December’s Funding News

Welcome to December’s funding update.

This update is split into three parts. Section A features funders that can support organisations and individuals with the cost-of-living crisis.

Section B features funders with upcoming deadlines. You’ll find funders with a local or regional focus first, and national funders second. The funders are listed in order of deadline date, soonest first.

Section C features funders who welcome applications at any time. Again, you’ll find funders with a local or regional focus first, and national funders second.

This update can only provide a snapshot of these funders so we recommend visiting the funders’ websites for full details before you apply. Most funders in this list have a website, which you can access by clicking on the name of the funder. Full contact details have been provided for funders that do not have a website.

A. Grants to support groups and individuals with the cost-of-living crisis 

Co-Op Warm Spaces Funding Boost (with Crowdfunding)

Please note this is a match-funding initiative delivered in partnership with Crowdfunder and thus not a traditional grant scheme (funds awarded are conditional upon applicants first securing crowdfunding via Crowdfunder’s platform)
Deadline: 28^th February 2023
Who can apply: Any constituted not-for-profit groups that are supporting their communities through rising costs this winter, by bringing people together into warm spaces
Size of grant available: £3,000
Priorities: To be eligible, applicants must:

• Run a crowdfunding campaign this winter, delivered by 31 March 2023
• Be raising funds for revenue costs only (capital costs such as building refurbishment are not eligible)

The funding will support revenue costs for projects that welcome people into a local community space and are in need of urgent help this winter to:

• Maintain vital existing services in the face of rising energy costs
• Make the community space more welcoming
• Increase opening times or extend services

Typical projects may include (but are not limited to):

• A community cafe that needs funding to continue offering their building as a warm space
• A local village support group wanting to extend existing activities to support more people in their community
• A community fridge, wanting to promote their services more widely to meet increasing need
• A youth group whose energy costs have increased

How to apply: The first step is for applicants to set up a crowdfunding campaign on Crowdfunder. Campaigns typically run for 28 days but take a few weeks to create so groups should allow about six weeks in total. Full details and the online application can be found on the Co-op Warm Spaces Funding Boost crowdfunding page. Applicants should read the full terms and conditions as well as the eligibility criteria before they start crowdfunding.

Dudley MBC Household Support Fund – help with the cost of living during winter time

Who can apply: Individual households that in Dudley borough that meet the criteria below
Size of grant available: Minimum one-off payment of £150
Criteria: The following can apply:

• One adult households with gross income, including wages and benefits, less than £35,000 per year and savings less than £6,000
• Multi-adult households with joint gross income, including wages and benefits, less than £45,000 per year and savings are less than £6,000

How to apply: Criteria, guidance and a link to the application form are provided on the Dudley Council Household Support Fund website

Severn Trent Community Fund – Core Funding

Who can apply: Any constituted not-for-profit (including community groups and registered charities), excluding uniformed groups, sports clubs and organisations with a religious purpose
Size of grant available: £5,000-£20,000 depending on the size of the applicant organisation
Priorities: The fund aims to help local charitable groups with essential running expenses so that they can continue to provide services to support communities in the Severn Trent region. Grants are to cover the essential costs an organisation has to keep running. This might include management and administration, general office costs (rent and utilities), accountancy and audit, fundraising, communications and governance/compliance costs.

The funding is intended to support organisations that deliver services linked to one of Severn Trent’s three elements of community wellbeing:

• People – projects that help people to lead a healthier life and gain new skills
• Places – projects that help to create better places to live in and use
• Environment – projects that will help look after the natural environment, give people greater access to that environment or help look after water

How to apply: Full guidance and a link to the online application are provided on the Severn Trent Community Trust website

COSARAF Hardship Grants (for individuals)

Who can apply: Applications will only be accepted from recognised social organisations, such as charities, housing associations, schools and social services who are acting on behalf of a family or individual in need
Size of grant available: Up to £2,000 to cover a year’s worth of expenses but only in exceptional circumstances will a grant of over £500 be awarded
Priorities: Priority will be given to:

• The most financially excluded people
• Families over individuals
• Those with caring responsibilities
• Items that will make the most difference to the individual/family’s long-term future

Organisations can only apply once in a single year. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they are taking advantage of all support offered by local services, including the referring social organisation
Types of costs supported:

• Household items (white goods and occasionally other items such as sofas or wardrobes)
• Basic living expenses (utilities or food)
• Work or education-related expenses (such as interview clothes, school uniforms, or laptops)
• Rent arrears and Council tax arrears, but only where there is a clear risk of homelessness (for rent arrears involving a social landlord applicants should outline what support has already been offered to the tenant)
• Contribution to immigration-related costs, where the current immigration status directly causes financial hardship to the applicant.

