Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust Grants Programme (UK)
The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust awards grants to charitable organisations in the United Kingdom and overseas. The trustees welcome applications for projects within the following areas for the next three years. These categories are then repeated in a three-year rotation:
• 2010 Children, Youth, the Elderly and Medical. For this year only Medical Research projects dealing with the ageing population will be considered. The other priorities - Children, Youth and the Elderly - as well as other non-research based medical work are still welcome;
• 2011 Music and the Arts, Overseas (Deadline for applications 1st June & 1st Nov 2011);
• 2012 Community (Deadline for applications 1st June & 1st Nov 2012). Due to the overwhelming number of applications received, the trustees have decided to consider within the Community category applications ONLY from charities working with: Homeless; Addiction; Asylum and Refugees; Sexual and Domestic Abuse; Prisoners and ex-Offenders).

If your charity’s work falls within one of these categories and would like to be considered for a grant, please submit an application by 1st June or 1st November only in the appropriate year. Grants are usually between £1,000 and £10,000, with the majority being £5,000 or less. Exceptionally, grants of up to £20,000 are made, but these are usually for medical research projects. Previous grants awarded include a grant of £5,000 towards a resource centre providing advice and training for workers dealing with mental health in rural areas and £5,000 towards a project aimed at behavioural programme for persistent young offenders.
http://www.austin-hope-pilkington.org.uk/

Esmee Fairbairn Foundation - Food Strand (UK)
The aim of the Food strand is a £3 million funding strand over three years (2008 - 2011) with the aim of promoting an understanding of the role of food in enhancing quality of life. It will prioritise the enjoyment and experience of food rather than its production and we seek to enable as many people in the UK as possible to access, prepare and eat nutritious, sustainable food.
The Foundation are keen to support work which enhances quality of life, this will include the following:
• Improving access to appropriate, diverse and sustainable food in areas where availability is limited
• Exploring or enhancing understanding of the impact of food on wider well-being
• Demonstrating the positive role of food in a social context or how food can contribute to community cohesion
• Developing leadership in food policy and/or enabling greater connection among currently diverse food-related interests
• Scaling up effective local or regional practice that deserves a wider platform
• Strategic or exceptional work that supports the development of sustainable food systems.
The Foundation is interested in work that influences policy and practice across a range of food-related areas. The Foundation expect to support a mix of practical projects that have wide significance, and some research and policy based work.
Previously funded projects include;
• Community Food Enterprise Ltd which received a £70,000 grant towards the costs over two years of the continued operation of existing Social Food outlets and expansion of the service into new areas.
• Local Food Links Ltd, which received a grant of £99,204 towards the scale-up of the Local Food Links hot school meals service in Dorset over two years and to explore the provision of a user-led catering service for older people
Applications can be submitted at any time.
http://www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk/funding/food.html

The Fair Share Trust (UK)

The Fair Share Trust, part of the Fair Share Initiative was created to target areas throughout the UK that have previously received less then their 'fair share' of National Lottery funding. The focus of the programme is medium and longer term revenue projects, not short-term one-off projects, and grants of between £5,000 and £250,000 can be made to almost any kind of organisation (including schools), as long as the work undertaken is not primarily for private gain or individual benefit. Grants awarded must address the three wider aims of the programme, these are; to build capacity; increase social capital; improve ‘liveability’ - and must also meet the local priorities set by the Local Panel. Each of the Fair Share Trust areas have been given a specific amount of funding in England this is £859,378k per area, in Northern Ireland it is £2,250,000 for the whole programme, in Scotland it is £5,750,000 for the whole programme, and in Wales it is £3,250,000 for the whole programme. There are 77 Fair Share areas across the UK. Previous projects funded include Kirton Lane Primary School, South Yorkshire, which received a grant of £35,000 to install play equipment in their playground to keep pupils healthy and active. For more information on the programme and to find out which areas are eligible please click on the link below.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and should be made to your local agent (Community Foundation).
http://www.fairsharetrust.org/index.php

BBC Children in Need Small Grants Scheme (UK)
BBC Children in Need are inviting not-for-profit organisations (including registered charities, voluntary organisations, schools, local authorities, churches, social enterprises, community interest groups, universities etc) working with disadvantaged children and young people 18 years and under, living in the UK, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, to apply for grants of up to £10,000 through their small grants scheme. BBC Children in Need aims to fund projects where a small amount can make a real contribution to the success of the project. Grants can be used to cover both, capital and revenue costs. There are four application deadlines in the year. Examples of previously funded projects are: Free From Arts Trust for a project that gave fun and creative holiday activity for disadvantaged children; Chance UK that provides mentoring and support to children with behavioural problems; and Kidscape that helps children who are disadvantaged through being severely bullied for an extended period.
The next deadline for applications is the 15th April 2010.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/grants/general_grants.shtml


Sportsmatch (England)

