Rural Opportunities Bulletin from the Rural Services Network – a summary of grants available for rural communities

Neighbourhood Planning grants – Locality
Locality will continue to deliver the Neighbourhood Planning Support Programme over the next four years, from 2018-2022. The programme builds on the 2015-18 programme and any support previously received will be taken into account. The programme will provide anyone working on a neighbourhood plan with support from the Locality team, AECOM and other partners/specialists through:

  • a basic grant of up to £9,000
  • additional grants for eligible groups with an extra £8,000
  • technical support through expert partners AECOM and other specialists

Under the new programme there will be some important changes to eligibility criteria for support available to groups. In addition, the amount groups are eligible for in grants will depend on what they have received in the 2015-18 programme. Get full details of the changes and what you’re eligible for on neighbourhoodplanning.org
The new programme opens for applications on 3 April 2018.
https://mycommunity.org.uk/2018/03/15/new-neighbourhood-planning-programme-changes-to-my-community-everything-you-need-to-know/
 
Reaching Communities England – Big Lottery Fund
The Reaching Communities programme aims to make positive change in communities. Big Lottery particularly want to hear about ideas that support:

  • Lasting and sustainable changes to places and spaces
  • Communities to develop happier and stronger relationships with each other
  • Taking action to focus on the root causes of social problems to tackle them at the earliest possible stage

Through Reaching Communities funding you can apply for between £10,000 and £500,000. Successful grant can fund some or all of the costs associated with delivering a project, including staff salaries, training, volunteer expenses, management costs, equipment, premises costs, monitoring and evaluation and overheads. The programme can also fund up to £100,000 for small scale capital work, such as refurbishment, the purchase of vehicles, land or buildings.
Big Lottery encourage applicants to contact them before applying for additional advice and support before you submit your application.
The programme is due to re-open for applications on 2 April 2018.
https://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/reaching-communities-england
 
Nationwide Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme – Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
The Nationwide Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS), announced on 15 March 2018,  will provide vouchers worth up to £3000 for a small or medium sized business or £500 to residents to help with the costs of connecting to full fibre broadband.
The scheme is part of a wider government plan to get more homes and businesses connected to full fibre broadband. It builds on the £200 million Local Full Fibre Networks programme which gives funding to local areas to boost full fibre delivery and on trial voucher schemes operated in four parts of the country.
The scheme is due to be launched at the end of March 2018.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/67-million-boost-for-a-full-fibre-future
 
Prince’s Countryside Fund
The Prince’s Countryside Fund provides grants of up to £50,000 for innovative projects that will provide a lasting legacy to the individuals and communities they seek to benefit.
The Fund seeks applications to support activity that results in a long-term positive impact on rural communities by helping the people that live and work in the countryside. The grant programme currently aims to tackle the following key rural issues:

  • To improve the prospects of viability for family farm businesses
  • To sustain rural communities and drive economic vibrancy
  • To support aid delivery in emergency and building resilience

The Fund will be open for grant applications from April 30th to June 14th 2018.
http://www.princescountrysidefund.org.uk/grant-giving-programme/grant-programme
 
Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) Charitable Foundation grants
The TDS Charitable Foundation exists to raise the standard of private rented housing management. Each year they select particular areas as a focus for their work and funding. In 2018 the Foundation is looking to support projects which focus on one of the following themes: Promoting knowledge of landlords’ obligations; Promoting knowledge of tenants’ rights & responsibilities.
The growth of the private rented sector has been fueled in recent years in part by the rise of the ‘accidental landlord’.  This is often a person who owns property but who is required by circumstances to let the property.  These landlords tend to be inexperienced and not fully understand the obligations that they have to meet as a landlord. The Foundation invites proposals that will help to educate such landlords about the obligations of being a private landlord.
The Foundation is also aware that many tenants are not fully aware of their rights and responsibilities and the Foundation is inviting proposals which will help educate tenants about their rights and responsibilities.
Funding is available under 3 streams: stream strategy:

  • A national funding stream for larger projects with national impact (c £50,000 per project)
  • An innovation fund to enable those riskier projects to be funded (c £25,000 per project)
  • A community stream for local projects (c £10,000 per project)

 The deadline for applications is 14 June 2018.
http://tdsfoundation.org.uk/#apply-for-funding
 
Rural Community Fund – Calor
Calor is offering rural off grid communities the chance to gain funding for projects that will improve local life. Projects supported could be anything from redecorating your community centre or village hall; to new equipment for youth clubs, sports teams or scout groups. Grants of up to £5,000 are available for projects that will provide an on-going service for local communities. Rural communities with projects off the mains gas grid can submit a project for funding. The projects that receive the most votes on the Fund website will be shortlisted then reviewed by a panel of judges, who will select the winning projects for funding.
The Fund is open for applications until 21 May 2018.
https://www.calor.co.uk/communityfund
 
Coastal Communities Fund – Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
The Coastal Communities Fund Round 5 is now open with £40 million available for spend from April 2019 to end of March 2021. Funding is available for projects over £50,000 that will ultimately lead to regeneration and economic growth whilst directly or indirectly safeguarding and creating sustainable jobs.
The closing date for stage 1 applications, for which funding will be available from 1 April 2019, is 30 April 2018.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coastal-communities-fund-round-5
 
