November 2024 Funding News

Arnold Clark Community Fund - Cost of Living Support

Maximum Value £2,500

Deadline 31/12/2024

Cost of Living Support – funding to any registered UK charity or community group whose work directly supports those most affected by the cost-of-living crisis, such as foodbanks, accommodation, poverty relief and where people/communities in the UK are the primary and immediate focus of investment.

Who Can Apply

Applications will be accepted from:

• UK registered charities
• Local community groups
• Social enterprises
• Community interest companies
• Groups of organisations that are community or voluntary led
• Charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs)

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Have people and communities in the UK as their primary focus of investment
• Be incorporated in the UK.
• Have a bank account in the organisation's name.

Applications for the Arnold Clark Community Fund Cost-of-Living Support are only eligible if the organisation falls in one of the following categories: foodbank, accommodation, poverty relief and where people/communities in the UK are the primary and immediate focus of investment. Applications are also only eligible if they’re made by an organisation that are based/operates solely in the UK and are located within 50 miles of an Arnold Clark branch.

Please note: Although we want to help everyone, we are focused on ensuring funding is distributed equally (as far as possible). This means that if we have already provided funding to a significant amount of organisations in your area, this may impact upon your application.

Useful links

Arnold Clark Community Fund
https://www.arnoldclark.com/community-fund(External link)

Veolia Environmental Trust

Maximum Value £75,000

Application Deadline 07/01/2025

Objectives of Fund

The Trust currently offers three grant schemes:

• Community Grants are for constituted, not-for-profit organisations and local authorities to create or improve community buildings or outside spaces for the benefit of the community.
• Environmental Improvement Grants are for Environmental Bodies that are enrolled with ENTRUST, the regulator of The Landfill Communities Fund, and are a registered charity. Grants are available to enable landscape scale improvement projects such as habitat creation/management, and/or species protection.
• Habitat and Biodiversity Grants are for constituted, not-for-profit organisations that are enrolled with ENTRUST to support structural improvements to a single habitat, such as a waterway, woodland, or nature reserve.

The funder is looking for projects that:

• Protect and enhance biodiversity and natural habitats
• Inspire the creation of a sustainable carbon neutral space.
• Promote community action and wellbeing.
• Are inclusive and accessible to everyone and anyone to use.

Value Notes

Three different grants are available:

Community grants of between £10,000 and £75,000 for:

• Projects with a total cost of no more than £350,000 (including VAT and professional costs).
• Projects where the 10% Contributing Third Party (CTP) payment has been secured.

Habitat and Biodiversity Grants of between £10,000 and £75,000 for:

• Projects with a total cost of no more than £350,000 (including VAT and professional costs).
• Projects where the 10% Contributing Third Party (CTP) payment has been secured.

Environmental Improvement Grants start at £75,000. There is no upper limit. CTP payment is applicable.

Grants will be paid by BACS transfer in three separate payments.

Match Funding Restrictions

Match funding of at least 10% is required for projects before the full application is submitted.

For all awards, an independent third party contributor will need to reimburse the landfill operator the 10% shortfall to release the grant. This contribution can be made by another funder, a local council or an individual.

Who Can Apply

Community grant applications will be accepted from:

• Constituted not-for-profit organisations with governing documents that state members or directors receive no financial benefit, have a minimum of two directors, and have been established for a minimum of two years.
• Local authorities.

Applicants must use the Postcode Checker to check that their project is located within the proximity of a qualifying Veolia site.

Habitat and Biodiversity Grant applications will be accepted from:

• Constituted not-for-profit organisations with governing documents with at least two unrelated trustees that has been established for a minimum of two years.
• Environmental bodies already enrolled with ENTRUST.

To be eligible for an Environmental Improvement Grant, organisations must:

• Be already enrolled with ENTRUST as an Environmental Body, and a registered charity.
• Have experience of delivering projects funded through the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF).
• Have a track record proven expertise in delivering similar successful environmental improvement projects.
• Have a project located in England that meets ENTRUST requirements.