How to apply: Guidance notes and the application form is available from the COSARAF website

ASDA Foundation Cost of Living Grant

Deadline: 1^st February 2023
Types of organisation supported: Any constituted not-for-profit community group that has a good presence in their local community
Size of grant available: £500-£2,000
Priorities: The aim of the grant is to help local community groups cope with the increase in their running costs between September 2022 and February 2023. This includes ‘warm banks’ where groups are planning to keep their facilities open for longer hours to provide local people with a warm, safe place to be rather than heating their homes or living in a cold property.

The priorities for funding are:

• Rent and utility bills.
• Food costs, such as community cafes, food parcels, delivered meals, soup kitchens, etc.

How to apply: ASDA Foundation recommends that applicants contact their local store’s Community Champion first, using the store locator on the website, where full guidance is also available.

Aviva Community Fund – Cost of Living Boost (with Crowdfunding)

Please note this is a match-funding initiative delivered in partnership with Crowdfunder and thus not a traditional grant scheme (funds awarded are conditional upon applicants first securing crowdfunding via Crowdfunder’s platform)
Who can apply: Registered charities, community benefit societies and social enterprises
Size of funding available: A maximum of £50,000 match funding is available for each organisation.
Priorities: This initiative forms part of Aviva’s Financial Wellbeing area of focus. This aims to help people take control of their wellbeing by giving them the tools to be more financially independent.
How to apply: Full details on how to apply can be found on the funder’s website including full eligibility criteria and terms and conditions.

British Gas Energy Trust

Who can apply: Individuals who are being supported by a money advice organisation
Size of grant available: Up to £1,500
Priorities: There are two funds available which aim to tackle fuel poverty. Successful applicants will not receive payment, but their household account will be credited. The two funds are:

• Individuals and Families Fund
• British Gas Energy Support Fund – British Gas customers only

How to apply: Full guidance and applications are provided on the British Gas Energy Trust website, where you can also find information about money advice organisations that can offer support.

Crowdfunder UK/Sport England

Who can apply: Local sports clubs, Charities, community, voluntary and social enterprise sector organisations that deliver sport and/or physical activity in their local community, including organisations that are not solely or primarily sports organisations, town or parish councils delivering activity within their communities and educational establishments that provide access for their whole community.
Size of grant available: Up to £10,000
Priorities: You will need a crowdfunding project in order to apply for this funding. If your application is approved, you will receive match funding of 50% up to a value of £10,000. To receive a pledge, you will need to have raised 25% of your initial target and raised it from a minimum number of supporters. Following receipt of a pledge, you will need to raise 100% of your target in order to receive the funds from Sport England.

The fund is focussed on recovery, reinvention and building resilience for organisations facing a broad spectrum of issues, including the emerging energy crisis.
How to apply: Full guidance how to start a crowdfunding campaign and more details on the eligibility criteria can be found on the Crowdfunder website

Energy Saving Trust Energy Redress Scheme

Who can apply: Charities, Community Interest Companies, Co-operative societies and Community Benefit Societies.
Size of grant available: The amount of funding available through the scheme is reviewed on a quarterly basis. The minimum grant amount that can be requested is £20,000. The scheme can fund 100% of project costs and can cover revenue and capital costs
Priorities: The Energy Saving Trust has been appointed by Ofgem to distribute payments from companies who may have breached Ofgem rules. Eligible organisations can apply for funds to deliver energy related projects. These include:

• Supporting energy consumers in vulnerable situations – This core priority aims to help people who are most at risk from cold homes and high energy bills. Occasionally there may be additional priorities linked to a funding round e.g., a specific geographical focus or type of energy consumer. Any additional priorities will be made clear to applicants when a funding round opens
• Innovation projects – Innovative products and services related to energy that have a realistic prospect of delivering benefits to existing and/or future energy consumers and that help to reduce the environmental impact of energy use
• Carbon Emissions Reduction Fund – energy-related activities aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions from energy use. These projects must focus on energy generation, distribution or energy use.