Trusted Relationships Fund – Home Office
The Home Office has launched a £13 million fund to help youth workers, police, nurses and other professionals form close, protective relationships with children and young people at risk of sexual exploitation, county lines gang crime or relationship abuse.
The Trusted Relationships Fund will invite local authorities to apply for funding to run projects aimed at fostering relationships between frontline staff and at-risk children. Through the fund, local authorities are encouraged to work with local partners to improve the way professionals, including social workers, youth workers, police and voluntary sector practitioners, work together to support vulnerable young people.
Local authorities will be asked to design projects that fit their needs. But the projects could see frontline workers organising or becoming involved with:

  • establishing a safe space where young people can share their concerns with professionals who will listen to them
  • providing specialist counselling services
  • delivering positive activities including sport, music, arts and volunteering
  • improving the way local organisations work together to support the most vulnerable young people
  • working with children who repeatedly go missing to ensure that they are kept safe and well

The deadline for expressions of interest is 13 April 2018.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/trusted-relationships-fund-application-process
 
Returners Fund – Government Equalities Office
A Fund of £1.5 million has been made available offering grants to projects which help people to return to work in the private sector. These projects could help returners update their skills, provide other training, or support businesses to increase employment opportunities for returners.
The Fund is available for organisations to run projects aimed at returners that:

  • create new job opportunities within the private sector and targeted employment sectors that have a weaker track record in catering for returners, including, retail; law; tech and telecoms; science, technology, engineering and maths industries; creative industries;
  • could not otherwise be established by the market;
  • address specific barriers for returners and can be replicated at scale;
  • can demonstrate self-sustainability beyond the initial funding period of the grant;
  • increase understanding of how best to support a) returners to gain paid employment and b) employers to recruit and support returners.

It is anticipated that most of the grant recipients under the Returners Fund will be voluntary and community sector organisations, social enterprises and training providers.  Approximately 15-18 projects will be selected in total. Expressions of interest must be submitted by 16 August 2018.
https://returnersfund.flexigrant.com/
 
Community Centres & Village Halls grants – Trusthouse Charitable Foundation
Trusthouse is interested in applications for capital projects at community centres in the most deprived urban areas and village halls in remote and economically deprived rural areas.
The Foundation wants to support community centres and village halls which are at the heart of small, deprived communities.  They expect that you will be providing a range of activities for all ages and abilities which help to promote community cohesion and address local problems of isolation, poverty, lack of local facilities, transport and other issues of relevance to your area.
They interpret ‘community centres’ in the broad sense, so you might be a church, sports facility or other building which offers a range of activities throughout the week which all the community can access.
The Foundation will consider applications for new buildings; upgrading, renovating or extending buildings; improving or creating outside space (but not car parks).  You will need to have secured a minimum of 50% of the costs of the project before you start an application. 
http://trusthousecharitablefoundation.org.uk/grants/community-centres-and-village-halls/
 
Women’s Vote Centenary Grant Scheme – HM Government
The Women’s Vote Centenary Grant Scheme is a £1.5 million government fund that will support local and community groups across England in celebrating the centenary of women gaining the right to vote. The grant scheme has two types of funds:

  1. Approximately 150 Small Grants of between £300 to £2,000 for grassroots projects to run small-scale events and activities to celebrate the centenary of women gaining the vote. There will be three bidding rounds during 2018.
  2. Up to 30 Large Grants of between £2,000 and £125,000. These will fund projects that increase the understanding of, and engagement with, democracy, and encourage women to participate in public life. There will be two bidding rounds during 2018.

Round 1 of the Large Grant Fund for grants between £30,000 and £125,000 closed on 27 February. Round 2 will be open around April 2018, for projects between £2,000 and £65,000.
Round 1 of the Small Grant Fund closed on 31 January. Round 2 opened on 15 March and will close on 18 May 2018.
https://celebratingvotesforwomen.campaign.gov.uk/
 
Charity Grants – Masonic Charitable Foundation
The Foundation awards grants each year to local and national charities that help vulnerable people. Over £5,000 can be awarded to charities for a specific purpose only. Reasons to apply for a Large Grant can include funding salary costs, specific project costs and refurbishment costs. New build or large scale capital development projects cannot be considered. Funding may be granted for up to three years, where there is evidence of an on-going need for funding.
Between £500 and £5,000 can be awarded to charities for core expenditure such as general running or overhead costs of the charity.
The Foundation encourages charities that have an annual income under £500,000 to apply for a Small Grant of £5,000 or less. Charities with an income of over £500,000 can apply for a Large Grant or Small Grant. The Foundation suggests, however, that charities with an income of over £1 million should apply for a Large Grant.
The next deadline for an initial Enquiry Form in relation to large grants is 4 May 2018. The next deadline for small grant applications is 25 May 2018.
https://mcf.org.uk/charities/
 
