This Week's Funding News wc 11th May

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NB For the latest on Government, local Council and trust and foundation funding, keep checking our constantly updated articles on NICVA's COVID-19 Fundraising Hub

NB And keep up to date by following NICVA's Fundraising Advice Officer on Twitter

NEW & UPDATED COVID-19 GRANT SCHEMES FROM LOCAL COUNCILS

The following Councils are running competitive, open grant schemes.  The others are distributing funds other than by open competition.  See the link above for full details.

COVID-19 FUNDS CLOSING SOON

Helps fund the core costs of Ofcom-licensed community radio stations. For 2020-21, grants will be provided as emergency cash funding to support stations facing severe financial difficulty due to COVID-19.

Currently inviting customers to nominate a local charity, group or cause for a Community Grant of up to £2,500 to help them to continue providing support to those affected by the Coronavirus, or who themselves are struggling to maintain their usual services. Examples for nominations might include foodbanks, support groups or homeless charities.  

Grants from £500 to £5,000 for volunteer and community groups, all school and third level education organisations, youth groups and sports clubs for civic pride projects. Also now funding community groups to support the needs of local people impacted through reduced contact with society.  

A ‘Community Cashback’ fund of £20,000 to support communities in need in NI.  Using an online public voting system , for 4 weeks from 20th April, each week will see groups receiving £2000 (1st place), £1500 (2nd place), £1000 (3rd place) or £500 (4th place). 

A £10 million programme, offering 100 donations of £100,000 to UK registered charities working to support vulnerable communities impacted by COVID-19. Focuses on supporting charity partners meeting the immediate needs of people in their communities, including low income families, those facing financial hardship, isolated elderly people and key workers.  Applicants must have an income in excess of £1 million per year and be active in communities where Barclays‘ has a presence.  

Allocates the funds generated from the VAT on sanitary products to projects that improve the lives of disadvantaged women and girls. For 2020/2021 they welcome organisations delivering activities to address the consequences of COVID-19 for disadvantaged women and girls.

COVID-19 FUNDS CURRENTLY OPEN

An Emergency Funding programme to support charities experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the current pandemic. Particularly welcomes applications from Christian based organisations.

Grants of up to £2500 for community based food provision responses that support local families with children under the age of 10 as a result of the order to close schools and/or loss of household income as a result of the COVID-19 virus. (Managed by Community Foundation for NI)

A key NI fund and aims to help constituted groups in NI to deal with the emerging issues of Coronavirus.  Now offering grants of up to 10K for  -  

  • Older people (aged over 50) 
  • Those at increased risk, particularly in relation to poor mental health and wellbeing
  • Vulnerable isolated people and families, particularly those living in rural areas, families where a parent/ both parents have lost their employment or where children are living in poverty
  • Children and young people’s projects, particularly focusing on the voice of young people and connecting through creative mediums.  
  • Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities

NB Safeguarding guidelines changed on 27/03 to reflect the fact that groups want to respond to immediate COVID-19 issues and may not yet have full adult safeguarding policies and procedures in place.  

5 grants of £10,000 to VCS organisations delivering innovative and new projects offering additional value in social care, where statutory support is falling short, limited, or currently non-existent, as the public sector focuses on emergencies. County Antrim only. (Closes 1pm 1st June 2020)

Limited number of small grants of £150 for safety equipment and fuel for volunteers for very localised and isolated communities in rural areas throughout Mid Ulster during COVID-19. 

Moving focus to charities and community organisations helping people who are isolated and vulnerable in their local communities.  Now concentrating funding in the former Antrim Borough Council area.

Continuing to accept applications for funding from: i) charities who are struggling to survive funding crises during the Covid-19 pandemic, and (ii) charities who are seeking funding for future projects/activities.

Making an additional £16 million of funding available this year in response to COVID-19.  £14 million will be in fast-response grants for organisations they currently support across all of their sectors: the arts, children and young people, environment, food and social change. £2 million will be for contributions to emergency funding schemes in collaboration with others.

Established by the Impartial Reporter in partnership with The Fermanagh Trust, with donations of over £10,000 raised by the local community.  Open to organisations and agencies in Fermanagh who need support to improve the well-being of health and social care and home care personnel including volunteers.

Due to overwhelming demand, they are now offering weekly grant making decisions and a single grants scheme offering grants of up to £5000 for COVID-19 related projects.  The aim is to make it easier for charities to access aid quickly to provide vital services during the Covid-19 crisis.

Funded by M&S Family, Lidl, Aldi, Danone UK & Ireland and Coca-Cola European Partners, £500,000 fund to provide immediate micro-grants to community organisations that are helping the people most affected by the outbreak, including the elderly, those on low incomes and people at risk of food insecurity.   NB As of 11th May, 474K of the total 500K had already been allocated.

Temporarily suspended its major grants programme and launched 2 funds to help existing network and current grant recipients (but public access may be given at a later date)  The Emergency Fund is for immediate grants of up to £750 to purchase equipment, technology or memberships and the Resilience Fund provides grants to cover cashflow, fundraising and loss of income, and to help with increased demand for services.