The scheme is not presently designed to support energy saving improvements or energy generation technology in individual community buildings or facilities
How to apply: More information about applying for funding, including online registration and an application/guidance pack can be found on the funder’s website

B. Get in quick – deadlines are coming up!
1. Funders with a local / regional interest 

Roger and Douglas Turner Charitable Trust

Deadline: 10^th February 2023
Types of organisation supported: Registered charities based in Birmingham, the Black Country and Worcestershire
Size of grant available: £1,000-£5,000
Priorities: There is a focus on providing support in the following key areas:

• Children and young people
• Disabled and health
• Environment and heritage
• The arts
• Work in the community
• Social support
• Hospices

Types of costs funded: Core costs, project costs and capital costs
How to apply: At the funder’s website

Saintbury Trust

Deadline: 28^th February 2023
Types of organisation supported: Registered charities only based and operating in the following postcode areas:

• B: all except districts 77, 78 and 79
• CV: 1 to 8, 31 to 37
• DY: 1, 2, 5, 5, 8 to 10, 11 and 13
• GL: 1, 3, 4, 20, 50 to 53, 55 and 56
• WR: 1 to 5, 7, 9 to 12
• WS: 1 to 5, 9 and 10
• WV: 1, 2, 12 1nd 14

Size of grant available: Between £1,000 and £5,000
Priorities: The trust has a wide range of interests, but a particular focus on:

• The arts
• Heritage
• Environment
• Disabled people

How to apply: Download the application form from the funder’s website and return by post. The website also contains full guidance notes and exclusions

2. National funders

Synergi Small Grants Fund (Lankelly Chase Foundation)

Deadline: 29^th January 2023
Types of organisation supported: Applications are open to not-for-profit groups that are:

• Led by and for Black people and people of colour
• Led by and for people who have shared experiences or identities with those they are creating spaces for
• Benefitting people or communities who live with mental ill-health, trauma, and distress

Size of grant available: £2,000-£3,000
Priorities: Funding is intended to support collective care, as well as campaigning and other change-making activities, among communities experiencing discrimination and marginalisation. The fund is intended to reach those experiencing the most extreme forms of discrimination or injustice, including those affected by:

• The hostile environment
• Anti-transgender legislation
• Prevent

The type of work funding can cover includes:

• Collective care. This includes providing food and essentials parcels, writing to incarcerated community members, creating opportunities for people to come together and support each other using shared experiences as in peer support groups, mutual aid, creative practices like dance or singing, or covering the costs of accessing therapy or other healing practices
• Campaigning and change-making. This could include protest, work to create change on a local or national level, sharing information and skills such as community organising training, or creating resources for members of your community to better advocate for themselves

Grants can cover:

• Costs to deliver support and activities including staff or freelance costs, rent for space or room hire, materials for activities, equipment, and volunteer and group member expenses
• Groups focusing on campaigning, such as direct action. The grant is flexible in this area as there is a known lack of funding for this type of work
• Organisational development. This could include training and development, tech subscriptions or equipment, reflective practice or coaching, or business planning

How to apply: The fund opens on 4^th January and full guidelines and access to the application will be available on the funder’s website.

Resilient Theatres: Resilient Communities Grant Programme

Deadline: 10^th February 2023
Types of organisation supported: Registered charities or not-for-profit organisations
Size of grant available: Up to £20,000 but most grants will be up to £10,000
Priorities: Grants are intended to build the capacity of organisations considering or working towards taking over a theatre. Grants are specifically for theatres on the Theatre Trust’s Theatres at Risk Register. Grants are to help groups to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to restore and reopen these theatres. The fund will not support the capital works themselves. It is not necessary for recipients to own or lease the theatre building; however it is necessary to have a specific ambition for the removal of the building from the Theatres at Risk Register through the restoration/reopening of the venue. Permission from the owner to undertake the project is also required, where necessary
How to apply: Applications should be made by email using the application form template available to download from the Theatres Trust website.

Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust – Grassroots Movement Fund

Deadline: 19^th February 2023
Types of organisation supported: Any not-for-profit that can demonstrate it is part of a grassroots movement that is working towards transformative change
Size of grant available: £10,000-£70,000
Priorities: The programme is intended to provide funding, infrastructure and access to resources and networks to support the sustainability of work taking place within grassroots social justice movements. Applicants must be able to demonstrate at least three of the following:

• Set up and run by communities who have come together in their own time to take action on an injustice they are facing (this could include paid staff but the group must still be led by members)
• Includes people with lived experience of oppression and their views and experiences are listened to and guide the work of the group
• Regularly brings new members into the group and involves them in decisions about the aims and activities of the group
• Aims to engage and influence a growing number of people, eg through events, campaigns, outreach, demonstrations
• Works in solidarity with other grassroots groups, especially the smaller informal ones, through collaborating and supporting each other

Additionally, groups should be able to demonstrate at least four of the following:

• An understanding of the causes of inequality and injustice
• That it works to create completely new, fairer ways of providing what people need to live happy, healthy lives (eg housing, healthcare, education, food, safety) that replace the existing systems rather than trying to improve them
• That it is led by/decisions are made by those directly affected by the issue the group is working on
• A vision of the world where inequality and oppression (eg based on ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexuality, class, disability) no longer exists
• Recognition of the fact that all oppressions and injustices are connected and the different needs people have because of this
• Work that reflects their values and the change they want to see, which may include practices of healing and repairing and new ways of being together

How to apply: Applicants must first book a call with a member of the team to discuss their eligibility. If they are eligible, applicants will be sent a link to the online application system. Full guidelines, FAQs and a link to book a pre-application call can be found on the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust website.

Civic Power Fund – Community Action Fund

Deadline: 26^th February 2023
Types of organisation supported: The fund is open to not-for-profit organisations with a turnover of less than £250,000 that are:

• Rooted in and accountable to their community
• Hoping to achieve long-term change on the issues affecting their communities
• Addressing injustice by building the power of their community. For example, through community organising, campaigning, or democratic engagement
• Lacking the resources to take their vision to the next level
• Seeking to build connection and resist the politics of division

Priority will be given to organisations led by people with lived experience of the injustice they are trying to overcome
Size of grant available: £2,500-£20,000
Priorities: Funding is to support community organisers who are tackling injustice and inclusion. The funder wants to grow people’s ability to make a difference on the issues that matter most to them. They want people to have the power to change the conditions they live in. The funder wants them to influence the decisions that impact their lives now and in the future
How to apply: Complete a short eligibility questionnaire on the funder’s website by 26^th February 2023

Masonic Charitable Foundation Hospice Grants – Poverty and Deprivation

Deadline: 28^th February 2023
Types of organisation supported: Adult and children’s hospices that are full members of Hospice UK
Size of grant available: Up to £35,000
Priorities: This grants programme seeks to ensure that marginalised individuals and those experiencing poverty have equitable access quality care at the end of life. Projects should be linked to aspects of the following:

• Awareness of, and outreach to, people with low socioeconomic status (SES)
• Intersection of deprivation and race/disability/homelessness
• Overriding some of the impact of deprivation
• New approaches to the workforce, eg moulded roles, combined roles
• Working in partnership with other healthcare/social care/welfare/local government agencies to meet patient/carers needs
• Supporting people with low socioeconomic status living in rural and remote areas

How to apply: The criteria and online application form are available on the Hospice UK website

Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales – Specialist Programme

Deadline: 3^rd March 2023
Types of organisation supported: Registered charities only that have an annual income of between £25,000 and £500,000 and that have a track record of working with people 17 facing complex issues listed by the Foundation (see priorities)
Size of grant available: Up to £75,000 over three years
Priorities: The grants programme offers long-term funding, including core costs and tailored development support to small and medium-sized charities that have a track record of working to help people overcome the following Complex Social issues:

• Addiction and dependency on alcohol, drugs and/or gambling
• Asylum seekers and refugees
• Domestic and sexual abuse
• Homeless and vulnerably housed
• Offending, prison or community service
• Sexual exploitation
• Trafficking and modern slavery
• Care leavers

A full explanation of each social issue can be found in the guidelines which are published on the Foundation’s website.