Weston Anniversary Fund – Garfield Weston Foundation
To celebrate the Foundation’s anniversary and the vital role of volunteers and community charities, an additional grants scheme opened to applications from 5 January and will close on 30 June 2018.
One off grants are available to support Capital projects to provide new or improve existing community facilities that will benefit local communities across the UK. The Fund is open to UK registered charities, CIOs, places of worship and state schools only with a total income under £3million.
Grants can range from £30,000 – £150,000 with total project costs not exceeding £300,000. Decisions on applications will not be made until October 2018.
https://anniversary.garfieldweston.org/weston-anniversary-fund/
 
Screwfix Foundation
The Screwfix Foundation raises funds to support projects that will fix, repair, maintain and improve properties and community facilities for those in need throughout the UK.  They work with both national and local charities, donating much needed funds to help all sorts of projects, from repairing buildings and improving facilities in deprived areas, to decorating the homes of people living with sickness and disabilities.
The Screwfix Foundation currently offers local registered charities and not for profit organisations funding of up to £5,000. All applications are reviewed individually on a quarterly basis – the review dates are in February, May, August and November.
https://www.screwfix.com/help/screwfixfoundation/
 
HS2 Community & Environment Fund & HS2 Business & Local Economy Fund – Groundwork UK
Two funds are available to local communities to help with the disruption that will be caused by the construction of Phase one of HS2 between London and the West Midlands; the Community and Environment Fund and the Business and Local Economy Fund. The objective of these funds is to add benefit, over and above committed mitigation and statutory compensation, to communities and local economies along the route.
The administration of these funds is managed on behalf of HS2 Ltd by the charity Groundwork who will ensure both funds remain available for applications throughout the construction of Phase One.
https://www.groundwork.org.uk/Sites/hs2funds
 
Church Conservation Grants – William & Jane Morris Fund
The Morris Fund was formed in 1939 following a bequest to the Society of Antiquaries from May Morris, the younger daughter of William and Jane Morris. May Morris required that grants should be made only to work that is carried out according to the principles of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), which was founded by her father.
Grants are awarded to churches, chapels and other places of worship in the United Kingdom for the conservation of decorative features and monuments, but not structural repairs. This includes stained glass windows, sculpture, furniture, internal monuments and tombs and wall paintings. The decorative feature, monument, etc must be dated before 1896 (the date of William Morris’s death). Applications for features dated after 1896, even if they are in churches dated before 1896, are not eligible.
The deadline for applications is 31 August 2018.
https://www.sal.org.uk/grants/morris-fund-conservation-grants/
 
Community Shares Booster Programme – Power to Change
The Community Shares Booster Programme is a funding scheme to support community share offers. It will invest equity up to £100,000 to match community shares in societies that can demonstrate higher than average levels of community impact, innovation and engagement. The programme will also provide development grants of up to £10,000 to help societies get investment ready and meet standards of good practice. Match funding will be in the form of equity held on equal terms with other community shareholders.
Power to Change has provided £3m funding for the Booster Programme over a five-year period from 2017-22. The programme is expected to match fund around 60 share offers in the first three years of the programme (to 2020) and then provide active investor support to societies on a continuing basis. The programme is run by the Community Shares Unit, a joint initiative between Co-operatives UK and Locality.
The Community Shares Unit was established in 2012, since when there have been over 350 community share offers in the UK, raising more than £120m in share capital from over 100,000 people. Community shares are defined as non-transferable, withdrawable shares in an asset locked society that has at least 20 member-shareholders and £10,000 in share capital.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
https://www.communitysharesbooster.org.uk/how-it-works
 
Transforming British Tennis Together Initiative – Lawn Tennis Association
The LTA are operating two funds, with the preference being to invest in projects that bring together multiple partners to deliver the right mix of tennis facilities for their local community.
The first fund is named after the programme – the Transforming British Tennis Together Fund. They are allocating £100m and will provide significant support to applicants throughout the lifecycle of their project. With this fund they want to see multiple organisations coming together to create hundreds of thriving ‘Community Tennis Networks’.
The second fund – the Growing the Game Fund – is designed to support smaller venues who, primarily for geographical reasons, cannot be part of a broader Community Tennis Network. They are allocating £25m and we will provide a more streamlined service to applicants.
The following elements are likely to feature in many successful bids:

  • Floodlights
  • Covered courts (primarily framed fabric, bubbles or other low cost structures)
  • Social facilities (including  cafes and clubhouses)
  • Multi-sports surfaces suitable for tennis
  • Accessible facilities that cater for disabled players
  • Tennis facilities at multi-sport venues, whether indoor  or outdoor
  • Creative ideas on how existing facilities can be altered to support Community  Tennis Network

Up to 50% funding is available to projects and the initiative is due to run for 10 years with 2 funding rounds each year. The next deadline is 28 September 2018.
https://www.lta.org.uk/venue-management/facilities-advice/#
 
BlueSpark Foundation grants
Schools, colleges and community groups in England can apply for grants to Blue Spark Foundation for a wide range of projects. The Foundation value academic, vocational, artistic and sporting endeavour in equal measure but are particularly keen to support projects which will help enhance the self-confidence, team working skills and future employability of children and young people.
Many grants will be under £2,000, most will be under £5,000 and only in a few cases will grants exceed £10,000.
Projects which could be supported include drama, music, sport, art and design, debating, public speaking, academic education, vocational training, community projects, enterprise projects and educational excursions. This list is illustrative and not exclusive as to the types of project that the Foundation support.
http://bluesparkfoundation.org.uk/
 
