Principality support for community projects.

The Principality Building Society is looking for community groups, schools and projects from Wales and the Borders to put themselves forward for support.

The Society has invested thousands of pounds in community projects in 2014, and also offers volunteering support.

They are encouraging groups to pop in to local branches to speak to staff about how they might be able to help.

Previous projects supported include football tournaments, community food festivals, sports sponsorship, and transforming outdoor spaces.

(Source: Brecon & Radnor Express)

GwirVol Youth Volunteering Grants announced for 2015-16

The aim of the GwirVol Youth Volunteering Grants scheme is to support the delivery of a wide range of new volunteering opportunities in Wales and overseas that will support the step change in access to volunteering for young people aged 14-25 and especially for disadvantaged young people.  The GwirVol grant scheme offers three different strands of funding.

• Creating Opportunities:For organisations looking to create new youth volunteering projects, new youth volunteering roles or to recruit more young people into existing volunteering roles. Creating Opportunities grant applications can be for up to a maximum amount of £10,000.
• Millennium Volunteers:For organisations looking to recognise the commitment young people give to volunteering through offering the 200 hour award of excellence. Millennium Volunteers grant applications can be for up to a maximum amount of £10,000.
• International:For organisations looking to develop overseas volunteering opportunities that benefit young people and their communities in Wales as well. International grant applications can be for up to a maximum amount of £30,000.

For more information go to:  http://www.wcva.org.uk/about-us/news/2015/01/gwirvol-grants-2015-2016?src=newsletter

Volunteering in Wales Fund Open

The Volunteering in Wales Fund is a scheme funded by the Welsh Government to promote volunteering in Wales. The Fund is administered by Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA).

The aim of the Volunteering in Wales Fund (VWF) is to;

• Support formal volunteering (as per the definition in appendix 1) projects that aim to recruit, support, train and place NEW volunteers
• Encourage good practice in volunteering; and
• Support the development of volunteering in under-developed areas such as underrepresented groups, areas with less opportunities or types of volunteering opportunities

NB: Underrepresented groups can be the volunteers and/or beneficiaries of the project.

For more information go to:  http://www.wcva.org.uk/volunteering/volunteering-latest/2015/01/volunteering-in-wales-fund?src=newsletter

WREN Launches New Community Fund for England and Wales

From 1 January 2015, applications for WREN landfill tax funding should be submitted under the new Community Fund programme. This new unified scheme is designed to deliver amenity projects within 10 miles of a FCC Environment landfill site in WREN’s operating areas across England and Wales; sites in Scotland are no longer eligible for funding.

Grants of between £2,000 and £50,000 are available for projects that can demonstrate how they fall into Object D of the Landfill Communities Fund. Object D shows commitment to the protection of the environment, and the provision, maintenance or improvement of a public park or another public amenity. WREN’s definition of an amenity is something that a community will have access to and be able to use for leisure or recreation purposes.

Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to:

   - Replacement doors and windows for village halls and community centres.
   - Provision of children’s play equipment in open public spaces.
   - Construction of footpaths and cycleways in public parks.
   - The provision of all-weather play surfaces for MUGA multi use games areas.
   - The provision of skate parks.
   - Dipping platform and all weather paths at local nature reserves.

Although match funding is not a specified requirement, the Waste Recycling Group (as a condition of providing WREN with the Landfill Tax Credits) require project applicants to secure the help of eligible 'Third Parties' who will reimburse them with an amount equal to 11% of any grant committed. Third Party funders cannot, however, gain any unique benefit from the project put forward for funding.

Community organisations, voluntary groups, charities, not-for-profit organisations and groups can apply for funding as long as they have a formal constitution and bank account. Local authorities can also apply. All projects should be ready to start within six months of a funding decision being made.

The first deadline for applications in 2015 is 18 March 2015.

Further information, including area eligibility, is available from WREN’s website.

http://www.wren.org.uk/news/community-fund

People's Postcode Community Trust - Community Grants Open to Applications (Scotland, Wales and North of England)

Registered charities, SCIOs, constituted voluntary and community groups, social enterprises, community interest companies (CIC), not-for-profit organisations and sports clubs are eligible to apply. Grants range from £500 to £20,000 for organisations in Scotland and England and up to £10,000 for those in Wales. 

