The second round of Your Wirral Fund – Birkenhead is now available. Again the fund is focusing on the Feeding Birkenhead Campaign. The criteria require this funding to be used for new projects, excluding existing schemes. The Campaign’s objective is to contribute towards the relief and prevention of child hunger in Birkenhead. The key priority is the continuation of free schools meals in the holidays to children who receive them during term time, and for these programmes to begin in the 2015 Summer Holiday Period. Other priorities include breakfast and after schools clubs. Deadline for applications is 5pm on 8th July. Please note that each organisation can bid for funding up to a maximum of £2,500 over a 12 month period. For more information on the terms and conditions of the fund and to fill in the online application form please visit: www.wirral.gov.uk/yourwirral. If you have any questions please call: Andy Brannan, Birkenhead Constituency Engagement Officer, on 0151 691 8391 or visit: www.wirral.gov.uk/birkenhead
First Steps Enterprise Fund is a £300,000 pilot fund between Asda Foundation and the Social Investment Business Foundation offering loan-grant packages to charities and social enterprises working in communities in the North West of England. Small community-led organisations can apply for up to £30,000 to help them grow their services and become more sustainable. The fund intends to catalyse other UK corporate foundations to use their money innovatively to create social impact in communities across the country. Deadline for applications is noon 26th June. For more information and to apply, please visit the website. www.sibgroup.org.uk/firststeps
Homeshare is an initiative which brings older people, and others who need support to stay in their homes, together with young people who get an affordable place to live in return for providing companionship and a little practical support. The Big Lottery Fund is working with a range of national partners to consider how the Homeshare model could be developed and established in more communities across the UK. They are looking to support a number of Homeshare pilot developments to a maximum total of £900,000 and undertake testing and evaluation of the Homeshare model to find out whether it is a sustainable and effective response to the twin challenges of high housing costs and the need for more support for those who need it to live independently. Projects must help people and communities in the UK. Project activities must take place in the UK. They strongly encourage partnerships between the voluntary and community sector and the statutory sector. The initial expression of interest must be submitted by 12pm on 2nd July. For more information, please visit the website. www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/homeshare
Ambition For Excellence is a £35.2 million programme aimed at stimulating and supporting ambition, talent and excellence across the arts sector in England. The fund aims to realise significant impact on the growth of an ambitious international-facing arts infrastructure, especially outside London. It aims to contribute to the development of strong cultural places; to grow and develop talent and leadership in the regions and across art forms; give an international dimension to excellent work, and create the highest quality new work including for outdoor and festival contexts. This is a rolling programme from 28th May 2015 to 27th October 2017 and applications will be received in two stages: an expression of interest followed by an invite to apply. Applicants can apply for between £100,000 and £750,000 across a period of up to 3 years. Organisations eligible to submit an expression of interest include: National portfolio organisations, museums (applying for arts projects) and organisations primarily focused on one or more of the following: creating, producing, distribution and presenting the arts in England. Applications from partnerships can also be made. For more information and to apply, please visit the website. www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/apply-funding/apply-for-funding/ambition-excellence
The Childcare Investment Readiness Fund is a £500,000 pilot fund, managed by Social Investment Business on behalf of Department for Education. The Fund will provide grants between £25,000 and £50,000 to early years and childcare social enterprises for the purchase of specific capacity building support to help facilitate their growth and become more appealing to investors. Applicants must have a proven track record and the potential to expand their services into new locations. Deadline for applications is noon on Friday July 17th. www.sibgroup.org.uk/childcare-investment-readiness-fund
Merseyside Funding Information Portal, an online resource that will give you all you need to know about funding your charitable or community work, whether you are an individual, community group, voluntary organisation, registered charity or social enterprise. In addition, information and support in tendering and procurement related opportunities for voluntary bodies are now offered through this portal. www.mfip.org.uk/
Funding alerts from Funding Central www.fundingcentral.org.uk
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Now in its 3rd year, Merseyside’s Vital Signs is a charitable giving guide from the Community Foundation for Merseyside that provides up-to-date information about the key social issues facing the region’s communities. This year the Community Foundation is focusing specifically on ‘Children and Young People’ in Merseyside and they would love to hear the views of young people across the City Region. If you are aged 21 or under and you are interested in making your voice heard about what issues are important to you, then please take 10 minutes to fill in their short survey by clicking the following link: www.cfmerseyside.org.uk/Vital-Signs As a thank you, one respondent will be drawn at random and presented with a grant of £250 for the social enterprise or a local community youth organisation of their choice.
For more information on funding or to be added to the circulation list please contact Zel Rodgers – Funding Development Officer. Email [email protected] or call 0151 353 9700 ext 205