Location

Within the proximity of a qualifying Veolia site in England.

Eligible Expenditure

Community Grant Funding is available for capital improvement projects at a single site with discrete start and end dates.

Funding can be used for the construction and/or improvement of buildings or outdoor spaces, such as:

• Physical improvement to a building or outdoor space with public access, such as community centre or space, public park, play area, skate park, MUGA, sports ground, woodland, nature reserve, community garden, public right of way, inland waterway
• Fixed items, including kitchen cupboards and worksurfaces, boilers and radiators, windows and doors, toilets, and fencing.

Funded projects must be completed within 12 months of the start date.

Habitat and Biodiversity Grant Funding is for projects resulting in structural improvements for a single habitat, such as woodland or nature reserve to improve natural habitats and help native species thrive.

Funding can be used for:

• Physical improvement works that result in habitat improvements and/or increase biodiversity.
• Staff costs that directly relate to completing the physical improvements at the project site.
• Equipment required for project delivery.

Funded projects must be completed within 12 months of the start date.

Environmental Improvement Grants are for ambitious and imaginative projects which will make a local, regional, national and global impact on the environment by:

• Protecting and expanding threatened habitats.
• Protecting and increasing biodiversity.
• Having the widest impact on the environment.
• Monitoring, assessing and promoting the impact.

How To Apply

There are usually four funding rounds each year. It is important that groups apply at the right time, as only one grant application may be submitted per project site, in a 12-month period.

The next application windows are:

• 28 November 2024 to 7 January 2024 (noon) with a decision by 4 March 2025.
• 27 February 2025 to 3 April 2025 (noon) with a decision by 3 June 2025.
• 22 May 2025 to 26 June 2025 (noon) with a decision by 2 September 2025.
• 21 August 2025 to 2 October 2025 (noon) with a decision by 2 December 2025.

Applicants should refer to the current guidance notes/criteria which are available to download from the Trust's website.

Veolia Environmental Trust
https://www.veoliatrust.org/(External link)

Veolia Environmental Trust Grants
https://www.veoliatrust.org/funding/(External link)

Severn Trent Community Fund

Maximum Value £10,000

Application Deadline 12/01/2025

• £2,000 to £10,000 – up to 12 months for project completion.

NB Severn Trent must be the majority funder of the project, so applicants need to be applying for at least 50% of the total project cost.

Match Funding Restrictions

Financial match funding of at least 10% is required for grants of more than £10,000. It is not mandatory for applications of less than £10,000.

The funder, however, encourages match funding for all applications and those that secure match funding may find their applications are more likely to be successful.

In-kind contributions for services or volunteering are only eligible for applications of up to £10,000.

Who Can Apply

Registered not-for-profit organisations with a governing document can apply.

This includes but is not limited to:

• Local authority or parish council.
• Organisations registered with the Charity Commission.
• Organisations registered with Companies House that are limited by guarantee.
• Volunteer or community group.
• Foundation school, college or academy.

Both the applicant organisation and the project's beneficiaries must be located within the Severn Trent region, which stretches from the Bristol Channel to the Humber, and from the West Midlands to the East Midlands.

Projects must benefit Severn Trent customers. A Severn Trent customer is somebody who receives their water supply from Severn Trent, or whose waste is taken away and treated by the company.

Applicants who are unsure if their project is eligible should check the WaterUK water supplier finder.

Organisations applying for more than £10,000 must be either charity registered or company registered (and supply a charity or company number), or an exempt charity, local authority or parish council.

Eligible Expenditure

The funding is intended for projects that link to at least one of the three key elements of community wellbeing:

• People – projects that support healthier lifestyles and skills development.
• Place – projects that help create better places for communities.
• Environment – projects that improve access to and promote a healthier natural environment, including the preservation of water.

There is also interest in applications for projects that have a connection to water (although not essential). This might mean creating sustainable drainage, installing grey water recycling or creating water efficient green spaces.

