October’s Funding News

Welcome to October’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. 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 

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 

Central England Co-operative – Community Dividend Fund

Deadline: 30^th November 2022
Types of organisation supported: Not-for-private profit organisations that are full members of Central England’s Co-Operative
Size of grant available: £100 – £5,000
Priorities: Projects that support access to food, health and wellbeing, inclusion and the environment in communities across the central region of England.
How to apply: Online application form from the Co-operative’s website

2. National funders

Toy Trust – Toy Trust Grants

Deadline: 10^th November 2022
Types of organisation supported: Small registered children’s charities
Size of grant available: up to £5,000
Priorities: Applications must:

• Show real benefit for relieving hardship and suffering to beneficiaries
• Be for equipment and services
• Support disadvantaged children under the age of 13

How to apply: Applications are made via the Toy Trust website

The Shackleton Foundation – The Shackleton Leadership Award

Deadline: 27^th November 2022
Types of organisation supported: Inspirational leaders and early stage social enterprises
Size of grant available: up to £10,000 of seed funding
Priorities: The Shackleton Foundation are looking to invest in inspirational leaders and early-stage social enterprises with the potential to make a real difference to the lives of disadvantaged young people. They provide up to £10,000 of seed funding and support to enable aspiring leaders and social entrepreneurs to establish their own ventures to help young people in challenging circumstances. Eligible ideas must:

• Be innovative and fresh
• Fulfil a clear need and demand
• Be in the first year of development
• Have a real social impact
• Have well-defined outputs and goals
• Have the potential for real growth and sustainability
• The beneficiaries of the work must be young people predominantly based in the UK

How to apply: More details and application form on the Shackleton Foundation’s website

FCC Communities Foundation – FCC Community Action Fund

Deadline: 7^th December 2022
Types of organisation: Registered charity with a community facility, church or parochial church council, parish or town council, local authority, CASC registered sports clubs
Size of grant available: £2,000 – £100,000. All grants require applicants to secure a contributing third party (CTP) payment
Priorities: Funding for projects within 10 miles of the nearest FCC environmental landfill site (Rowley Regis) under Object D – public park or public amenity, or Object DA – conservation or promotion of diversity
How to apply: More information on how to apply and eligibility criteria can be found on the LCC website

The W.G. Edwards Charitable Foundation – W.G. Edwards Charitable Foundation Grant

Deadline: 10^th December 2022
Types of organisation supported: Registered charities focussed on supporting people over the age of 65
Size of grant available:  £1,000 – £3,000
Priorities:

• Health and welfare – The Foundation gives grants for refurbishment of residential care housing for the elderly and for building projects which are nearing completion. Trustees also consider the provision of equipment and furniture to enhance care and improve quality of life.
• Community and innovation – The Foundation supports community initiatives for the over-65s such as exercise classes, horticultural projects and musical therapy. We also consider grants for technology projects aimed at benefitting the over-65s, however we do not fund IT for staff or volunteers.

How to apply: By email to the trustees. More detail on the website

Help the Homeless – Help the Homeless Grant

Deadline: 15^th December
Types of organisation: Registered charities with an annual turnover less than £1m
Size of grant available: up to £5,000
Priorities: Applications must be for ‘capital projects’. All applications must relate to projects that assist individuals in their return to mainstream society, rather than simply offering shelter or other forms of sustenance.
How to apply: Online application form downloadable from website

The 7Stars Foundation – Shine Bright

Deadline: 31^st January 2023
Types of organisation supported: Registered charities with a turnover below £1.5m
Size of grant available: Not stated
Priorities: Grants are awarded to purchase educational and art materials; toys; books; and emotional support items for young people aged 16 and under who have been challenged by abuse; addiction; homelessness; or those who are child carers.
How to apply: Applications are made via 7Stars website

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

Dumbreck Charity

Types of organisation supported: Registered charities based within the West Midlands
Size of grant available: £500 – £2,000
Priorities:

• Animal welfare and conservation
• Children’s welfare
• Care of the elderly
• Care of those who are physically or mentally disadvantaged (the charity uses the term ‘handicapped’)
• General medical.

How to apply: Apply in writing with a copy of the latest accounts to:

The Dumbreck Charity
41 Sycamore Drive
Hollywood
Birmingham
B47 5QX
Tel: 07976848390

Edward Cadbury Charitable Trust

Types of organisation supported: Registered charities based within the West Midlands
Size of grant available: £500 – £10,000
Priorities: The Trust intends to support general charitable purposes and is primarily focused on supporting the local voluntary sector in the Midlands region. The Trust provides grants in seven main areas: arts and culture; community projects and integration; compassionate support, conservation and environment, interfaith and multifaith relations, education and training; research.
How to apply: Online application form on the Edward Cadbury Trust website

Eveson Trust (West Midlands)

Types of organisation supported: Registered charities whose work benefits residents in the West Midlands
Size of grant available: discretionary
Priorities: The Trust supports activities which aim to support or relieve any of the following:

• People with physical disabilities including the Blind and the Deaf.
• People with learning difficulties.
• People in need of support with their mental health.
• Hospitals and hospices.
• Children and young people up to the age of 25 who are disadvantaged or disabled.
• Older people.
• The homeless.
• Hospitals

How to apply: An online application form via the Trust’s website

2. National funders

Allen Lane Foundation

Types of organisation supported: Small registered charities, voluntary groups and charitable organisations
Size of grant available: £500 – £15,000
Priorities: Funded work must directly benefit adults from the following groups, or generalist work which includes significant numbers from more than one such group:

• Asylum seekers and refugees (but not groups working with a single nationality).
• Gypsies and Travellers.
• Migrant communities.
• Offenders and ex-offenders.
• Older people.
• People experiencing mental health problems.
• People experiencing violence or abuse

How to apply: The Foundation has an online application system. The first step is to go through the online eligibility quiz. Those who are eligible will be directed to the application form. More here

Bally’s Foundation  

Types of organisation supported: UK-based organisations with a minimum annual income of £50,000, who care for individuals suffering from mental health issues, or who focus on research in the mental health field.
Size of grant available: Discretionary
Priorities: Grants are intended to support the activities of organisations that are:

• Mission aligned – share the Foundation’s aspiration of alleviating mental health issues (including addiction, conditions of emotional or mental distress, issues caused by social isolation, homelessness, bereavement, and suicide).
• Understanding of who the Foundation are.
• Risk aware – have robust governance and financial management in place, with high standards in safeguarding their staff and beneficiaries.
• Learning led – have a culture which values evidence, are committed to continual improvement, and share what they learn with others.
• Storytellers – will tell compelling stories to shed light on mental health issues and remove the stigma attached to mental illness.

How to apply: The online application form and guidance notes can be found on the Bally’s Foundation website