Grants can be used to support any costs which further the charity’s purpose, including building reserves and meeting core costs. The funding is for organisations supporting people (17 years and older) who are experiencing complex social issues resulting in a significant impact on their lives. As ‘specialist organisations’ applicants need to demonstrate the following:

• In-depth services, rather than short-term or one-off support
• Holistic and person-centred services
• Personal plans in the form of written or electronic records of every person being supported, noting progress against activities

How to apply: Applicants will need to take an eligibility quiz first, which is available on the funder’s website with full guidance for the programme. There will also be a funding webinar Q&A on 12 January – register at the website

C. No deadlines
1. Funders with a local / regional interest

Clive Richards Foundation

Types of organisation supported: Registered charities and constituted groups based within 100 miles of Hereford City Centre
Size of grant available: Not stated
Priorities: The foundation prefers to fund smaller organisations and prefers projects to be match-funded. Its areas of interest are:

• Education
• Healthcare
• Heritage
• Arts

Types of costs that can be covered: The foundation funds project costs only and will not cover revenue costs such as salaries and running costs
How to apply: Make an initial enquiry on the foundation’s website to confirm eligibility. If eligible, applicants will be emailed the application form. Full guidance and terms and conditions are available from the Clive Richards Foundation website

Harry Payne Fund

Types of organisation supported: Any constituted not-for-profit including community groups and registered charities within a 25-mile radius of Birmingham city centre and with an income less than £500,000 a year
Size of grant available: Up to £2,000
Priorities: The fund will support a range of social welfare and community-based projects and it aims to:

• Help those who are disadvantaged
• Help smaller causes where modest donations can make a difference

The funding can be used for a wide range of projects and activities. The fund will support core costs
How to apply: This fund is managed by the Heart of England Community Foundation. Full guidance and the online application form are available from its website

Oakley Charitable Trust

Types of organisation supported: Registered charities only
Size of grant available: Average grant is £1,000
Priorities: The funder’s areas of interest are:

• The arts
• Heritage
• Welfare
• Education

How to apply: Applications need to be made in writing and posted to the Grant Administrator. Full instructions about what to include in an application, as well as contact details are available on the Oakley Charitable Trust website

2. National funders

The Access Foundation

Types of organisation supported: Registered charities and CICs
Size of grant available: Average £25,000-£100,000
Priorities: The funding aims to tackle digital inequality, to help ensure that people from all backgrounds and walks of life have access to the same opportunities. Examples of previously funded organisations include:

• Citizens Advice Mid Mercia to support deaf people with assistive technology and training in and around Derby
• Middlesex Association for the Blind to fund a ‘travelling IT trainer’ to provide blind people throughout North London with the skills and training they need to make use of technology to reconnect with the outside world, carry out daily activities independently and improve their mental wellbeing
• Learning with Parents to support the development of a digital platform which helps disadvantaged families reconnect with education and learning together in the home
• Staying Put, a domestic abuse charity, to equip an IT training room to help those affected by domestic and sexual abuse reconnect with the outside world
• DWRM to help increase the number of people in prison pursue Further and Higher Education
• Mentor Ring to help deliver IT training to vulnerable disadvantaged people who have limited knowledge of the use of digital technology

How to apply: The guidelines and application form are available from the Access Foundation website

Money Saving Expert (MSE) Charity

Types of organisation supported: Constituted not-for-profit organisations including registered charities, community interest companies and credit unions with a turnover of less than £750,000
Size of grant available: Up to £7,500
Priorities: The forthcoming round will be called Raising the Next Generation. Under this theme, projects should support the younger generation (under 25) to help them learn financial life skills and to grow during the difficult financial climate. Work may focus on:

• School-based activities
• Migrants
• Lone parents
• Victims and survivors of domestic abuse
• Family outreach services

How to apply: Applications open on Tuesday 3^rd January. Visit the MSE Charity website for more information