Funding is available for projects that advance community development. Advancing community development involves creating opportunities for the community to learn new skills and, by enabling people to act together, helps further social inclusion and equality.

The Trust is looking for projects that engage local communities and leaves a positive long term impact beyond the duration of funding. Priority will be given to projects that are focused on improving life for disadvantaged groups and encouraging their inclusion within society.

Projects that have a focus on sport, health, reducing poverty, environmental improvement or the advancement of human rights are still eligible for funding as long as they are strong in meeting the above community development criterion.

The Fund is open to applications from Scotland, Wales and North of England with a deadline of 30 January 2015.

http://www.postcodetrust.org.uk/

SAFER GIVING AT CHRISTMAS - CHARITY COMMISSION GUIDANCE

The Charity Commission has today released a short animated video designed to emphasise its Safer Giving messages, coinciding with Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving, launched by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) in the UK.

In 2012, an ICM poll* commissioned by the regulator highlighted that 85% of people gave directly to charity at Christmas, donating an average of around £40 to the good causes they cared about. One of the groups least likely to make any checks before donating was young people. At that time, 78% of respondents aged 18-24 stated that after taking the poll they would be more likely to make checks in the future. The video serves as a timely reminder in the run up to Christmas.

The video, which can also be viewed on the commission’s YouTube channel, has been launched in support of Giving Tuesday (2 December) as a world-wide day of giving.

Charity Commission - safer giving at Christmas

Paula Sussex, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, said:

It’s great that people continue to give generously at Christmas and we’d like to remind the public that by taking a few small steps you can ensure that your money goes to the right place. Whilst instances of fundraising fraud are rare, they sadly do occur, and the public has a key part to play in keeping charities accountable by using the resources available to them to make those checks. On this Giving Tuesday I would encourage people donating to charity to watch our video, and to make sure they’re giving safely both today and throughout the year.

To give safely this Christmas, follow these tips:

1. Before giving, check the charity’s name and registration number. You can verify this at the Charity Commission’s website atwww.charitycommission.gov.uk. The charity’s profile shows whether or not the organisation is up to date with its annual reporting requirements.
2. When approached by collectors, check whether they are wearing a proper ID badge and that any collection tin is sealed.
3. If in doubt, ask the collector for more information - a genuine fundraiser should be happy to answer questions and explain more about the work of the charity.
4. Genuine fundraising materials should feature the charity’s name, registered name and a landline contact number. Be wary of those that list only a mobile number.
5. Look for the FRSB tick logo indicating that the charity is signed up to fundraising regulation, encouraging you to give with confidence.www.givewithconfidence.org.uk
6. To check whether a fundraiser is authorised to collect money in a public place, contact your local authority or, if in London, the police. If it is a private place, check with the owner.
7. Take care when responding to emails or clicking links to a charity’s website to ensure that they are genuine. Instead, search online for your favourite charity to check you have the right web address.
8. Carefully review collection bags for clothing and household goods to ascertain whether they are from a genuine charity.
9. After making these checks, if you think that a collection or appeal is not legitimate, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 and inform the Charity Commission.
10. If in any doubt, contact your favoured charity direct to make a donation.

Find out more about Giving Tuesday at www.givingtuesday.org or follow#GivingTuesday

*ICM interviewed a random sample of 1160 adults aged 18+ via telephone in the UK between 30 November and 2 December 2012. Surveys were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults. The ICM Poll looked at checks donors make before giving;other findings included:

• 39 per cent of donors ask collectors for ID or question them about the organisation
• Respondents aged 18-24 and over 65 are least likely to make checks before donating, with 49% and 46% respectively failing to do so
• Overall, women make more checks than men, with 30% of female respondents checking for a registered charity number when approached, compared to 24% of males
• Men give an average of £52 directly to charities at Christmas time, with women donating an average of £27

The most popular ways of giving at Christmas time are purchasing Christmas cards and other goods (64%), cash collections (53%), raffles and lotteries (44%) and bag/household goods collections (43%)

Applying to corporate foundations

Are you planning on making applications to corporate funders such as Santander and Lloyds TSB?

Check out this article - whilst it written in 2011, it is still highly relevant, and the tips given can be applied to any funding application, not just those made to corporate funders.

http://www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2011/nov/24/best-bits-corporate-foundations