A new fund for social enterprises and charities who are experiencing disruption to their normal business model as a result of COVID-19. Established to make an existing government scheme (the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) more easily accessible to charities and social enterprises.  The £25m is part of a wider package of support announced by Big Society Capital.

Support Adoption For Pets provides funding to pet rescue organisations for purposes which make a real difference to the welfare of UK domestic pets in rescue and aim to reduce the number of domestic pets in rescue.  Their grant programme has been redeveloped to support rescues throughout the short and medium-term impact of the Coronavirus.

£500,000 Artists Emergency Programme (AEP), aims to support artists and performers during the COVID-19 crisis. Freelance artists, creative practitioners and performers can apply for grants of up to £5,000.

A £100 million COVID-19 Community Aid Package which consists of two strands. £50million will be donated to charities chosen by Barclays and £50million will be donated by matching their employees' personal donations (individual organisations cannot apply for this funding. The money will be disbursed principally in the UK, but also in Barclays’ international markets, including the USA and India.

Hardship grants of between £1,500 and £2,500 to enable individuals, including those on short-term PAYE contracts, to survive financially while they explore other ways of sustaining themselves during COVID-19. £1 million will be available to applicants living in England, and £500,000 to those living in NI

All funding decisions for the next six months (up to £300m of National Lottery funding) will be devoted to addressing the current crisis. In addition, they are accelerating the cash part of this funding as much as they can, so that they can get money to where it needs to be. This is not new money, but it will be faster money.  

£50 million is available for a Heritage Emergency Fund to support the UK heritage sector by providing short-term funding for organisations delivering heritage projects or running previously funded projects, and safeguarding heritage sites they have previously invested in to ensure they are not lost to the public.  Open for applications for funding from £3,000 to £50,000 until 30th June 2020. FAQ 

The National Emergencies Trust launched an appeal to raise funds to help local charities to support those individuals suffering hardship as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. The money raised is now available through the Community Foundation for NI's Coronavirus Community Fund - see above.   It released £2.5m to community foundations on 26th March.  (NB There is no separate fund.)​

Emergency Awards of up to £1500 for constituted, community organisations to deal with emerging issues, affecting Housing Executive communities, as a result of Covid-19.  Includes Housing Community Network Groups, Organisations and Social Enterprises within Housing Executive Communities providing support within Housing Executive areas.

Thanks to Co-op funding, they are offering a dedicated package of free Covid-19 support for all forms of community business – including woodlands, farms, bakeries, pubs and shops, as well as those developing groups that have been affected by the pandemic.   Includes support and guidance on developing short – medium term cash flow, reviewing business plans, applying for funding, etc.

A new £5million grant and one to one support and guidance fund for young entrepreneurs aged 18-30 affected by coronavirus. Grants can be used to maintain core business operations during the crisis, as well as meet any existing financial commitments, such as paying for essential equipment or settling invoices from suppliers

Aims to support the electrical waste reuse and recycling sector as a result of the impact of the coronavirus.  It will provide £5 million of interest free loans to electrical waste treatment facilities and £0.6 million of grants to charity sector reuse organisations.

Have pledged £200,000 raised by Rugbytots and The Telegraph for an emergency support package for small charities helping vulnerable children that are struggling to run essential services due a reduction in funding caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 FUNDS CURRENTLY PAUSED/CLOSED, BUT EXPECTED TO REOPEN

ADT supports young people who through volunteering or community service, aim to enhance the lives of others, particularly those most marginalised by society.  To help young people to volunteer in response to COVID-19 they are now offering larger grants of up to £1000.

Every 3 months, £250,000 is shared among UK employees to donate to projects that most matter to them. Each charity can apply for up to £50,000. In addition to the usual 2 key funding areas of community resilience and financial capability and inclusion, the May round broadened the eligibility criteria to include core running costs of those looking to adapt or continue their vital services throughout COVID-19.

A fund specifically to help smaller charitable organisations affected by the impact of Covid-19. Grants of up to £10,000 are available to whose providing much needed support to our communities across the UK. 

Small capital grants of up to £5,000 for essential capital items to adapt or increase services in response to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Priority given to organisations supporting vulnerable and ‘at risk’ groups within their programme areas. 

Emergency grants fund to support local groups financially affected by additional demands on their resources and who have expanded their provision to meet the current needs of those experiencing homelessness across the UK. Two types of grant - Awards of up to £5k for short term responses to COVID-19 and Awards of up to £50K for long term needs such as potential expansion and change of services.  

Urgent funding for emergency food parcels, hardship payments and small grants (average £500). They are also accepting donations for the appeal. To request support you send an email to them.  

New applications suspended pending confirmation of additional funding. The Department for Communities £500,000 fund, with an additional £250,000, managed by SportNI, aims to provide financial assistance through a £2000 grant to sports clubs and organisations to assist with essential overheads and the costs of maintaining their facilities during the Covid-19 lockdown period.   

Emergency grants of up to £5,000 to help small charities and social enterprises respond to the COVID-19 crisis and address the changing needs of their beneficiaries and increase their organisational resilience. Currently only open to existing grantees but they are aiming to raise £1 million funding to extend to other organisations. 

COVID-19 FUNDS NOW CLOSED (UNLIKELY TO REOPEN)