Community Asset Transfer Programme – Round 3 briefing events

The Community Asset Transfer (CAT) Programme is a partnership between the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) and the Welsh Assembly Government. This partnership brings together £13 million of capital and revenue funding to support the transfer of assets to community ownership.

Application materials for the third and final round of the CAT Programme will be available on our website from Thursday 25 November 2010.

There will be a series of briefing events across Wales to support potential applicants to the programme on:

Thursday 2 December 2010 Welsh Institute of Sport, Cardiff 10.00am – 12.30pm

Wednesday 8 December 2010 Venue Cymru, Llandudno 10.00am – 12.30pm

Wednesday 15 December 2010 Ladywell House, Newtown 10.00am – 12.30pm

At the events BIG staff will provide advice on how to apply for funding. One to one sessions with staff will be available following the presentations.

If you would like to attend any of the events please complete and return the reply form by Tuesday 30 November 2010.

Further information on the programme is available on our website at www.biglotteryfund.org.uk Guidance notes for Round 3 will be available from 25 November 2010.

Launch of the Social Enterprise Awards Wales - 2011 Round

Social Enterprise Awards Wales is an annual programme designed to promote the social enterprise movement across Wales, recognising and showcasing the work undertaken by these organisations for the benefit of the general public.

The 2011 round is now open to entries under the following categories:

• Social Enterprise Start Up of the Year: for social enterprises running less than 24 months.
• Social Enterprise Leader of the Year: for individuals working for a social enterprise in a paid or voluntary capacity.
• Young Person’s Social Enterprise of the Year: for social enterprises managed or led by young people aged under 25.
• Social Enterprise of the Year.

The prize for each category winner comprises 0f:

• £1,000 in cash;
• free entry to VOICE 11, the UK's flagship event for social enterprises; and
• automatic entry into the Social Enterprise Awards UK.

New and established social enterprises operating in Wales may enter the programme.

The deadline for entries is 18 January 2011.

For more information go to: http://socialenterpriseawardswales.org.uk/

Community Asset Transfer Round 3 open for Wales

The Big Lottery Fund and the Welsh Assembly Government have launched the third round of the Community Asset Transfer Fund. This fund provides capital and revenue grants to support the transfer of assets from public sector organisations to community ownership.

Through the Fund, a total of £13 million is being invested in communities, to help them transfer, develop, manage, and sustain assets, such as land or buildings, thereby improving neighbourhoods and people's livelihoods. The primary aim is to help communities become stronger and more sustainable.

Grants will be awarded up to the value of £800,000, including a combination of both capital and revenue costs. Revenue grants range from £50,000 to £300,000 and capital grants range from £250,000 to £500,000.

Assets transferred from public sector bodies will be passed to enterprising organisations that actively involve and benefit the communities they serve, e.g. those working towards improving the services and/or facilities. Applications are welcome from cross-sector partnerships comprising at least one third sector organisation and one public sector organisation. The third sector organisation must be the lead applicant.

The deadline for Round three, stage one applications is 3 March 2011.

For more information go to http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/

Celebrating the Opening of Tregeglwys Community Shop

PAVO is proud to be associated with the opening of the new Community Shop in Trefeglwys. After losing their local facilities in June 2008 they decided to take matters into their own hands and embarked on a project to open the village shop and petrol pumps. The opening of the shop this week is the culmination of two years of work.

Through its team of development workers, PAVO supported Trefeglwys Community Shop Ltd to: develop the social enterprise; submit funding applications and recruit staff.

At a time when politicians are talking about The Big Society and communities becoming more responsible for delivering services, projects like this show that Powys is already leading the way.

PAVO Development Worker, John Davies said "We have supported Trefeglwys Community Shop in their endeavours but it has been their own drive and determination that has turned their idea into a reality. One of the most important things about this project is that it is supported by the whole community and it will be of benefit to the whole community."

John Green (chairman) said PAVO have been of great help during our project, providing valuable information on sources of finance, helping with recruitment and providing timely advice whenever it has been requested. Undoubtedly the process would have been longer without their excellent support.

FUNDING EXPERIENCES - Tell us your stories

• Has your group been successful with a funding application?
• How did you find the application process?
• What's the worst thing about filling in grant applications?
• Did funders give feedback if the application was unsuccessful?
  
• Have you got any tips to share with others?

We want to hear from community and voluntary groups in Powys about your experiences in making funding applications. So don't delay, do it today!

COMIC RELIEF UK GRANT PROGRAMME

Comic Relief’s UK Grant Programme aims to bring about positive and lasting change in the lives of poor and disadvantaged people in the UK by investing in work that addresses people’s immediate needs, as well as tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice.

Registered charities and voluntary organisations (including social enterprises and community interest companies) in the UK are invited to apply for grants of between £25,000 and £40,000. Grants are available to cover running or capital costs of organisations or projects under the following programmes:

• Mental Health.
• Domestic and Sexual Abuse.
• Refugee and Asylum Seeking Women.
• Sexually Exploited and Trafficked Young People.
• Young People and Alcohol.
• Young People with Mental Health Problems.
• Local Communities

Cycle 5 opens for applications on 11 October and the deadline for Cycle 5 applications is 7 January 2011.

For further information look on http://www.comicrelief.com/apply_for_a_grant

Community Chest Funding

Community Chest grant funding is open to sports clubs, physical activity groups and businesses for projects which help build a fitter, healthier county. Since April this year, £37,433 has already been allocated to clubs and organisations in Powys for physical activity and sport initiatives.

With only just over £18,000 left for the current financial year, organisations should get their applications in now so they don’t miss out on the grant. The deadline for the next round of applications is Thursday January 20 2011. For further information or an application form contact your local sports development representative: Gareth Oldham (Radnorshire) – 01597 827658; Katie Hamer (Montgomeryshire) - 01686 614060; or Matthew James (Brecknockshire) – 01874 612335.

If you require support from PAVO with the application process please contact the helpdesk on 0845 0093288.