Funding News – 20 November 2023

Your weekly funding news and deadlines update from GrantTracker.

Funding News

Music for All’s funding round 4 now open

Music for All are delighted to be able to offer financial awards as well as donations of instruments in the categories below. Round 4 supports applications for Working with children in early years age group 0-4, For groups working with those facing financial hardship, Choral Groups, electric Guitars, Ukele Group Bundle Offer, and Beheringer multipurpose headphones. Applications for these awards categories should be made by 8am Monday 18 December 2023.

The Fore's Spring 2024 fund opening soon

The Fore make unrestricted grants which have the potential to have a transformational impact on an organisation. Transformational impact includes helping organisations become more sustainable, more efficient, to grow significantly or enabling an organisation to take a major step forward of some kind. Registration for their Spring 2024 Funding Round will be open from 12pm (midday) on Wednesday 6th December, to 12pm (midday) on Wednesday 13th December 2023. On Thursday 14th December, all those who submit a registration will be emailed with confirmation of whether they have been allocated a place on the funding round. They will then be invited to submit a complete application. 

National Churches Trust

  • National Churches Trust's Treasure Ireland project will consider applications from listed and unlisted Christian places of worship, of any denomination, that are located in Northern Ireland providing funding of between £500 and £10,000 for church maintenance or urgent repair work. Closes 22 January 2024 (midnight).
  • National Churches Trust: Large Grants  - This programme offers their largest grants of up to £50,000 towards the cost of major urgent structural repair projects costed at more than £80,000 including VAT. They will also consider projects that introduce kitchens and accessible toilets to enable increased community use, costed at more than £30,000 including VAT. Grants will never exceed 50% of the project cost.

See also Small and Medium Grants funding schemes.

Building the Community Pharmacy Partnership (BCPP)

The programme aims to promote and support local communities to work in partnership with community pharmacists to address local health and social wellbeing needs using a community development approach. Level 1 funding is for a grant up to £2,500 for a project that can last up to six months (deadline 29 February 2024). Level 2 funding is for a grant of up to £12,000 for a project that can last up to one year (deadline 21 March 2024).

VocTech Activate Grant Fund

Ufi’s VocTech Activate grant fund is designed to support the development of early-stage digital tools and approaches with the potential to tackle vocational learning problems and transform how people gain skills for work. Grants between £30,000 and £60,000 for projects lasting up to 12 months are available. Open to applications 2 January 2024. Sign up for upcoming workshops taking place January 2024.

The National Lottery Community Fund announce higher funding level for Awards for All Northern Ireland

Social connections and community activities are at the heart of creating healthier, happier lives and a flourishing society. That’s why The National Lottery Community Fund supports amazing community-led projects. They now offer funding from £300 to £20,000. And can support your project for up to two years.

King Charles III Charitable Fund: Small Grants opening January 2024

The King Charles III Charitable Fund is set to launch its Small Grants Programme in January 2024, continuing the legacy of former initiatives like the Prince's Countryside Fund. This new programme focuses on supporting projects that contribute to the environment, countryside, social inclusion, health and wellbeing, education, heritage, and conservation. The Fund awards small grants of up to £5,000 per year to approximately 100 community based organisations each year.

Upcoming Deadlines

Sport & Recreation Alliance: Community Sport and Recreation Awards

The Sport and Recreation Alliance is the umbrella body for sport and recreation in the UK and represents 320 members – organisations like The FA, the Rugby Football Union, British Athletics, Ramblers, British Rowing and the Exercise Movement and Dance Partnership. Eight categories with each category winner will receive £1,000 to help boost their work.   Nominate by 24 November 2023.

Hospice UK: Dying Matters Community Grants Programme

The Dying Matters Community Grants Programme funds new and creative ways to spark those important conversations in communities across the UK. The grant programme focusses on working with people who we know are least likely to have already had access to existing models of support. This year the grant programme is only open to applications from hospices. Project grants between £5,000 - £8,000. Deadline 24 November 2023 (5pm).

Nike & Spotify: Make Moves Fund

Nike and Spotify have linked up to launch the Make Moves Fund - a social impact-led initiative designed to get the least active girls moving through music. The Make Moves fund will provide £20k grants to UK-based community organisations to pioneer innovative, girl-first programmes that combine music and movement. Deadline 30 November 2023.

Arts Council of Northern Ireland: Annual Funding Programme 2023/24

The aim of the Annual Funding Programme (AFP) is to support Northern Ireland’s arts infrastructure through grants to organisations in all artforms and practices for their core and programming costs. AFP organisations will be key to helping them achieve the objectives set out in their 5-year strategic framework for developing the arts, Inspire / Connect / Lead, and they expect all awardees to support them in delivering these objectives. Deadline 15 December 2023 (noon).

Fundraising Support for autumn 2023

Training

A Practical Guide to Completing Funding Applications

As the voluntary and community sector face a squeeze on finances from a variety of sources, securing funding is essential but it’s a competitive environment. This in-person event gives a useful overview and the practical advice you need to complete funding applications with a focus on addressing emerging funding priorities.

  • 30 November 2023
  • 9:30am to 12:30pm
  • Paid (£35 members £50 non-members)

Fundraising Clinics

These popular, free fundraising advice clinics provide members with an hour-long chance to discuss and address specific fundraising needs.  The sessions can be delivered online, in-person or over the telephone.

All previously announced sessions are now fully booked. There may be availability for sessions in December 2023. Please contact the Fundraising Advice Officer directly to be considered.

Resources

Explore the Fundraising Hub for a wide range of resources to support your fundraising journey. A few are below:

#TicktheBox for Gift Aid – why it’s important

Every year, charities miss out on £560m in unclaimed Gift Aid. As we face a tough funding climate with increasing costs, encouraging your supporters to #TicktheBox means we can make an even bigger difference in these tough times.

Meta and PayPal Giving Fund announce partnership – what it means for fundraisers using Facebook and Instagram

The partnership between Meta and PayPal Giving Fund to handle the processing of charitable donations means UK organisations need to act to avoid disruption to their fundraising on Facebook and Instagram. Fundraisers should also note that processing fees will now be incurred.

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