COMIC RELIEF ACTIVE AGEING CREATIVE CHANGE IN COMMUNITIES PROGRAMME

Hot on the heels of its Care Home Challenge Fund (which has a deadline of 4 August) comes Comic Relief’s Active Ageing Creative Change in Communities programme, a £1.5 million initiative to enable disadvantaged older people aged 65 years and older to design, deliver and take part in opportunities to contribute to their communities,

Applications will be accepted from registered and un-registered community based organisations across the UK, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

To be eligible for funding, applicants must:

o Focus on their local community (although they may choose to work with national or regional partners);
o Have a formal, signed constitution which outlines their social purpose, demonstrates that any profit or assets are used for social purposes and shows that an asset lock is in place;
o Already coordinate activities by and for older people that can demonstrate a need to engage with a ‘harder to reach’ group of older people, or an organisation which already works with disadvantaged older people that wants to bring a new twist or approach to their work.

Applications will also be accepted from partnerships.

Grants of between £40,000 and £80,000 are available over a period of 3 years.

Comic Relief expects to fund between 15 and 25 projects across the UK from the programme. The funder will contribute a minimum of 25% of the total costs of the proposed activities in order to ensure that they have contributed to the work in a meaningful way.

The funding is for projects, initiatives and activities which primarily focus on benefitting older people, specifically those older people who do not usually participate in volunteering or social activities because they are from a disadvantaged community, or face barriers to participation.

There is also interest in activities which will have a wider benefit for the community in which they are taking place.

To be eligible, projects should meet at least one of the following outcomes:

o Older people improve their mental health and wellbeing;
o Older people increase the quality and quantity of their social connections;
o Older people develop an enhanced sense of purpose and empowerment; and/or
o Provide creative, fresh approaches to engage beneficiaries in social action activities which bring people together and help to improve their lives and solve problems that are important to their communities. This may include activities around campaigning and fundraising as well as volunteering, all of which can create a double benefit for communities and the older person themselves.

For the activities to have positive benefits for the older people involved, they should:

o Provide meaningful roles with opportunities for social interaction and leadership;
o Ensure that older people are recognised and valued for their contribution;
o Make older people feel valued and enable them to be creative and productive.

To do this, activities might focus wholly on older people, or use a broader community or intergenerational approach.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they really understand the needs of their community, the role that older people can play in catalysing social change and make the case that they can deliver.

Grants are not available for: 

o General appeals;
o Individual and group sponsorship;
o Marketing appeals;
o Bursaries for individuals or proposals from individuals for funding or study or attainment of qualifications;
o Activities which evangelise or proselytise;
o Projects which Comic Relief has previously decided not to fund (unless an organisation has been invited to resubmit their proposal);
o Organisations which adopt a partisan political stance or activities which are party political; or
o Organisations that advocate the use of violence as a means to campaign or influence public opinion.

The following are unlikely to be funded:

o Standard lunch clubs;
o 1:1 befriending models; or
o Community transport schemes.

Proposals will be accepted until 12 noon on Tuesday 29 August 2017.

Shortlisted proposals will then go through to a full assessment.

Organisations should use the online application and grant management system, called GEM, which can be found on the Comic Relief website.

Contact details for Comic relief are:

Comic Relief
89 Albert Embankment
London
SE1 7TP
Tel: 020 7820 2000
Email: grantsinfo@comicrelief.com

(Source: GRIN)

Social media !

Thomas Byrne

 

Thomas spent a week doing work experience with nfpSynergy. Seeing as he thought we were all old for using Twitter and Facebook, we decided to ask him to write a report and a blog on his experience of social media and how charities can use it to engaging with young people.

As a 15-year-old and a digital native I use social media every day. To be more precise, within the last week I have spent around 17.5 hours on social media (which is less than the average of 27 hours[1]). My time on social media is spent either on Snapchat or Instagram, two of the most popular and fastest growing platforms on smartphones today. With all the time my peers and I spend on social media, we are exposed to hundreds of advertisements for various companies and their products; however, from what I can remember, not once has one of these ads been from a charity. This raises the question - are charities making the most out of social media and its opportunities to reach out to younger audiences?

Charities are all over Facebook and Twitter, but I believe that these platforms are in decline. Facebook and Twitter are somewhat similar, and have both been around for over ten years. I can say from personal experience that neither are as widely used as Snapchat and Instagram within my age group. There are simply more modern and interesting ways to connect with your friends. Snapchat has over 300 million users and was growing at a ridiculous rate of around 15 million new users every day in 2016[2]. Ask any young person which platform they spend most time on, and I will put money on them saying Snapchat. I believe that charities are simply not doing enough to gain the awareness and support of the younger generation. We are the ones who will grow up and be relied upon to keep the charities afloat with our money, and in some cases, our work. Charities must make the most of their advertising opportunities, and grab the attention of the young early on; otherwise when the time comes, we simply will not have the knowledge, experience or awareness needed to keep the thousands of charities in the world running.