Rural Broadband Infrastructure grants – Defra
Details of this grant were announced on 3 October 2017. Local Authorities leading on the role out of Superfast Broadband can apply for Rural Broadband Infrastructure grants.
Up to £30,000,000 is available through this call. Minimum grant is £500,000. Grants are expected to be between £1m and £4m.
The grants are funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), which is part of the European Structural Investment Funds (ESIF).
You need to contact the rural Payments Agency at BroadbandApps@rpa.gsi.gov.uk to get a copy of the grant handbook, an application form, application appendix and guidance on how to apply.
The deadline for applications is 31 May 2018.
https://www.gov.uk/european-structural-investment-funds/rural-broadband-infrastructure-00rd17rb0001
 
Archives Revealed programme – The National Archives
‘Archives Revealed’ is a partnership programme between The National Archives and The Pilgrim Trust. It is described as the only funding stream available in the UK dedicated to cataloguing and unlocking archives. The fund is comprised of two funding strands, the first of which, ‘Cataloguing grants’ of up to £40,000 for archives to create catalogues of important archival collections, is now closed and will re-open in October 2018.
Scoping Grants up to £3,000 will be available under the second strand to help archives conduct collection analysis to support development of plans for future cataloguing priorities and projects. The scoping grant fund is due to open shortly.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archives-sector/finding-funding/archives-revealed/
 
Website Grants – Transform Foundation
Transform Foundation provide funding of up to £18,000 to cover the strategy, design, build, content strategy, training, QA and launch of a new mobile optimised website, with sophisticated marketing, fundraising, appeals, social media, e-commerce and website management tools. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
The grant covers 100% of the website design and build costs with the Foundation’s current grant partner. Applicant organisations will need to cover ongoing costs for a minimum of a 12 month commitment
They are specifically targeting small and midsize charities – generally with an income between £350k and £30M a year.
https://www.transformfoundation.org.uk/website-grants
 
Core Strength Local Communities Grants – Comic Relief
UK Community Foundations is supporting Comic Relief to deliver a £2 million investment into supporting small community led organisations across the UK.
The Core Strength Local Communities Grants programme provides funding for essential core running costs for grassroots organisations that are often the first and sometimes only point of support for individuals and communities trying to make a difference in their lives. The initiative will sit under the Comic Relief programme of Building Stronger Communities – supporting groups who work to make their communities more connected, empowered and productive.
Grants between £1,000 and £10,000 for up to 12 months are available to small local community organisations with an annual income of up to £100,000.
Application windows will open at different times across the UK between August 2017 until July 2018.
http://www.ukcommunityfoundations.org/our-programmes/comic-relief
 
Main Grants programme – BBC Children in Need
The BBC Children in Need Main Grants programme is open to charities and not-for-profit organisations applying for grants over £10,000 per year for up to three years. If you are looking for any amount up to £10,000 for one year, see Small Grants.
Under the Main Grants programme, funding is available for projects addressing the needs of children and young people of 18 years and under experiencing disadvantage through:

  1. Illness, distress, abuse or neglect
  2. Any kind of disability
  3. Behavioural or psychological difficulties
  4. Living in poverty or situations of deprivation

Projects funded aim to make differences in children’s lives that help prevent or overcome the effects of the disadvantages they face. Projects achieve these differences by either working directly with children or seeking to improve their social and physical environments.
The next deadline for applications is 17 May 2018.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3XW7FvN20PD3xr2c1T62Xly/main-grants
 
External grants programme – Royal British Legion
The Royal British Legion’s External Grants programme is open to applications from organisations running, or planning, charitable activities in support of the Armed Forces community.
The External Grants programme has multiple funding streams available targeted at projects/services delivering welfare support directly to the Armed Forces community. Applications for projects/services supporting the following outcome themes will be prioritised:

  • Employment and training
  • Family support
  • Homelessness and outreach
  • Supporting the elderly

The typical grant award is not likely to exceed £50,000 – smaller applications are encouraged. The next deadline for stage one applications is 27 April 2018.
https://britishlegion.flexigrant.com/
 
Community, Maintenance and Repair Grants – National Churches Trust
The National Churches Trust currently has a number of grant programmes open including:

  • Community Grants programme. This offers grants usually of between £5,000 and £25,000 towards the cost of projects introducing facilities to enable increased community use of places of worship. Projects that include toilets and catering facilities are prioritised. The closing date for applications is 2 July 2018.
  • Maintenance grant programme. This is a pilot programme, in partnership with the Pilgrim Trust, offering awards of between £500 and £3,000 to encourage churches to act on small, urgent maintenance issues and repairs to listed church buildings, as identified in a recent Quinquennial Inspection Report, condition survey or report by a gutter management contractor, and costed between £1,000 and £10,000. Proposed works must be to the main church building, and applicants must be able to show they have already raised 50% of the total repair costs, and to have obtained two quotes for the works. The closing date for applications is 23 May 2018.
  • Repair Grants programme. This offers grants usually of between £5,000 and £40,000 towards the cost of urgent and essential structural repair projects. The closing date for applications is 2 July 2018.
  • Project Development grant programme. This is a pilot grant programme offering awards up to £10,000 to support churches to become more sustainable through the diagnosis of issues affecting the church, by testing the viability of proposed solutions to improve sustainability, and through development of guiding policies and plans that will be implemented through an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund, or other large church heritage funders. The closing date for applications is 25 April 2018.

