Cable & Wireless Worldwide Foundation

The Cable & Wireless Worldwide Foundation is looking for long-term opportunities to collaborate with not-for-profit organisations in the UK that support, research, develop or implement the appropriate, specialist communication requirements for those with special needs.

Communication solutions and services are also available to organisations supporting people with special needs. The following support is available:

• Technical expertise.
• Colleagues' time and skills.
• Funding (no minimum or maximum amount is specified).
• C&W communication solutions to help develop services.

The deadline for applications is 1 August 2011.

Go To: http://www.cw.com/

E-mail: Foundation@cw.com

N.B. NO PHONE NUMBER AVAILABLE

(Source: Grantfinder)

Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy

The Call for Expressions of Interest to the 2012 Ashden Awards has now opened. The Awards recognise innovative and inspirational schemes which generate renewable energy or work towards reducing energy demand at a local or regional level. The aim of the Awards is to promote the widespread use of local, sustainable energy because of the environmental, social and economic benefits which it can provide.

The 2012 Awards are broken down into two areas: International Awards and UK Awards. The International Awards offer a Gold Award of £40,000 and five Awards of £20,000; and the UK Awards offer a Gold Award of £20,000 and five individual prizes of £10,000.

Businesses, not-for-profit groups, schools and public sector organisations with suitable projects can enter the UK Awards.

Go to: http://www.ashdenawards.org/

Tel: (0)20 7410 0330

The deadline for Expressions of Interest to the International Awards is 18 October 2011 and for the UK Awards, 25 October 2011.

(Source: Grantfinder)

Gorsedd y Dreigiau (Bard of Dragons) Competition

The Gorsedd of Dragons Competition is based on the popular television series, Dragons' Den. It invites entrepreneurs to put forward business propositions to a panel of Welsh 'dragons' in a battle for investment and professional business advice.

The aim of the competition is to support new business ideas (start-ups) and existing new businesses that have a chance of succeeding and demonstrate the entrepreneurial spirit of the people of Wales during a difficult economic climate.

Prize money of up to £7,000 is available to be allocated as the judges see fit. This year's competition offers two prizes - £5,000 for the winner to help establish or develop the business idea and an additional prize of £2,000 for the company making innovative use of the Welsh language or bilingualism. Professional business advice will also be provided to help turn ideas into reality.

The competition is open to Welsh speakers who wish to live and work in Wales. Any sort of business idea, invention, product or service is eligible. Entries may come from individuals, partnerships or groups of people - but there must be one named contact person.

Entries may be from new businesses established during the last five years or from those that have yet to be established.

The closing date for entries to the 2011 competition is 18 July 2011.

http://www.menterabusnes.com/

cysylltwch â Einir Davies ar 01970 636280

(Source: Grantfinder)

The North Face – Explore Fund

The goal of the Explore Fund is to get more youth outdoors by funding programmes that reconnect children with nature to inspire and enable the next generation of explorers and conservationists.

Financial support of up to €2,500 is available to not-for-profit community organisations across Europe for projects that encourage youth outdoor participation. Projects should focus primarily on creating more connections of children to nature, increasing access to both front and backcountry recreation, as well as providing education for both personal and environmental health.

The deadline for applications is 8 August 2011.

Go to: http://explorefund.eu/

(Source: Grantfinder)

SPORTLOT COMMUNITY CHEST - NEW DEADLINE

Sportlot Community Chest grant funding is open to sports clubs, physical activity groups and businesses for projects which help build a fitter, healthier county. Powys has been allocated £77,000 for physical activity and sport initiatives for 2011/12. The Community Chest grant has been increased so clubs can apply up to £1,500 per application, due to the increased costs of Coach Education courses.

The next closing date for the applications is Thursday 24th August, 2011. For further information or an application form contact your local Powys County Council Sports Development Officer: Gareth Oldham (Radnorshire) - 01597 827658; Katie Hamer (Montgomeryshire) - 01686 614060; or Matthew James (Brecknockshire) - 01874 612335.

Only 7 per cent of people give loose change to charity

Nearly half of respondents say they would donate spare cash if collection boxes were more accessible.

Only 7 per cent of people donate loose change to charity, according to a survey commissioned by Ronald McDonald House Charities.

The research company ICM Research surveyed more than 2,000 demographically representative adults in the UK and found that, while 57 per cent of them carried £1 to £10 of loose change with them at any time, only 7 per cent donated any of this to charity.

The survey found that people might donate more of this money to charity if giving was made easier.

Forty-four per cent of respondents said they would give more if collection boxes were made more accessible. Supermarkets were the most likely to be named as the best places for collection boxes, with 48 per cent of people saying so, followed by local shops on 19 per cent and the workplace on 11 per cent.

People aged over 65 were found to be the most generous age group, with 39 per cent saying they donated money to charity every month. People aged from 18 to 24 gave the least, with only 19 per cent saying they did so.

RMHC, which provides accommodation for families to stay close to their sick children in hospital, has launched a campaign called Your Change Changes Lives, which calls on people to give loose change to charity.

Jon Haward, director of Ronald McDonald House Charities said: "People often carry quite a lot of loose change around with them, but only a fraction of those we surveyed currently consider donating any of this to charity – perhaps because they consider their contribution to be too small to make a difference. Highlighting this will help to encourage the general public to consider giving some of this change to charity."

Article posted on Third Sector Online, by Sophie Hudson, , 3 June 2011

Co-operative Enterprise Hub doubles funding for community businesses

The Co-operative Enterprise Hub works with regional and national groups of experts to bring organisations in the UK the best advice, training and consultancy on how to set up, run and grow a sustainable co-operative business. The Hub aims to expand the co-operative economy in the UK by creating strong, ethically-led businesses with a deep sense of social responsibility.

The initiative includes both grant and loan assistance, as follows:

• Grants:
  • Up to £5,000.
  • Only considered in conjunction with a loan application.
  • Grant recipients must have received advice and training through the Enterprise Hub.

• Loans:
  • Unsecured loans through the Co-operative Loan Fund
  • Loans can range from £5,000 to £75,000.
  • Low interest rates.
  • Repaid over ten years.
  • Loans are available for co-operatives that require finance to:
    • set up a new enterprise;
    • expand an existing enterprise;
    • assist employee buyouts or company successions;
    • purchase a property or business; and
    • purchase capital equipment or create working capital.

To qualify for support, applicants must have their registered office in the UK and be either:

• a co-operative, or soon to be a co-operative; or
• an incorporated body or soon to be incorporated.

The Co-operative Group has recently doubled the funding for its Enterprise Hub scheme in the hope of fostering a new community business every day for the rest of the year. The total funding available will now reach £15 million over the next three years.

Applications for assistance may be submitted at any time.

For more information go to: http://www.co-operative.coop/

(Source: Grantfinder)