Snapchat holds many opportunities for a charity to get their point across. After having spent three years on Snapchat and having searched the internet for hours, I have only come across one charity that saw its potential and seemed to master it; the Danish branch of the WWF. Back in 2014, WWF Denmark launched their ‘#lastselfie’ campaign, aimed at raising awareness of the threat of extinction that many beloved animals are facing among teenagers. The campaign featured five different pictures of five different endangered animals, each captioned ‘don’t let this be my #lastselfie’. The picture encouraged you to share it with friends. These images went viral and within three days WWF had raised its target donations for the whole month. This perfectly showcases the massive potential snapchat has for charity advertisement; it just boils down to whether specific charities are able to adapt and consider the idea that their current social media campaigns may be perceived as dated by my age group.[3]

Teenagers are moving from platforms like Facebook to Snapchat, and have been doing so since Snapchat was launched in 2011. There is a great lack of charity awareness amongst youths; this is evident from a recent nfpSynergy research that revealed that 21% of those between 11 and 16 could not name a single charity[4]. This is not down to the young being less engaged and observant nowadays, as some many claim; I believe that it is more likely to be down to charities failing to wise up to modern social media trends quickly enough. Teenagers nowadays spend their time on Snapchat - if charities want to catch the attention and interest of the young, then they must first migrate to the relevant platforms.

To find out more on how you can take your campaign to snapchat go to: https://forbusiness.snapchat.com/

[1] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/digital-media/11597743/Teenagers-spend-27-hours-a-week-online-how-internet-use-has-ballooned-in-the-last-decade.html

[2] https://www.recode.net/2017/2/2/14492182/snapchat-user-growth-slowing-ipo

[3] http://www.justforthis.com/

[4] nfpSynergy Charity Awareness Monitor, 2017

click here to read more
 

THE FIDELIO TRUST

The Fidelio Trust welcomes applications in support of the Arts, in particular the dramatic and operatic arts, music, speech and dance. It particularly welcomes applications from organisations or individuals at an early stage of their development.

Proposed grantees must be in real need of financial support and be particularly able and/or gifted.

Grants may be awarded to enable individuals or groups of exceptional ability to: 

o Receive special tuition or coaching, e.g. in the case of musicians, to attend Master Classes;
o Participate in external competitions;
o Be supported for a specially arranged performance; and/or
o Receive support for a special publication, musical composition or work of art.

Grants of up to £5,000 are available. The Trust welcomes a match funding contribution as it’s charitable expenditure is limited to around £100,000 per annum.

Applications are accepted on behalf of individuals and groups who are practitioners or performers in the Arts as well as institutions and colleges providing opportunities for those studying, practicing or performing.

Proposed grantees must be recommended by an appropriate person in an institution, college, arts festival or similar organisation that can vouch for the abilities of the applicant.

There is no nationality restriction and the work for which money is sought may be overseas but the proposed recipient(s) must be based in the UK.

The person representing the recommending institution or organisation must vouch for the competence and skill of those for whom they are applying to Fidelio and state how they were selected. They should explain their professional relationship with the individual or group, and describe accurately the project or activity for which money is required.

The annual deadlines for receipt of applications are:

o 1st February;
o 1st June; and
o 1st October.

Application forms are available from the Trust's website and may be accompanied by a one page A4 letter.

Applications should be submitted by e-mail to fidelio@act.eu.com

Contact details for the Trust are:

Tony Wingate
The Fidelio Charitable Trust
Golden Cross House
8 Duncannon Street
London
WC2N 4JF
Email: fidelio@act.eu.com

(Source: GRIN)

Big Lottery Fund Updates Guidelines for Awards for All Programmes

Running for more than 10 years, the Big Lottery Fund's Awards for All grant programmes provides grants to local voluntary and community organisations, schools and statutory bodies across the UK for projects and activities which matter to people and communities.

Grants of between £300 and £10,000 are intended to support projects that will finish within about 12 months and meet at least one of the following priorities:

• Bring people together and build strong relationships in and across communities.
• Improve the places and spaces that matter to communities.
• Enable more people to fulfil their potential by working to address issues at the earliest possible stage.

The grants can be used to fund training costs, volunteer expenses, staff costs, small capital projects, transport, one-off events, equipment and utilities/running costs.

