheme is to deliver financial support to projects at the local level, which strengthen the ties or the mutual understanding between members of the Armed Forces Community and the wider community in which they live. It is administered by the Ministry of Defence and they currently have funding for this financial year and the next three financial years to support bids. Bids may only be submitted from areas which have already established a Community Covenant in their area, and applications are invited for sums from £100 to £250,000 (although bids for amounts greater than this may also be considered in exceptional circumstances).

WHAT MIGHT BE ACHIEVED THROUGH THE SCHEME

An application for funding can be submitted by any part of the community; this might include volunteer groups, charities, public bodies such as schools, and so on. Bids will be considered in the first instance by the Oxfordshire Military Civilian Partnership. Bids that the Partnership is happy to endorse will be submitted to the MOD to be considered by the Community Covenant Grant Panel.

Examples of projects could include (but are in no way restricted to):

SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS TO DATE:

Round 1

Carterton Town Council – providing enhanced facilities at the Carterton Job Club which is aimed particularly at servicemen and women to help them search and make applications for employment. It will also be able to assist those wishing to start up their own business.

Oxfordshire Play Association – running activity days for the families of military personnel at six armed forces bases within Oxfordshire: RAF Benson, RAF Brize Norton, Vauxhall Barracks Didcot, Dalton Barrack Abindgon, Shrivenham and Bicester Garrison.

Carterton Community College – developing the range, number and frequency of courses available in the area which are tailored to the needs of RAF personnel, focusing on literacy and numeracy.

Round 2

Abingdon and Witney College – Women Aloud Project - the primary aim of the project is to empower women dependants in the Armed Forces Community in South and West Oxfordshire of active engagement in civic responsibilities in their local communities through volunteering, social action and local enterprise. A programme mix including a ‘Women in Public Life’ course and engagement of the civilian community with the support of community champions as mentors will be run.

Carswell School, Abingdon - this funding will be used to build a reflective sensory garden for Key Stage 1 children in Carswell School, Abingdon. The construction will be organised as a community project, using local people to undertake the work involved and donate plants.

THE TYPES OF PROJECT THAT WILL NOT BE FUNDED:

As a Government Department, there are some activities that it would not be appropriate for MOD to fund, this may include (but is not restricted to) the following:

THE PROCESS

Bidders will be asked to complete a business case on the template provided by the MOD. This is then sent to Claire Moore at Oxfordshire County Council where the Oxfordshire Civilian Military Partnership will assess the bid. If agreed then the bid will then be considered by a panel led by MOD officials.

A booklet of all the successful schemes to date is available on our website www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/armedforces or call us to request a copy.

Full grant scheme criteria and guidance can be found at: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/Personnel/Welfare/ArmedForcesCovenant/ArmedForcesCommunityCovenant.htm

The deadline to submit bids for the next round is 1 February 2013

You can contact Oxfordshire County Council to talk through your ideas at oxfordshirecommunitycovenant@oxfordshire.gov.uk

and if you submit your bid in advance of the deadline they will provide you with feedback so you have an opportunity to improve it.

Download the application form, Oxfordshire County Council Top Tips and the Ministry of Defence Guidance Notes below.

Lisa Burgess
Chief Executive's Office
Oxfordshire County Council
County Hall
New Road
Oxford
OX1 1ND

 

South Oxfordshire District Council’s Community Investment Fund

South Oxfordshire District Council’s Community Investment Fund considers applications at different times of the year for grants over £15,000 (up to a maximum of £100,000) and those under £15,000.

The Community Investment Fund seeks to support community initiatives that support the council’s Corporate Priorities. The fund will only support capital expenditure, such as spending on building, extensions or equipment and will not fund revenue expenditure. Any community-based organisation, including Parish and Town Councils may apply.

Applicants should apply using the online application form which can be found on the council’s website at www.southoxon.gov.uk/grants

Please note: There are two opportunities per year to apply for a grant, before 30th April 2012 for grants over £15,000, before 4th June 2012 for grants under £15,000.

 

Funds Available for Projects in the Cotswolds Cotswolds Conservation Board

The Cotswolds Conservation Board’s Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) awards grants of upto £13,000 to projects which will have social, environmental and economic benefit for the AONB. Grant will be for upto 50% of project costs (75% for not for profit organisations) and need to show that they are contributing towards the aims of the AONB. The fund is now closed to new applications until April 2012.

For further details of SDF go to: www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk/?page=sdf or call David Molloy on 01451 862002.

 

Reaching Communities Fund

The Reaching Communities Fund, worth a total of £80m distributed by the Big Lottery Fund provides financial support for local needs identified by communities, for example improving access to training or providing opportunities to improve life skills. The fund also aims to create stronger communities by helping to make citizens more active and healthier. An additional objective is the improvement of rural or urban environments.

The Reaching Communities fund will now accept applications for projects that were previously only eligible for other Big Lottery Fund programmes, such as advice schemes and projects targeting young people. The fund is open to voluntary or community groups, statutory bodies (including schools) and not-for-profit companies.

If you have questions about how to apply or plan your project, contact the Big Advice line on 0845 410 2030 or email: enquiries@biglotteryfund.org.uk.. Or go to the website.

 

Rural Community Shops

The Plunkett Foundation supports rural communities wanting to set up and run a community-owned shop.They provide practical assistance through their website below, a network of community retail advisers, a national office and various publications.

The Plunkett Foundation manages the Village CORE Programme through which financial start-up packages of up to £60,000 per shop are available. Unfortunately, the fund is closed to new applications but the Plunkett Foundation keeps a list of other funding sources as well as useful advice, legal templates, newsletters and a support network.

Further details from: Plunkett Foundation, The Quadrangle, Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1LH

Tel: 01993 810 730 Email: info@plunkett.co.uk Website: http://www.plunkett.co.uk/whatwedo/core/Core.cfm

 

LEADER Funding for Rural Communities, Food, Agriculture

 The LEADER Programme is a major new source of funding for farmers, foresters, rural businesses and community organisations. The funding is part of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). Monies are to be allocated until 2013.

 

There are three LEADER programmes allocating money in Oxfordshire. Please check the websites below to identify which areas of Oxfordshire they cover and their funding themes/priorities:

 

Contact Kate Forrest, Project Manager, at SODC on 01491 823176.

www.southernoxfordshireleader.org.uk 

Contact Nick Phillips, Project Manager, at Ngage on 01844 210430.

www.chilternsleader.org.uk

Contact Corinna Woodhall on 01488 685440

www.northwessexleader.org.uk

 

Awards for All

  Visit the Awards for All website to get details about the new programme and to get an application form, or call 0845 4 10 20 30 . The new scheme will be the Fund’s biggest ever commitment to a small grant scheme supporting community projects, offering a more easily accessible programme with even quicker decision times. Grants between £300 and £10,000 are available to grassroots groups in the community and voluntary sector, health bodies, schools and parish or town councils. Grants are available to ensure that:

 

Funding Opportunities for Voluntary and Community Organisations

Funding newsletters containing the latest information about funding opportunities for voluntary and community organisations in your area are available on the OCVA website. You can access it by using this link. 

 

 

Page last  updated: May 7, 2013