The European Commission has announced the 2010 call for proposals under the Safer Internet Programme. Safer Internet 2009-2013 builds upon the Safer Internet plus programme started in 2005 and will have a total budget of €55 million. During 2010, a total of €3 million is available to support projects that ensure public awareness of internet safety; fight against illegal content and tackle harmful conduct online; promote a safer online environment; and establish a knowledge base relating to the danger of internet addiction to minors and how children, use new media, with the purpose of identifying areas of particular concern for child safety.
The closing date for applications is 5 pm on the 27th May 2010.
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/sip/funding/projects/index_en.htm

Safer Internet Programme 2009 - 2013 (UK)
The European Commission has announced the 2010 call for proposals under the Safer Internet Programme. Safer Internet 2009-2013 builds upon the Safer Internet plus programme started in 2005 and will have a total budget of €55 million. During 2010, a total of €3 million is available to support projects that ensure public awareness of internet safety; fight against illegal content and tackle harmful conduct online; promote a safer online environment; and establish a knowledge base relating to the danger of internet addiction to minors and how children, use new media, with the purpose of identifying areas of particular concern for child safety.
The closing date for applications is 5 pm on the 27th May 2010.
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/sip/funding/projects/index_en.htm 
 

School Grants Scheme (UK)

UK schools and colleges catering for pupils in the age range 5-18 are able to apply for funding from the Science and Technology Facilities Council for small-scale projects or events linked to the teaching or promotion of physics. Projects linked to astronomy, space and particle physics are particularly encouraged. Grants of up to £500 may contribute to costs such as running a science week activity, organising a visit to or from a working physicist, supply cover, transport, marketing and publicity, and materials/resources.
The closing date for applications is the 1st June 2010.
http://www.iop.org/activity/education/Teacher_Support/Grants/page_4712.html

MEDIA's Development - Slate Funding (UK)
The European Union has announced that its “Media Development - Slate Funding” programme is now open to applications. Media is the EU’s main support programme for the European Audio-visual sector. Under this call for proposals independent European production companies can apply for grants of €10,000 to €60,000 to support the development phase of media productions projects. Projects that are eligible are; Fiction (one-off and series, minimum duration 50 minutes); Creative documentary (one-off and series, minimum duration 25 minutes); Animation (one-off or series, minimum duration 24 minutes).
The application deadline is the 12 April 2010.

Regional Roll Out of 'Get Digital' Programme Announced (England)
Following the announcement that the Government is to launch a new £2.9 million Get Digital programme to get nearly 20,000 people living in sheltered housing switched on to the internet; the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) and Digital Unite (which will be delivering the programmer) have announced that the programme will be launched in a series of regional events across England in 2010. The programme will offer Registered Social Landlords small grants to help set up appropriate IT facilities and provide the support needed to ensure residents can make full use of them. Residents, staff, volunteers and others within sheltered housing schemes will be encouraged to work with other local organisations, particularly schools, UK online centres and other voluntary and community sector groups, to develop ways of building on new skills and access to new technologies. The first regional event covering London and the South East was held in late February and further events covering the rest of England will be announced shortly.
http://getdigital.digitalunite.com/

Old Possum's Practical Trust (UK)
Old Possum's Practical Trust aims to increase the knowledge and appreciation of any matters of historic, artistic, architectural, aesthetic, literary, musical or theatrical interest, by supporting organisations with grants of between £500 and £5,000. Priority will be given to projects that involve children or young people, disabled or disadvantaged people, communities, and which enhance the lives of others, rather than the well-being of the applicants themselves.
Applications can be submitted at any time.
http://www.old-possums-practical-trust.org.uk/page.cfm?pageid=300#


Funding to Engage People with Science (UK)
The Wellcome Trust is inviting organisations and individuals to apply for funding through its Arts Awards. The Arts Awards support projects that engage the public with biomedical science through the arts including dance, drama, performance arts, visual arts, music, film, craft, photography, creative writing or digital media. Applications are invited for projects up to £30,000. The aim of the awards is to support arts projects that reach new audiences which may not traditionally be interested in science and provide new ways of thinking about the social, cultural and ethical issues around contemporary science. The scheme is open to a wide range of people including, among others, artists, scientists, curators, filmmakers, writers, producers, directors, academics, science communicators, teachers, arts workers and education officers.
For medium sized projects up to £30,000 the next closing date for applications is the 30th April 2010.
http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Funding/Public-engagement/Grants/International-Engagement-Awards/index.htm

Young Film Fund (UK)
First Light Movies provides grants to projects that enable young people to participate in all aspects of film productions. Since launching in 2001, First Light Movies have enabled over 12,000 young filmmakers to write, act, shoot, light, direct and produce over 800 films. The funding is available to organisations such as schools, youth services, community and voluntary groups that work with young people aged between 5 and 18. Every year approximately £700,000 of grants are available through three funding streams. The Studio Awards provides grants of up to £30, 000 for between two and four films of up to 10 minutes. The Script Awards provides grants of up to £3,000 for script writing projects that team young people with script professionals. The Pilot Awards provides grants of up to £5,000 for one short film of up to five minutes in duration. Previous grants awarded included Hartside Primary School, County Durham, which received a grant of £3,000 to help produce a five minute shadow puppet film using an original fairy tale devised, told and filmed by the children in Year 1 and Balfour Junior School in Brighton, which received funding to make an environmental documentary ‘The Amazing Adventures of the Plastic Bag’.
The Script and Pilot elements of the fund will re-open for applications on the 2nd March and closes for applications on the 27th April 2010.
http://www.firstlightonline.co.uk/funding/young-film-fund

