Herefordshire Funding Opportunities Update July 2016 Useful Contacts

Minibuses Grants for schools supporting young people with disabilities - Lord Taverners

Purpose: We provide accessible transport for schools catering for young people with disabilities. These iconic green minibuses enable schools to engage pupils in sporting and recreational activities and help them develop life skills such as visiting shops and interacting with people in the local community. Most importantly, the minibuses provide transport to and from school. These vehicles give young people with disabilities access to new places and experiences. Lord's Taverners minibuses are based on the current Ford Transit model, with a diesel engine.
Who can apply: Applications will be accepted from schools/ organisations that cater for young people under the age of 25 who have a physical/ sensory/ learning disability. Please note that the Lords Taverners are unable to support schools that cater for socially disadvantaged children, or mainstream schools for children with behavioural problems.
Amount Available: The average cost to the charity of an accessible minibus is £52,500.
Deadline: Next window 1^st May – 29^th July 2016.

Funding for Bikes, Trikes and Buggies from Variety

Purpose: The Variety children's charity is currently accepting funding applications for bikes, trikes and buggies for children aged up to 18. This important equipment offers a fun and effective way for children of all abilities to enjoy new levels of independence, individual challenge and social contact. Through gentle and controlled limb and joint exercises it teaches coordination and rhythm, develops body and environmental awareness and promotes strength, stamina and general health.
Who can apply: Applications can be made by parents, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists or the child themselves as long as they have written agreement in support of the item required from an appropriately qualified professional (i.e. the child's Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist) who was present at the time of assessment.
Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and the decision team meet six times a year to allocate the funding.

Community Buildings / Capital Assets

Locality Community Buildings Grants (Pre Feasibility and Project Support Grants)

Purpose: To help move a community building or community housing project to the point at which a Community Right to Build Order, or (in the case of community led housing projects only) a traditional planning permission application, can be submitted.  These are revenue grants which means that they do not cover the capital costs of land acquisition or actually constructing a building.

Who can apply: Any Town or Parish Council, Neighbourhood Forum or qualifying community group can apply.
Amount available: Pre-Feasibility grants (£1000 to £10,000) and Project Support grants (£5000 to £40,000)
Deadline: Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Grants for Communities Buildings – Big Lottery

Purpose: Big Lottery Fund has £75 million of funding available to revamp and update community building through its Reaching Communities programme. This funding is available only in certain areas of England. The buildings strand provides funding for land and buildings projects costing more than £100,000. It can also provide revenue funding to help to get the building running and deliver project activities.
Who can apply: Parish and town councils and voluntary and community organisations in the most deprived ‘Lower Super Output Areas’ in England. To check eligibility, go to

http://services.biglotteryfund.org.uk/PostcodeCheck.aspx?SID=2

Amount available: Between £100,000 and £500,000 (capital).
Deadline: Applications can be made at any time (three stages application process).

Funding for Capital projects – Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation

Purpose: The Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation is general grant making trust, the trustees are therefore interested in supporting a diverse range of charities. The trustees support capital projects only, and not running costs. In cases where grants are made, the projects are expected to be self-financing thereafter. Grants are now divided into 4 priorities

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  Community
  
• 
  Health
  
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  Education
  
• 
  Social Welfare
  

Who can apply: Applicants must be charities registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, or registered Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs), with their beneficiaries based in this country. Applications are considered from all areas of England and Wales, particularly where rural and isolated communities are concerned. On receipt of an application a trustee or staff member may wish to conduct a visit in order to complete their assessment, prior to any decision being made.
Amount available: There are three levels of grant:

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  Small – up to and including £5,000
  
• 
  Medium – £5,001 to £25,000
  
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  Large – over £25,000
  

Applicants may apply for any level of grant but please note that large grants are exceptional. The majority of grants (roughly 80%) are ‘small’.

Deadline: Applications welcome all year round with no set deadlines
Further information: http://www.bernardsunley.org/funding-policy.html

Funding for environmental projects including community buildings improvements

Purpose: The Severn Environmental Fund administers this landfill communities fund on behalf of Severn Waste Services and gives grants for community and environmental projects across Herefordshire and Worcestershire under the following objects:

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  Improve community amenities that are open to the public and not operated with a view to profit.
  
• 
  To provide open spaces for recreation and leisure activities.
  
• 
  To conserve the natural environment.
  
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  To improve buildings of historical or architectural value for public benefit.
  

A lot of the funding is channeled into community buildings and community facilities, but they also fund environmental and heritage projects.

Who can apply: Not for profit organisations across Herefordshire and Worcestershire
Amount available: Grants of up to £10,000 are available, but the average grant size tends to be around £8,000.
Further information: For more information about how to apply please call Bill Richardson, Fund Manager, 01386 556222 or email: [e-mail]