The Department for Education are committed to helping schools ensure that more children develop a set of character traits, attributes and behaviours that underpin success in education and work. Thus Schools, colleges and organisations are invited to submit proposals to a £3.5 million grant fund to support projects in character education. There is no pre-determined level of grant award, but grant awards are expected to be in the region of £50,000 to £750,000. Organisations have until 6th February 2015 to submit a proposal for grant funding. Grants are expected to be awarded at the end of March. www.gov.uk/government/news/character-education-apply-for-2015-grant-funding
The Department for Education has also made £1 million available to the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) to build evidence and expand research into the most effective ways that character can be taught. Funding from the EEF is available to any not-for-profit organisation that provides well-evidenced interventions in character education to scale up and test their approaches. Applicants will be able to apply until 1st April. www.gov.uk/government/news/character-education-apply-for-2015-grant-funding
The Anchor Foundation Grant supports UK-registered Christian charities for projects that encourage social inclusion through ministries of healing and the arts. In any one year the grant range to a project is between £500 and £10,000. Applications are considered at twice yearly trustees meetings in April and November and need to be received by 31st January and 31st July each year. Applications will be considered for either capital or revenue funding and projects abroad. Application forms are available via the website. www.theanchorfoundation.org.uk/information.html
The Stanley Smith (UK) Horticultural Trust award Grants For Horticulturists to individuals, organisations and institutions carrying out projects of significance to horticulture; gardening; or botany with a strong horticultural element. Grants are normally awarded twice a year, in April and October, and range from a few hundred pounds to about £5k (but are typically in the region of £3-£4k). The deadlines for applications are 15th February and 15th August. To apply, please read the guidelines and then complete the application form via the website. www.grantsforhorticulturists.org.uk/Smith.html
Tenant Central are awarding Give It A Go Grants – an initiative to support tenant groups to manage part of a service currently provided by their landlord. Groups can manage any service that the landlord provides. The group and the landlord will agree together on how much money can be spent but the total value of providing the service must NOT exceed £170,000. Tenant Central will advise on the viability of the group project. They will also provide a support session to help the group and landlord plan and trial the approach and in developing a cashback agreement. Grants may then be made available of up to £3,000 to help groups give it a go. For more information please visit the website. www.tenantcentral.org.uk/giveitago/
The Cinnamon Network is awarding Cinnamon Network Micro-Grants. Up to £1,500 will be made available to local churches, or group of churches working in partnership, who are a registered charity (with up to date accounts) wishing to start a Cinnamon Network recognised church based community project in England. Applications for a Micro-Grant must be no earlier than 3 months before and 3 months after the recognised project starts. Application is via the website. www.cinnamonnetwork.co.uk/micro-grants-england/
Programme 1 of the Liverpool ONE Foundation Fund is open again! The fund aims to help the lives of local people in Merseyside, especially Liverpool, by providing support for good causes in and around the city. Programme 1 is targeted at grassroot groups with an annual income of up to £200,000 undertaking activity based projects costing up to £5000. Please note the panel will be held towards the end of March 2015. The fund will re-open again in April 2015 for applications to both Programmes 1 and 2 with a panel taking place in June 2015. Full guidelines and application are available via the website. www.cfmerseyside.org.uk/index.php?p=174
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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Other interesting news…
The Department for Education are welcoming applications for Character Awards to celebrate the excellence and diversity in this field. Applications are open to schools, colleges, universities, local authorities and voluntary, community or social enterprise organisations, or other profit or non-profit organisations. Proposals must be on a not-for-profit basis and must be designed to work within or in partnership with schools and/or colleges in England. Grant-funded organisations must engage with the relevant school or college that the young person attends to assess whether the proposed activity or provision will help to underpin success in education and work. For a full specification, application form and further guidance go to the website. www.gov.uk/government/news/character-education-apply-for-2015-grant-funding
Accelerator is IdeasTap’s new commission-free crowdfunding platform – a way for IdeasTap’s members to raise project funding themselves without the commission fees other crowdfunding platforms charge. Accelerator projects must fall into one of the following categories: Animation, Dance, Design, Fashion, Film, Gaming, Illustration, Journalism, Music, Performing arts, Photography, Product design, Visual arts, Writing & publishing. Every month, up to two Accelerator projects will also be selected and an extra £500 will be pledged to help them reach their target. Terms of Use and application is available via the website. www.ideastap.com/crowdfunding/newproject
LinkedIn.com have launched Advanced Search – a new tool for nonprofits to find the volunteers, board members, possible donors and employees they need to help their missions. A video which gives an overview of this service is available at http://bit.ly/1yImszS
Access Free Mentoring For Your Business! Multi award winning mentoring organisation Designated Associates are delivering FREE mentoring to North West businesses! They are especially looking for businesses in the Wirral, Chester, and Liverpool areas. Their mentors are qualified and experienced in working with businesses (large and small). The enquiry and booking line is open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm on 0151 653 3338 and online 24/7. www.ybonline.co.uk/about-yorkshire-bank/community/charitable-donations-about-us
Video monetisation specialists InPlayer have launched a unique app designed to help charities optimise fundraising opportunities through their online video content. Donations is a paywall that prompts viewers to donate in real time. Donations negates the need for viewers to wait for the video to finish or to remember a phone number or web address and then make a call or go to another screen or website. Donations can also be used with educational video content to capture a viewer’s contact details allowing the organisation to keep in touch with people who express an interest in their work, but where it’s inappropriate to prompt for a donation. The analytics provided with Donations also let organisations see how a video is performing in terms of donation and engagement in real time, allowing them to develop a greater understanding of what content creates the best ROI among their target audience. www.charitydigitalnews.co.uk/2015/01/22/new-app-to-help-charities-maximise-online-video-fundraising/?utm_source=Charity+Digital+News&utm_campaign=b78ad053af-22_01_2015_NL&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_16cb73bf0c-b78ad053af-15031917
The Wirral West Community Fund are asking you to vote for the project(s) you’d like to see take place in your local community. Voting closes on Monday 9th February 2015. Alternatively, you can attend an event to show your support or complete a voting paper by picking one up from your local Wirral West Library or One Stop Shop. Events will take place on Tuesday 27th January, 6pm to 8pm, at Thingwall Primary School, Thingwall (Pensby, Thingwall, Upton and Woodchurch groups) and Thursday 29th January, 6pm to 8pm, at Our Lady of Pity Primary School, Greasby (Greasby, Frankby and Irby groups). To vote online please visit: www.surveymonkey.com/r/?sm=kgMLtVieWj%2bw5gsLX1mzXQ%3d%3d
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