The Links Foundation (England, Scotland and Wales)
The Links Foundation, which was formed by ‘Working Links’, an organisation that delivers services to tackle social exclusion and poverty by helping disadvantaged individuals and communities, provides grants to disadvantaged communities. Since its launch in 2003 it has distributed over £3 million in grants to over 40 projects. The type of activities that the Foundation seeks to support include projects that advance people’s education; reduce significant disadvantage; assist those in conditions of poverty, need or distress ; and provide for recreational or other leisure time occupation. The Foundation can fund new or existing projects and can help meet costs such as salary, rent and stationery as well as capital costs. The average grant per project is about £20,000. Previously funded activities include arts, crafts and drama facilities for residents on a deprived estate; funding apart-time caseworker to support vulnerable and disadvantaged young people; and supporting people with disabilities to become self-employed. The Board meets every four months.
The closing date for applications is four weeks before the Board meeting.
http://www.linksfoundation.org/Default.aspx


Cash 4 Clubs (UK)
Sports club that are registered with their sport’s National Governing Body or local authority can apply for grants of up to £1,000 through the Cash 4 Clubs grants scheme. Cash 4 Clubs is a sports funding scheme which gives clubs a unique chance to apply for grants to improve facilities, purchase new equipment, gain coaching qualifications, and generally invest in the sustainability of their club. In 2008 over £30,000 was given out in grants to 30 community sports clubs across the UK. There are three tiers of grants at £250, £500 and £1,000. Previous grants have been awarded to the Southampton Canoe club which received a grant of £1,000 towards purchasing junior paddles and safety equipment; the Rugby Sea Cadets which received a grant of £1,000 to maintain and replace safety equipment; and Ipswich Basketball which received a grant of £1,000 to initiate a new women's team aimed at the 16+ league. Applications can be submitted at any time.
http://cash-4-clubs.com/

Big Challenge (UK)
UnLtd, the charity that supports social enterprises, has announced that the Big Challenge competition will be open for application under a new theme from the end of April 2010. The Big Challenge is a competition for young people funded by Vodafone and youth charity "V", along with Social Enterprise Foundation and competition organisers UnLtd. The contest offers either groups of young people or those working on their own aged between 16 and 25 the chance to win a share of £60,000 funding to carry out projects that use volunteering to help tackle the problems facing the 21st century. This year's Big Challenge theme focuses on bringing communities together. Individuals can apply on their own or in a group with other young people. Applications can be submitted in any creative format and will be shortlisted by UnLtd Youth Leadership Team before a final vote by the public. Successful applicants will get part of the Challenge fund they will have their project costs paid for and support and mentoring over the rest of the Challenge year to make their ideas a reality.
http://www.bigchallenge.org.uk/default.aspx

Funding to Develop Media Skills for Disadvantaged Young People (England)
Mediabox, a Department for Children, Schools and Families fund to enable disadvantaged 13-19 year olds living in England the opportunity to develop and produce creative media projects, using print, television, film, radio or online platforms, has announced that its Mid Mediabox funding programmes is now open for applications. Mid Mediabox is one of several funding schemes and is available to established youth and or media focused organisations with a strong track record of working with young people to provide opportunities for young people to develop creative ideas and lifelong skills in media production and provides grants of between £5,000 and £20,000. Previous projects supported through Mediabox includes:
• Kent Refugee Action Network which delivered a series of animation workshops to 20 young unaccompanied asylum seekers. The project resulted in the production of four quality animation shorts that illustrate different aspects of the journey of a young person to the UK.
• Media Mash Up which received funding to give young people from very diverse backgrounds in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes the opportunity to try their hands at film, print, radio and mixed media techniques.
The deadline for applications is the 8th April 2010.
http://www.media-box.co.uk/funding/mid-mediabox

Architectural Heritage Fund (UK)
The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF), is a registered charity that promotes the conservation and regeneration of historic buildings in the UK and is now open to applications. Grants and low interest working capital loans are available to voluntary organisations and building preservation trusts (BPTs) to regenerate historic buildings to create community and education facilities, workspace and homes. To be eligible to apply for financial assistance organisations must have a charitable status. Any charity with a qualifying project can apply for an options appraisal grant, or a loan, but any other AHF's grants are reserved for BPTs - charities established specially to preserve historic buildings. The project must also involve a change of ownership and/or a change of use. Previously funded projects include turning a run down historic buildings into community theatres, resource centres, community learning centres, workspaces, places to live, community meeting places, etc.
The next deadline for applications is the 13th of May 2010.
http://www.ahfund.org.uk/index.html


If you would like to explore any of these opportunities more fully and/or need some guidance then please contact Nancy Cleary on