http://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/our-grants
 
RDPE Growth Programme – Rural Payments Agency & Defra
You could be eligible for a Growth Programme grant if your business is carrying out a project to create jobs or bring more money into the rural economy.
There are 3 types of grant:

  • Business development
  • Food processing
  • Rural tourism infrastructure

The grants are funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), which is part of the European Structural Investment Funds (ESIF). The whole aim of the RDPE Growth Programme is to create jobs and growth in the rural economy. Applications will need to show how projects will help do this. The expression of interest (EOI) deadline has been extended to 31 May 2018.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rdpe-growth-programme
 
WiFi4EU – European Commission
The European Commission is seeking to promote free Wi-Fi connectivity in public spaces such as parks, squares, public building, libraries, health centres, and museums everywhere in Europe through WiFi4EU. The budget of the WiFi4EU scheme is EUR 120 million between 2017 and 2019. It will support the installation of “state-of-the-art Wi-Fi equipment in the centres of community life.” The WiFi4EU scheme will be disbursed in a geographically balanced manner, so that high-speed connections can benefit both residents and visitors of thousands of local communities across the EU – at least 6,000 to 8,000 local communities by 2020.
The WiFi4EU scheme will be open to public sector bodies – typically local authorities. It will fund the equipment and installation costs (internet access points), while the beneficiary will pay for the connectivity (internet subscription) and maintenance in good order of the equipment for 3 years.
Local authorities will be encouraged to develop and promote their own digital services in areas such as e-government, e-health and e-tourism through a dedicated app.
Projects will be selected on a first-come, first-serve basis. The first call for projects is expected to be launched “early 2018.”
https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/wifi4eu-free-wi-fi-europeans
 
Project Viability Grant and Project Development Grant – Architectural Heritage Fund
The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) which supports the conservation and re-generation of historic buildings, has two further grants available:

  • Project Viability Grants – grants up to £7,500 are available to fund studies to look at potential uses for a building and at its current condition, and produce a Viability Report to a standard template.
  • Project Development Grants – grants up to £30,000 are available to assist an organisation to cover some of the costs of developing and co-ordinating a project and taking it towards the start of work on site.

The deadline for applications for both Project Viability Grants and Project Development Grants of up to £7,500 is the last day of each calendar month. Project Development Grant applications for more than £7,500 go to Trustee Grants Panel meetings for decision. The deadline for the next meeting is 14 May 2018.
http://ahfund.org.uk/grant/
 
Heritage Mortgage – Architectural Heritage Fund
The Architectural Heritage Fund is now able to offer bespoke mortgage-style loan facilities. The Heritage Mortgage programme allows borrowers to plan ahead across a number of years and at an earlier stage than is usual, potentially reducing the annual costs by stretching the payments over a longer period. The Heritage Mortgage is available either pre- or post-completion of a capital project. Investments of between £150,000 and £500,000 are available, typically over 10 to 20 years.
http://ahfund.org.uk/the/
 
Family Fund – The Family Fund Trust for families with severely disabled children.
The Family Fund helps families across the UK who are raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young person aged 17 or under. You can apply to Family Fund subject to a number of criteria which include that you are the parent or carer of a disabled or seriously ill child or young person aged 17 or under and that you have evidence of entitlement to one of the following: Universal Credit, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit, Employment Support Allowance, Housing Benefit and Pension Credit.
See the website for more details.
https://www.familyfund.org.uk/
 
Childcare Business Grants Scheme – Department for Education
This scheme is intended to reimburse people for the costs of setting up their childcare business.  The scheme is only open to newly registered businesses. From 1 May 2017 a newly registered business is one that has been registered with Ofsted or a CMA within the last 3 months. There are three types of grants available.

  1. A £500 grant for an early years childminder or childcare provider on domestic premises
  2. A £1,000 grant for an early years childminder or childcare provider on domestic premises of children with special educational needs and disability (SEN/D)
  3. A £1,000 grant for a Childminder Agency (CMA).

