LOCALGIVING

THE AVIVA COMMUNITY FUND - NOW OPEN TO APPLICATIONS

The Aviva Community Fund operates like a competition with the most voted-for projects receiving funding or going forward to a judging panel depending on the amount of funding requested.

Approximately £1.5 million is available through the Fund this year. Please note that projects that do not need additional funding will have a better chance than of succeeding than those relying on other funds being secured.

This year Aviva is partnering with Crowdfunder UK to give groups the chance to raise extra funds for their project as part of the competition. As projects collect votes, groups will also be able to choose to crowdfund and turn their support into pledges.

Voluntary and community groups, charities, social enterprises, Community Interest Companies and faith organisations (for projects that are not solely religious and are open to the wider community) are eligible to apply. Financial advisers and insurance brokers are also eligible to apply on behalf of local projects, which will help increase the group's chance of winning.

Eligible applicants must:

o Have been in existence for at least six months;
o Be a not-for-profit organisation or group for community good;
o Be able to meet the due diligence requirements; and
o Have an income of £1 million or less.

The most-voted for projects asking for up to £1,000 will secure their funding.

The projects with the most votes asking for up to £5,000 or more will go through to "The Finals" and be judged by Aviva's judging panel.

For 2018, the awards will be distributed as follows:

A. General awards - groups can apply for one of these four funding levels:

1. Up to £1,000 (400 awards);
2. Up to £5,000 (78 awards);
3. Up to £10,000 (44 awards); or
4. Up to £25,000 (16 awards)

B. Insurance Broker awards – this is a separate set of awards for projects submitted and supported by an insurance broker. The broker awards are open to any UK based Insurance Broker. It is not necessary to have an existing account or relationship with Aviva to enter into the Insurance Broker awards.

1. Up to £1,000 (30 awards);
2. Up to £5,000 (18 awards);
3. Up to £10,000 (6 awards);
4. Up to £25,000 (2 awards)

C. Additional Awards - £500 will be given to every finalist in the £5,000, £10,000 or £25,000 funding levels that does not win an award.

D. Crowdfunder UK - all projects will have the chance to get more money for their project through crowdfunding. In partnership with Crowdfunder UK, groups can set up a crowdfunding page to run in parallel with their Aviva Community Fund campaign.

E. Customer and Employee Awards - £200 will be given to the first 1,000 customer entries and the first 1,000 employee entries, if they do not win any of the funding awards.

The project categories for 2018 are:

1. Skills for Life;
2. Health and Well-being; and
3. The Environment

1. Skills for Life 

These should be projects that aim to help communities and individuals improve their lives by learning useful new skills, particularly financial literary and digital ones. Living in an increasingly complex world, many people can begin to feel isolated and left behind if they do not have the opportunity to develop skills to make their lives easier or more fulfilling. Community projects in this category can help people of all ages and backgrounds – from school children to groups for older people. Examples of projects include:

o Budget training for families with limited income;
o Job skills for young or homeless people;
o Teaching older people how to use new technology; or
o Teaching young people financial skills.

2. Health and Well-being 

These should be projects that relate to helping people take control of their physical and mental health. Projects within this category should aim to make people feel better on a number of levels, improving physical, mental and emotional health and boosting social interaction. It is open to people of all ages and situations. This includes those caring for others and those that need care. Examples of projects include:

o Walking clubs to reduce loneliness;
o Improving playgrounds; or
o Support and activity groups for people living with dementia.

3. The Environment 

These should be community projects that are trying to improve their natural surroundings and make a positive change to the local area. This could be anything from improving sustainability to regenerating community areas to creating more natural habitats for wildlife. Projects should be trying to make sure the next generation has a better environment to enjoy. Examples of projects include:

o Clean energy or projects that promote or improve energy efficiency;
o Improving community flood defences and resilience projects;
o Cloth nappy loan; or
o Protection of natural habitats and/or endangered species

Entries will be accepted from Tuesday 11 September until midday on Tuesday  9 October 2018.

Projects need to be completed or well underway before 31 December 2019.

Applicants will need to register on the Aviva website before they can submit a project to the competition. Applicants are encouraged to add videos (these must be hosted on YouTube) and photos to their project submission to paint a better picture for the public.

As the public will be able to vote for their favourite projects all applicants are promote their project as widely as possible and gather as much support from their local community as they can.

A toolkit (scroll down the page to the "Making a Successful Submission" section) can be found on the Aviva website offering hints, tips and tricks for publicising projects and gathering support.