All projects funded through the programme should include communities in the design, development and delivery of projects which help to improve their local community and the lives of people that are most in need.

The Big Lottery Fund is keen to support smaller organisations and will consider their income when making a decision.

Although applications can be submitted at any time, organisations should take into account that it takes about 10 weeks for the Big Lottery Fund to reach a decision and another two weeks to receive the funding.

Further information about the Awards for All programmes can be found on the Big Lottery Fund website.

Source: Big Lottery Fund, 11/07/2017

Training for third sector organisations on developing bilingual services

Aims

This FREE training session, run by the Welsh Language Commissioner, will enable attendees to develop their organisation’s use of the Welsh language. It will provide information, research and practical advice to aid in planning for increasing the organisation’s Welsh language provision.

Content

What’s the role of the Welsh language within the third sector? How is it relevant to you, your organisation and your service users? How can you plan to ensure you meet the needs of your audience?

This half day training session will look at the advantages of the Welsh language, historical and current language context, the support available from the Welsh Language Commissioner and practical planning to develop your Welsh language provision.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course learners will be able to

• Understand the historical and contemporary Welsh language context
• Understand the legislative and public policy situation in Wales
• Understand the relevance of the Welsh language to their customers and service users
• Describe the advantages of the Welsh language within the third sector
• Evaluate their organisation’s current use of the Welsh language
• Plan some initial steps towards developing their organisation’s use of the Welsh language
• Identify and use the support and advice available, free of charge, from the Welsh Language Commissioner and others

Who this course is for

The training is suitable for

• Workers, volunteers and trustees who want to gain a better understanding of the role of the Welsh language within their organisation
• Staff members with responsibility for their organisation’s Welsh language provision
• Individuals wanting to learn more about the relevance of the Welsh language to their role

Additional information

10am - 1pm

• Please note: this training is not suitable for officers from organisations with a statutory obligation to provide Welsh language services. This includes public sector organisations and some from the third sector. There is further information on the Welsh Language Commissioner’s website . If you are uncertain, please get in touch for more information hybu@comisiynyddygymraeg.org / 08456 033 221 www.comisiynyddygymraeg.org/hybu
  

Date: 

21 September 2017 (0.5 Days) - PAVO Llandrindod Wells (LD1 6DF)

Trainer: 

Comisiynydd y Gymraeg

http://www.wcva.org.uk/training-and-events/booking?id=3160&bookingType=Training

A new online portal to provide trustees with tailored guidance will launch by the end of December 2017

The new charity services portal is intended to be a “one stop shop” that will make it easier for charities to “self serve” and track progress on any applications to the Commission, “a bit like Parcelforce”.  It will also ensure that “guidance and content is tailored” depending on the type and size of charity.  

Another digital service being tested at the moment is one which will make it possible to change a charity’s name in 24 hours, where currently it takes an average of 33 days. 

To read more Click here

Trusthouse Charitable Foundation

The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation provides grants to charitable and not-for-profit organisations in the UK for small, local projects working to address community issues in areas of extreme Urban Deprivation or remote, socio-economically deprived rural areas.

The Foundation supports charities and not-for-profit organisations, including CICs, social enterprises, not-for-profit registered companies and voluntary organisations whose projects address the Foundation's two target areas:

1. Rural Isolation & Poverty - applications are accepted from organisations which are addressing issues in rural areas which are classified as being in the lowest 50% in terms of the latest government Indices of Multiple Deprivation. Rural in this context means cities, towns, villages and areas with 10,000 or less inhabitants. For example:
o Projects providing transport for the elderly, disabled or disadvantaged;
o Contact networks for the young disabled;
o Projects which encourage a sense of community such as community centres and village halls;
o Employment training schemes especially those promoting local, traditional crafts; or
o Projects addressing issues such as drug/alcohol misuse or homelessness.

2. Urban Deprivation - Applications are accepted from local or national charities or not-for-profit organisations which are working with residents of urban areas (ie more than 10,000 inhabitants) which are classified in the latest government Indices of Multiple Deprivation as being in the lowest 20%. For example:
o Youth clubs;
o Training schemes to help people out of unemployment; or
o Drop in centres for the homeless.

Within these two overarching themes, the Charity is interested in the following three areas:

(a) Community Support, for example: 

o Work with young people;
o Community centres and village halls;
o Employability programmes;
o Volunteering;
o Healthy eating and living;
o Support for young carers;
o Respite services;
o Older people’s projects;
o Befriending;
o Intergenerational projects;
o Luncheon clubs;
o Help for refugees;
o Family support;
o Community transport;
o Sports projects;
o Rehabilitation of ex-offenders;
o Alcohol and drug misuse projects; or
o Domestic violence prevention and aftermath;

(b) Disability and Healthcare, for example:

o Projects in deprived areas for people of all ages with physical and/or sensory disabilitie;
o Support for people with mental health issues;
o Hospices;
o Projects for ex-service personnel;
o Community awareness and integration; or
o Music therapy projects.