The Childcare Business Grants Scheme is funded by the Department for Education. There is a fixed amount of funding available. The scheme is due to end by 31 March 2018, or sooner if all funds have been exhausted.
https://www.childcarebusinessgrants.com/
 
Landfill Communities Fund – SUEZ Communities Trust
SUEZ Communities Trust (formerly SITA) provides funds to not-for-profit organisations to undertake work that is eligible under the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF). Applications are considered for three areas of work which qualify for funding through the LCF. These include:

  • Public Amenities
  • Historic Buildings, Structures or Sites
  • Biodiversity

Projects can be supported that make physical improvements at sites located in any of 100 funding zones around qualifying sites owned by SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK. A ‘Smaller Projects Fund’ is available for grants up to £20,000 and a ‘Primary Fund’ for projects up to £50,000.
http://www.suezcommunitiestrust.org.uk/
 
Community Asset Fund – Sport England
Whether it’s the park you run through, the hall you do classes in or the pitch you play on, welcoming and accessible spaces have a big impact on a person’s experience – and likelihood of coming back.
As part of this, Sport England have produced a guide and accompanying document to explain more about the new Community Asset Fund, how and why they’re doing things differently, when they will make decisions plus tips and advice for developing your project or idea.
Sports clubs and community organisations can now apply for investment from the Community Asset Fund – Sport England’s new capital fund dedicated to enhancing the spaces in local communities that give people the opportunity to be active.
This fund will have a value of £15 million per annum with the anticipated size of bids between £1000 and £150,000. There is no deadline to apply and awards will be made from February 2017.
https://www.sportengland.org/funding/community-asset-fund/
 
Grant schemes for electric vehicle charging infrastructure – Office for Low Emission Vehicles
The government offers grants to support the wider use of electric and hybrid vehicles via the Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV). This includes:

  • The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) provides grant funding of up to 75% towards the cost of installing electric vehicle chargepoints at domestic properties across the UK.
  • The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is a voucher-based scheme that provides support towards the up-front costs of the purchase and installation of electric vehicle charge-points, for eligible businesses, charities and public sector organisations.
  • The On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) provides grant funding for local authorities towards the cost of installing on-street residential chargepoints for plug-in electric vehicles.

For more information visit the website below.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-grants-for-low-emission-vehicles
 
European Structural and Investment Funds – Department for Communities and Local Government
A variety of funds under the European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF) are currently available in different parts of the country. ESIF includes money from the European Social Fund (ESF), European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
Deadlines for applications vary.  Please see the website below for more information.
https://www.gov.uk/european-structural-investment-funds
 
Community Fibre Partnerships – BT
£2 million of grants have been made available from BT Community Fibre Partnerships delivered by Openreach. Grants are for communities in the so called ‘final 5%’ of the UK not covered by fibre broadband rollout plans. Grants of up to £30,000 toward the cost of new fibre infrastructure are available, so long as that new infrastructure serves the local Ofsted registered (or equivalent) school or learning establishment.
50% of the required funds could be available from the scheme with the community raising the additional 50%. BT has teamed up with the Crowdfunding website “Spacehive” to assist with  community fundraising.
Applications can be made at any time until the £2 million has been allocated.
http://www.communityfibre.bt.com/schools
 
Changemaker – Santander
Changemaker is a fund to help social enterprises, small charities and community groups to deliver projects in the UK that create innovative solutions to improve communities.
Santander has £200,000 to support Changemakers who turn to the Crowd to make great ideas happen.
The Changemaker Fund has been created to support projects that help disadvantaged people to have confidence in the future by building skills and knowledge or innovative ideas that help communities prosper.
If you have a project which the Crowd support Santander provide the final 50% to help you reach your target, up to £10,000.
http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/funds/changemaker
 
Tesco Bags of Help – Tesco and Groundwork
The money raised from the 5p bag charge in Tesco stores in England, Wales and Scotland is being used to support community participation in the development and use of open spaces. Projects that will get the green light as a result of the funding will include volunteer training, physical improvements of open spaces, equipment purchases, community events and sports and leisure activities.
Administration of the local funding is being managed by the community charity Groundwork.
Bags of Help is always open to applications from community projects. Groundwork assesses all of the applications received to ensure they are eligible. This is followed up by Tesco shortlisting groups who decide which projects go forward to the in-store vote. Three local community projects will be voted on in Tesco stores each month across Tesco regions throughout England, Scotland and Wales. In each region, the project that received the most votes from all stores in their region will receive a grant of up to £5,000. The second placed project receives up to £2,000 and third placed up to £1,000. Every year, over 7000 projects will receive funding through this scheme.
http://www.groundwork.org.uk/Sites/tescocommunityscheme
 
Home Building Fund – Homes & Communities Agency
The government has created a £3 billion fund “to increase the number of homes built in England.” You can apply if you’re a private sector business that builds new homes or prepares sites for housing developments. This includes small builders, community builders, custom builders and regeneration specialists, as well as larger builders and developers.
The fund provides development finance and infrastructure finance via loans. More information on how the fund works and who can apply is available in ‘An Introduction to the Home Building Fund’ which you can access via the link below.
https://www.gov.uk/homebuildingfund
 
Fans Fund Small Grants Scheme – Football
The Premier League Fans Fund is a three-year commitment from the Premier League to fund projects and organisations which improve the relationship between fans and their clubs, the way football supporters engage with each other and fans’ experience of the game.
The Fans Fund Small Grants Scheme offers grants of up to £20,000 for projects that look to address the aims of the scheme which are to:

  • Improve the relationship between fans and their clubs
  • Improve the way football supporters engage with each other
  • Improve fans’ experience of the game.

