Funding

Percy Bilton Charity

Grants are made to organisations and individuals in need throughout the U.K to help with basic household furnishings; building or refurbishment costs; clothes and essential household equipment.

The fund is appropriate for charities assisting - disadvantaged youth; people with disabilities; people with mental health problems and older people; Social workers; community psychiatric nurses; and occupational therapists within local authorities or NHS Trusts on the behalf of individuals in financial need who have a disability or severe mental health problem, or who are over 65 on low income.

For details of how to apply, see the Percy Bilton Charity website.

Big Potential Opens for Applications

The Big Lottery Fund has announced that Voluntary & Community groups and Social Enterprises (VCSEs) can now start their application process for its new £10 million "Big Potential" programme.

The "Big Potential Fund" which will be managed by the Social Investment Bureau will provide grants of £25,000 - £75,000 to help VCSEs carry out investment readiness work with a small group of approved providers. Big Potential will be targeting not for profit organisations that are both at an early stage of their investment readiness journey and those that are further along that journey, who are seeking to raise up to £500,000 in external investment.

The programme is designed to complement a range of other initiatives including the Cabinet Office's Investment and Contract Readiness Fund. Eligible organisations can include:

Before charities apply to the fund they will be able to access support from Charity Bank, Social Enterprise UK or Locality before submitting an application. They will then be expected to approach an approved provider, and the charity and provider will make a joint bid to the fund.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

More information here.

Lloyds Bank Foundation Launches Two New Funding Programmes

The Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales has announced the launch of two new grants programmes to replace its flagship "Communities Programme". The aim is to support projects that help people over the age of 17 who are experiencing multiple disadvantage at one of the critical points in their life.

The new funding programmes are:

•    "Invest" which is a flexible, long term core funding programme for charities helping disadvantaged people. Grants are up to £25,000 per year for two or three years, with the opportunity for continuation funding for up to six years in total.
•    "Enable" which is a smaller and shorter grants programme for charities that have identified clear development needs.

This funding aims to help the organisations deliver their mission more effectively. These grants are up to a total £15,000 over two years. The funding is available to registered charities and charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs) with an income of between £25,000 and £1 million.

To be eligible, organisations are expected to be working with people 17 years or older, experiencing multiple disadvantage at one of the critical points in their life. The only exceptions are young people who are under 17 years of age and young parents or looked after children and disabled young people moving into independent living.

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

More information here.

The Alec Dickson Trust

The Alec Dickson Trust provides grants of up to £500 to help young people of up to 30 or small groups of young people run a volunteering project in their local area. The fund seeks to support projects that enhance the lives of others, particularly those most marginalised by society such as:

•    The homeless
•    Those with drug dependency problems
•    People with disabilities

Trustees will meet twice a year to consider applications. For further information on how to apply contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or call 020 7278 6601.

More information here.

Paul Hamlyn Foundation Social Justice Programme

The Paul Hamlyn Foundation is currently accepting applications under its Social Justice Open Grants Programme. Through the Social Justice Programme the foundations aims to help integrate marginalised individuals and communities, and seeks to support younger people up to the age of 30 who are at time of transition because of their circumstances such as; leaving care or leaving prison or settling into a new community, or changes to the cultural environment in which they live such as; established communities in refugee dispersal areas.

There is no minimum or maximum grant that can be applied for.  In 2012/13 the Foundation made 26 grants totalling £3,263,886. The average grant was £125,534 and grants ranged in size from £4,898 to £750,000.

There is a two stage application process. First stage applications can be made at any time. Those that are successful will be invited to make a second stage application.

More here: http://www.phf.org.uk/page.asp?id=91

Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust Launches New Grants Programme (UK)

After having completed a strategic review of its funding, the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust has announced the launch of its new grants programme. Under its new programmes the Trust is inviting application under the following programmes:

• Peace and Security;
• Power and Accountability;
• Rights and Justice;
• Sustainable Future;
• and Northern Ireland.

The Trust anticipates that funding will be under one of these programmes but will also consider applications that cut across one or more of these.

Applications can be submitted by a range of different organisations and the Trust generally funds work that is about addressing the root causes of problems rather than delivering services or alleviating immediate needs.

It is not necessary to be a registered charity to apply to the Trust. However, the Trust can only support work which is legally charitable as defined in UK law.

There are two closing dates for applications. These are 12 noon on the 18th August for the Right and Justice, Sustainable Future, and Northern Ireland Programmes; and the 12 noon on the 1st September for the Peace and Security, and Power and Accountability Programmes.
http://www.jrct.org.uk/about-us

Big Assist voucher awards increase to £15,000

Big Assist is a programme designed to support infrastructure organisations, such as local community service organisations, volunteer centres and rural community councils, based in England, to be more efficient, effective, sustainable and better able to adapt to the current and future operating environment.

The programme is delivered under contract to the Big Lottery Fund by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).

BIG Assist is pleased to announce some important changes to the programme, based on feedback from customers over the past 12 months:

• Increasing voucher awards for infrastructure organisations up to a maximum of £15,000

• Allowing customers who have successfully finished a programme of support to reapply for a further voucher

• Investing more in our sponsored visits which have proved popular among recipients

Feedback to Big Assist has indicated that for some, a larger amount would help create a greater lasting impact on the organisation. The Big Lottery Fund have agreed that for the next phase of the pilot the maximum voucher award will be increased from £7,000 to £15,000. Big Assist hope this will encourage more organisations to sign up for the programme and benefit from the wide range of support on offer.

Organisations who have successfully finished a programme of support can reapply for a further voucher, recognising that many infrastructure organisations could benefit from several different strands of support.

Telephone support and information is available Monday to Friday 9.30am–5pm on 020 7520 2418 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For all  the details of how to apply (or reapply): http://www.bigassist.org.uk/news/voucher-awards-increase-15000

Centre for Social Justice Awards 2014 (UK)

Charities, small voluntary groups, or other projects tackling poverty in at the local level are invited to apply for the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) Awards 2014.
The annual CSJ Awards programme recognises effective poverty fighting groups from across the UK. Cash prizes of £10,000 are awarded to charities, small voluntary groups and other local projects that display innovation and effectiveness in addressing the root causes of poverty, turning lives around and reversing social breakdown.
Previous winners have included:
A charity that is helping teenagers at risk of social exclusion gain mechanic skills and related employment.
A supplementary school that works in Tower Hamlets and Yorkshire which helps children overcome their disadvantaged background.
The closing date for entries is the 6th June 2014.
http://centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/awards

Lords Taverners Minibuses Grants Programme (UK)

The Lords Taverners, the UK's leading youth cricket and disability sports charity, has announced that its Minibuses grants programme will re-open for applications on the 2nd June 2014.
Last year the Lords Taverners, delivered 32 specially-adapted, wheelchair-accessible minibuses to schools, clubs and youth organisations across the UK. These iconic green vehicles give young people with disabilities access to new places and experiences. Lord's Taverners minibuses are based on the current Ford Transit model, with a diesel engine. The average cost to the charity of an accessible minibus is £52,500. Applications will be accepted from schools/ organisations that cater for young people under the age of 25 who have a physical/ sensory/ learning disability. The Lords Taverners are unable to support schools that cater for socially disadvantaged children, or mainstream schools for children with behavioural problems.
http://www.lordstaverners.org/sensory-play-spaces