(c) Arts, Education and Heritage, for example:

o Arts projects for people with disabilities;
o Performance or visual arts with a clear and strong community impact;
o Alternative education projects;
o Supplementary teaching;
o Heritage projects in marine or industrial areas which involve local people and have a demonstrable community benefit.

(d) Hospices

Trusthouse is interested in supporting capital projects at hospices throughout the UK. Applicants will need to have secured a minimum of 50% of the total cost of the project and to identify a specific element of the project which a grant from Trusthouse would cover. Priority will be given to projects that benefit patients, rather than visitors or staff. Trusthouse does not give grants for hospice running costs. Although Trusthouse waives the need for hospices to comply with the requirement that applicants should be based in areas of extreme urban deprivation or remote rural districts, preference will still be given to such areas, as the possibilities of local fundraising are more limited.

(e) Themed Grants Programme

Trusthouse runs three-year programmes focussing on a specific issue of interest to the Trustees. The next themed grant programme 'will probably' open in late 2017. Grants are available for covering overheads and salary costs are available capital projects, for one-off expenditures such as equipment and new builds are also available.

The Foundation offers the following levels of support:

o Small Grants: of between £1,000 and £6,000;
o Standard Grants: of between £6,001 and £12,000;
o Large Grants: of between £10,000 and £50,000 for capital projects only.

With effect from 1 July 2017, the maximum amount that applicants can request for Large Grants, Hospices, Village Halls and Community Centres was increased from £45,000 to £50,000. These grants are only for one-off capital projects where the total cost of the project is under £1 million (apart from hospices where there is no maximum total cost limit).

There is a 50% match funding requirement for all projects.

During the year ending 30th June 2016 the Foundation made grants of £2.86m (2015: £2.37m) to 300 applicants from 971 applications made (2015: 342 awards from 1,140 applications made). The success rate is therefore around 32%,

The following conditions apply:

o Groups with a total annual income of up to £100,000 can apply for Small Grants of up to £6,000 for revenue costs such as core costs, salaries, overheads, project costs. Decisions are made within four to six weeks;
o Groups with an income over £100,000 and under £250,000 can apply for Small Grants of up to £6,000 for one-off capital cost for new buildings, repairs and improvements, or the purchase of equipment. Decisions are made within four to six weeks.
o Groups with a total annual income of over £250,000 and under £500,000 can apply for Standard Grants of between £6,001 and £12,000 for revenue or one-off capital costs. The total cost of capital projects must be less than £1 million. Decisions are made quarterly.
o Groups with a total annual income of over £500,000 and under £5 million can apply for Large Grants of over £10,000 and up to £50,000 for one-off capital costs only. The total cost of the project must be for less than £1 million. Buildings must be owned by applicant or leased for a minimum of five years. Decisions are made quarterly.
o Village halls and community centres with any income up to £5 million can apply for village hall and community centre capital grants of between £1,000 and £50,000 for new builds, repairs, improvements or extensions. Decisions are made quarterly.
o Hospices only can apply for capital grants of between £6,000 and £50,000 for new builds, repairs, improvements, extensions and equipment purchase. Decisions are made quarterly.

All grants are for one year only. Funding is available for general running costs including salaries, core costs and overheads and capital expenditure on buildings or essential equipment.

The Foundation operates a rolling programme and groups can apply at any time throughout the year.

Grants Committee meetings are held in February, late April/early May, July and late October/early November.

Applications need to be received at least six weeks before a meeting to be included on the agenda.

Small Grant applications can be made at any time through the year and will receive a final decision within six weeks.

The guidelines can be found on the Trust's website and applicants are urged to read the guidelines before starting the application process.

They should also use the online eligibility checker which will lead to the application form. Applicants will be taken through a short questionnaire to identify which type of grant is most suitable.

All applications should be submitted by post. For further information, visit the Trusthouse Foundation’s website.

Contact details for the Foundation are:

Judith Leigh
Grants Manager
The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation
65-68 Leadenhall Street
London EC3A 2AD
Tel: 020 7264 4990

or

Marie Hale
Grants Officer for Small Grants
The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation
65-68 Leadenhall Street
London EC3A 2AD
Tel: 020 7264 4990  

(Source: GRIN)