Applications are accepted at any time.
http://www.fsif.co.uk/funding/fans-fund-small-grants-scheme/
 
Heritage Project Grants – Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) funds projects which focus on heritage.  HLF offer a range of different grant programmes with grants from £3,000 to over £5million. In assessing applications, HLF take account of the broad range of outcomes for heritage, people and communities that projects will achieve.  HLF programmes include:

  • Resilient Heritage grants – this is a new programme. Grants of £3,000-£250,000 are available to organisations in the UK who want to build their capacity or achieve strategic change to improve the management of heritage. Grants can fund activities to help you acquire new skills or knowledge, or new models of governance, leadership and business to put your organisation in a better position for the future. Organisations in the early stages of planning their activities may also apply. Whether you’re facing challenges around income and fundraising, or preparing to take on new forms of investment, such as social investment, Resilient Heritage can support these processes.
  • Heritage Enterprise – supports enterprising community organisations across the UK to rescue neglected historic buildings and sites and unlock their economic potential.  You can apply for a grant from £100,000 to £5million.
  • Sharing Heritage – for any type of project related to national, regional or local heritage in the UK.  Applications can be made for a grant from £3,000 to £10,000.  The fund is available to not-for-profit organisations or partnerships led by not-for-profit organisations wanting to explore, share and celebrate their community’s heritage.  This is a rolling programme and applications can be submitted at any time.
  • Our Heritage – for any type of project related to national, regional or local heritage in the UK. Applications can be made for a grant of more than £10,000 and up to £100,000.  HLF fund applications from not-for-profit organisations, private owners of heritage (including individuals and for-profit organisations) and partnerships.  This is a rolling programme and applications can be made at any time.
  • Heritage Grants – HLF’s open programme for any type of project related to the national, regional, or local heritage in the UK. You can apply for a grant of over £100,000. Heritage Grants applications go through a two-round process. This is so that you can apply at an early stage of planning your project and get an idea of whether you have a good chance of getting a grant before you submit your proposals in greater detail.
  • Young Roots – for projects that engage young people with heritage in the UK.  Applications can be made for a grant of more than £10,000 and up to £50,000.  Under this programme, HLF fund partnerships of heritage and youth organisations to help young people shape and deliver their own projects in safe environments.  This is a rolling programme and applications can be made at any time.

For information on all HLF programmes visit the website.
http://www.hlf.org.uk/Pages/Home.aspx
 
Grants for the Arts – Arts Council England
Grants of between £1000 and £100,000 are available for eligible individuals, organisations, libraries and museums for a range of activities including: Audio-visual, broadcast and transmission, buildings and infrastructure, capacity building, commissioning, digital creation, diversity and equality, education and learning, exhibition, festival, organisational development, original work, participation, performance, production, professional development, publishing, research and development, sector development, talent development and touring.
This is a rolling programme with no deadlines.
http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/applying-grants-arts
 
More than a Pub – Plunkett Foundation
The Community Pub Business Support Programme is a unique two year programme established to help support community ownership of pubs in England. Its value is £3.62 million and is jointly funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government and Power to Change. A comprehensive package of business development support, advice and loan and grant funding has been developed to assist community pub businesses consider their viability at all stages of their development which includes:

  • A flexible package of support including: an advice line; events; workshops; peer-to-peer study visits; business development advice.
  • Flexible bursary awards of up to £2,500 (inclusive of VAT) to fund pre-feasibility costs such as public consultation and valuations.
  • Combined loan and grant funding up to £100,000

https://www.plunkett.co.uk/more-than-a-pub
 
Discovery grants – Santander Foundation
The aim of The Discovery Project is to help disadvantaged people have the confidence to make the most of their future.
The Santander Foundation provides grants to support knowledge, skills and innovation to give disadvantaged people the confidence to discover and create a new world of opportunities.
Discovery Grants of up to £5,000 are available to UK Registered Charities, Community Interest Companies and Credit Unions to fund small, local projects helping disadvantaged people.
http://www.santanderfoundation.org.uk/
 
Help the Homeless grants
Help The Homeless makes grants to charitable organisations with the aim of helping homeless people return to the community and enabling them to resume a normal life. Grants are available to small and medium-sized charitable organisations to fund the capital costs of projects with grants of up to £5,000. The quarterly deadlines for grant applications each year are: 15 March, 15 June, 15 September and 15 December.
http://www.help-the-homeless.org.uk/
 
Grants for War Memorials – War Memorials Trust
War Memorials Trust administers a number of grants schemes which between them cover the whole of the UK.  Currently programme funders include the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, Historic England, Historic Scotland and War Memorials Trust. Grants are currently available up to 75% of eligible costs with a normal maximum grant of £30,000.
War Memorials Trust seeks to help all war memorial custodians, whatever the nature and size of their war memorial by facilitating repair and conservation projects. 
Annual deadlines are 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December.
http://www.warmemorials.org/grants/
 
Rural Community Energy Fund
The Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF) supports rural communities in England to develop renewable energy projects which provide economic and social benefits to the community.  The fund will provide up to approximately £150,000 of funding for feasibility and pre-planning development work to help projects become investment ready. RCEF provides support in two stages:

  • Stage 1 provides a grant of up to approximately £20,000 to pay for an initial investigation into the feasibility of a renewable energy project.
  • Stage 2 provides an unsecured loan of up to approximately £130,000 to support planning applications and develop a robust business case to attract further investment.