Application will be assessed and scored against the following criteria:

• Community need: Is there a significant need for the project in the community and evidence of good engagement with the community during planning?
• Planning: Is the project planned well with a detailed and robust budget breakdown and have relevant permissions been considered, eg land ownership? Have risks (including changing costs of materials) been anticipated and mitigated?
• Sustainability: How will the project be sustained and bring benefit beyond the investment period? How will the applicant ensure the project will still be running in a few years’ time and will not just rely on future investment?
• Value for money: Is the amount requested good value compared to the number of beneficiaries and overall impact of the project? Are costs expensive or inflated? Does the project seem like good value for money in comparison to similar projects?

The funding can be used for both capital and revenue projects as long as the project can evidence it will be sustained.

The grants can support the following:

• Labour required for the set-up of the project.
• Running costs of the project, eg, stationery, room hire, marketing etc.
• Skills training and other course costs.
• Administration costs directly associated with the project.
• Capital costs of improving a site or building.
• Costs directly associated with the beneficiaries/volunteers’ involvement in the project, eg, travel costs, childcare, subsistence while taking part in project activities.

How To Apply

Applications are open. The next deadlines for applications are:

• 12 January 2024 for requests of £2,000–£10,000 (for consideration at the February panel).

The criteria and full details of how to make an application are given in the guidelines which can be downloaded from the Severn Trent website.

Contact Severn Trent for further information.

Useful links

Severn Trent Community Fund
https://www.stwater.co.uk/about-us/severn-trent-community-fund/(External link)

WaterUK - Find Your Local Water Supplier
https://www.water.org.uk/advice-for-customers/find-your-supplier/(External link)

Make it Big with Pathway Fund - Round 2

Maximum Value £25,000

Application Deadline 14/01/2025

Objectives of Fund

The funding is for enterprise projects that are able to solve a problem experienced within Black and Global Majority communities in England as a result of the Cost of Living Crisis, while bringing in trading income for the organisation.

The funding is for projects with achievable outcomes within a 9-month timeframe that:

• Address Real Issues: Target challenges like poverty alleviation and racial equity, driving meaningful change for Black and Global Majority communities.
• Have Growth Potential: Use this funding to scale existing, income-generating projects that support sustainable financial growth.
• Showcase Community Impact: Demonstrate a solid track record of community impact and engagement.

Value Notes

Eight grants of £25,000 are available.

DiNN has a unique, pay-it-forward grant model to encourage sustainable growth:

• £25,000 in Funding: Grant recipients gain access to funding and ongoing support.
• Outcome-Based Repayment: Up to £8,500 of the grant is repayable only if applicants successfully secure social investment.
• No Risk: If social investment is not achieved, no repayment is required. However, if successful, a percentage of the investment will support future grantees in their journey.

Who Can Apply

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be a Black-Led or Global Majority-Led organisation.
• Be a legally incorporated non-profit (not limited by shares).
• Have a clearly stated mission to support issues impacting Black and Global Majority Communities (indicated in their organisation’s governing/constitutional documents).
• Reinvest 100% of surpluses into pursuing their social mission and have a constitutional or contractual lock on their social mission, dividend, and surplus distribution policy (also known as an asset lock).
• Be based in and operating in England. (Priority will be given to organisations active in IMDs 1-3.)
• Have at least one DiNN Member. (The form to become a member of the Do it Now Now community can be found on the DiNN website.)
• Be able to provide at least the last two year accounts submitted to Companies House/Charity Commission and both of these years accounts must show income generated between £150,000 and £500,000.
• Be able to produce management accounts that include a Profit and Loss statement and Balance Sheet.
• Have at least three Directors or Trustees.
• Have 75% of the organisation’s Directors, Trustees or equivalent Governing Body members representing Black and Global Majority Communities.
• Have 51% of leadership/senior management representing Black and Global Majority Communities.

How To Apply

The application process is as follows:

• Applicants must first submit an expression of interest by the deadline of 14 January 2025 (17:00).
• Shortlisted applicants will then undergo an organisational health check and due diligence.
• Groups will then receive support and training to create a full grant proposal.

Once proposals are approved, organisations will begin the contracting onboarding process. This includes receiving their contract for £22,000 grant and prepping them to engage in the £3,000 compensated capacity building support. The onboarding phase ensures that they have all the resources and guidance needed to implement their project and achieve sustainable growth.

Guidance notes and an online expression of interest form are available from the DiNN website.

Application Support sessions and 1-2-1 support calls are available throughout the duration of the application process.

To book a 1-2-1 support call with a member of the DiNN team, email funding@doitnownow.com

Contact DiNN for further information.

Useful links

Do it Now Now - Make it Big with Pathway Fund
https://www.doitnownow.com/make-it-big-with-pathway-fund(External link)

Lloyds Bank Foundation - Funding Programme for Specialist Small Charities

Maximum Value £75,000

Application Deadline 23/01/2025

Objectives of Fund

The programme offers both an unrestricted grant and tailored support aimed at helping to strengthen charities and build the knowledge, skills and capabilities of staff and trustees.

The programme is intended for registered charities and charitable incorporated organisations operating mainly in England and/or Wales who are helping people living in England and/or Wales

Applicants must be providing in-depth services in one of the following eight themes:

• Addiction
• Asylum Seekers and Refugees
• Care Leavers
• Domestic Abuse
• Homelessness
• Offending
• Sexual Abuse and Exploitation
• Trafficking and Modern Slavery.

Who Can Apply

Registered charities and charitable incorporated organisations operating mainly in England and/or Wales who are helping people living in England and/or Wales may apply.

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be registered as a charity or as a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) with the Charity Commission and able to provide their charity registration number.
• Have an annual income of between £25,000 and £500,000 in their last published accounts.
• Have at least one set of annual accounts showing as ‘received’ on the Charity Commission website, covering a 12-month operating period.
• Have a bank account in the charity’s name with unrelated signatories.
• Have a Board of at least three trustees who are not related to each other and who do no receive any payments, except for out-of-pocket expenses from the charity.
• Be operating most in England and/or Wales and helping people living in England and/or Wales.
• Have a track record of delivering services for at least one year to people aged 18 years and older.
• Have a safeguarding policy in place.
• Hold public liability insurance.
• Be an independent organisation with full control over its work and any conflicts of interest.

Eligible Expenditure

Unrestricted funding to help deliver services.

How To Apply

Applications are now open with a closing date for applications of 23 January 2025 (17:00).

The guidelines and eligibility quiz can be accessed on the Foundation's website.

Contact Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales for further information.

Useful links

Lloyds Bank Foundation Specialist Programme
https://www.lloydsbankfoundation.org.uk/funding/specialist-programme(External link)

Anchor Foundation

Maximum Value £12,000

Application Deadline 31/01/2025

Objectives of Fund

The aim of the Foundation is to support Christian charities working with art and healing and those seeking to offer social inclusion.

Who Can Apply

Registered charities in the United Kingdom are eligible to apply.

The trustees look favourably on organisations whose boards demonstrate equal opportunities.

Charities with a number of projects operating should choose a single project for the application.

Projects that have had three years funding may apply again two years from the payment of the last grant.

Successful or unsuccessful applicants should wait 12 months from the previous application date before applying again.

Eligible Expenditure

The Foundation awards grants for projects (including projects abroad) that address the following:

• Healing
• Arts
• Social inclusion

Grants for building work will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.

How To Apply

Applications are considered twice a year. The application deadlines are 31 January and 31 July. Applicants are encouraged to not wait until the end of each application period to apply.

Successful applicants will be contacted as soon as possible following the Trustee meetings, usually by the end of May or end of November respectively.

Application forms are available to complete online or can be downloaded from the Foundation's website and submitted via email.

Applicants should note that the Foundation do not have the resources to enter into correspondence about applications and that all of the relevant information is contained on the Foundation's website.

Useful links

Anchor Foundation
https://www.theanchorfoundation.org.uk/