The fund is being delivered on behalf of the government by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP). Applications will be reviewed on a monthly basis and there is no set deadline for bids
http://www.wrap.org.uk/content/rural-community-energy-fund
 
Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund – Football Foundation
The Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund provides grants for building or refurbishing grassroots facilities, such as changing pavilions and playing surfaces for community benefit, with money provided by the Premier League, The FA and the Government (via Sport England) and delivered by the Foundation.  The Fund is available to football clubs, schools, councils and local sports associations and gives grants for projects that:

  • Improve facilities for football and other sport in local communities.
  • Sustain or increase participation amongst children and adults, regardless of background age, or ability.
  • Help children and adults to develop their physical, mental, social and moral capacities through regular participation in sport.

Grants are available for between £10,000 and £500,000.
http://www.footballfoundation.org.uk/funding-schemes/premier-league-the-fa-facilities-fund/
 
The future for food, farming and the environment – Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs consultation
Defra is inviting views on the government’s proposals for future agricultural policy. The following documents are available online:

  • Consultation paper –  “Health and Harmony: the future for food, farming and the environment in a Green Brexit”
  • Annex A: Stakeholder proposals
  • Annex B: Current Countryside Stewardship Options – Mid Tier, Higher Tier and Capital Items
  • The Future Farming and Evidence Compendium

This consultation closes on 8 May 2018.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-future-for-food-farming-and-the-environment
 
National Planning Policy Framework and developer contribution – Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government consultations
The government has published consultations on the revised National Planning Policy Framework and the reform of developer contributions. The government state that: “This planning reform package is fundamental to delivering the homes we need and ensuring that we get the right homes, of the right quality, built in the right places.”
The revision of the National Planning Policy Framework is stated to implement around 80 previously announced reforms. The government is seeking views on the wording that implements these commitments. You can view more details on the changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, and find out how to respond to the consultation via this link:
Draft revised National Planning Policy Framework consultation
Following the announcement at Budget 2017, the government is also seeking views on reforms to the system of developer contributions. You can view more details on the developer contributions reforms, and find out how to respond to the consultation via this link:
Consultation on supporting housing delivery through developer contributions
Both consultations close on 10 May 2018.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-planning-policy-framework-and-developer-contribution-consultations
 
Section 19 and 22 permits: how to apply EU Regulation 1071/2009 – Department for Transport consultation
On 8 February, the Government launched its much awaited consultation on the use of section 19 and 22 permits. This sets out how it intends to change its guidance following its reinterpretation of how the EU regulations (1071/2009) on passenger service vehicle (PSV) operators should be applied in England, Wales and Scotland.
The consultation asks for comments on proposed changes to law and guidance about who can operate public service vehicles (PSVs) without a PSV licence.
This consultation closes on 4 May 2018.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/section-19-and-22-permits-how-to-apply-eu-regulation-10712009
 
National Policy Statement for geological disposal infrastructure – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy consultation
The purpose of this consultation is to gather views on whether the draft National Policy Statement (NPS) for Geological Disposal Infrastructure (GDF) provides an appropriate and effective framework for the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State to examine and make decisions on development consent applications for geological disposal infrastructure in England.
National Policy Statements set out the need for particular Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), and are required, under the Planning Act 2008, to undergo a period of public consultation before they are published.
This consultation closes on 19 April 2018.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/national-policy-statement-for-geological-disposal-infrastructure
 
Working with communities: implementing geological disposal – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy consultation
This consultation seeks views on how communities should be engaged in a siting process for a Geological Disposal Facility for higher activity radioactive waste.
The proposals build on commitments set out in the 2014 White Paper ‘Implementing Geological Disposal’, in which the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive jointly set out an approach based on working with communities in England and Northern Ireland that are willing to participate in the siting process for a geological disposal facility. They relate to how communities should be engaged, how early community investment could be provided to communities that participate in the siting process, how a right of withdrawal could operate throughout the siting process, and how a test of public support could be carried out before construction and operation of a geological disposal facility.
This consultation closes on 19 April 2018.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/working-with-communities-implementing-geological-disposal
 
Civil society strategy – Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport consultation
Tracey Crouch, Minister for Sport and Civil Society, has launched a public call for evidence on a new strategy that will harnesses the power of communities, charities, and businesses to help build a fairer society.
The engagement exercise for the Civil Society Strategy will look at four themes that will strengthen civil society further, exploring the best way sectors can work together, empowering people to take action on the issues that matter to them and improving the places they live and work in.
This consultation closes on 22 May 2018.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/civil-society-strategy-have-your-say
 
Integrated Communities Strategy green paper – Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government consultation
The Integrated Communities Strategy green paper invites views on the government’s vision for building strong integrated communities where people – whatever their background – live, work, learn and socialise together, based on shared rights, responsibilities and opportunities.
The green paper sets out a programme of actions the government proposes to take across government to deliver this vision at the local and national level. They want to hear from individuals, communities and organisations about the most effective ways to address integration challenges.
This consultation closes on 5 June 2018.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/integrated-communities-strategy-green-paper

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