Contact details for the Aviva Community Fund are:

The Aviva Community Fund 
PO BOX 4 
Surrey Street 
Norwich 
NR1 3NG 
Email: communityfund@aviva.co.uk
(Aviva does not advertise a phone number for the Fund.)

(Source: GRIN)

THE GREGGS FOUNDATION ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTS

The Greggs Foundation’s Environmental Grants programme is an example of one of the grant schemes that has emerged with funding from the 5p Plastic Bag levy, which we mentioned in yesterday’s GRIN bulletin.

(Please note that the current grants round is expected to be the last before the fund is permanently closed.  In the future, the Foundation plans to use its allocated budget for the scheme to deliver larger nationwide projects with some of its key partners to make a greater impact on both the environment and the communities in which Greggs operates.)

Any not for profit organisation in England, Scotland and Wales may apply for a grant of up to £2,000 for projects that benefit the local environment.

There is no requirement for match funding.

Preference will be given  to small, locally based and community led organisations with a turnover not in excess of £300,000 per annum.

Schools are also encouraged to apply providing the project is accessible to the community outside of school hours. Schools are given the same level of priority as small locally based organisations.

Local organisations that are based near Greggs shops will be given priority. A Store Locator for Greggs can be found at this LINK.

Grants can cover the purchase of equipment, sessional salary costs, purchase of trees/plants, small capital projects and learning activities.

The Greggs Foundation is also interested in new approaches and innovative ideas as well as sustainable approaches to supporting local environments.

Priority will be given to projects which include one or more of the following:

o Improving the local environment;
o Ensuring the involvement of local communities;
o Delivering a sustainable and measurable difference; and/or
o Supporting people in need.

The following are not eligible to apply to the scheme:

o Ongoing running costs;
o Overseas travel;
o Curricular activities that take place during the school day;
o Religious promotion;
o Major capital projects; or
o Sponsorship of events or activities.

The final ever deadline for applications is Friday 28 September 2018.

Further details, together with an online application form, is available on the Foundation’s website.

Contact details for the programme are:

The Greggs Foundation 
Greggs House 
Quorum Business Park 
Newcastle Upon Tyne 
NE12 8BU 
Tel: 0191 212 7626 
Email: greggsfoundation@greggs.co.uk

(Source: GRIN)

Masonic Charitable Foundation’s Early Years Opportunities Grants Programme

The Masonic Charitable Foundation’s Early Years Opportunities Grants Programme offers small grants up to £15,000 and large grants up to £150,000 to registered charities in England and Wales to create the best start in life for disadvantaged children and young people aged up to 25 years.

Eligible applicants must provide one or more of the following:

o Mental and physical health support;
o Learning and development, including language and communication skills, and/or social and emotional skills;
o Parental Support, including whole family approach; and/or
o Pastoral and advocacy support.

Grants will support activities such as:

o Additional educational opportunities such as improving literacy and numeracy;
o Individual interventions - for example, parent education, home visiting or mentoring;
o Encouraging healthy behaviours with regards to diet, activity and well-being;
o Psychological interventions for domestic abuse and behavioural issues;
o The provision of vital adaptive technologies and equipment removing barriers;
o Alternative methods or specialist therapies to help children and young people integrate into the mainstream education system.

Examples of desired outcomes (these are not exclusive) are:

1. Short Term:

o   Children and young people receiving continuous support and interventions;
o   High quality provision of well-qualified and well-trained staff dealing with children and young people;
o   Existing services better supporting the physical, psychological and emotional needs of children and young people;
o   More children and young people engaged in sports and social clubs in society;
o   Age appropriate skills developed by the time children get to school or young people enter their first jobs;
o   Children and young people living in a healthy and stable environment;
o   Greater knowledge of options and rights for parents; and
o   Increased awareness of the subject within the Masonic community.

2. Long Term:

o    Improved health and well-being for children and young people;
o    Children and young people given the choice and opportunities they need to live a fulfilling life;
o    Equal opportunities for all children and young people regardless of ability or background;
o    Children and young people having the best start in life no matter what their circumstances;
o    Stable, healthy and supported family networks;
o    The Masonic Charitable Foundation's profile raised within the Masonic community, public and third sector.

There are two funding levels:

1. Small Grants of between £500 and £15,000 are available to charities with an income of under £500,000. Small grants are for general running and/or overhead costs of the charity (i.e core funding). 

2. Large Grants of between £10,000 and £150,000 for up to three years are available to charities with an income exceeding £500,000. The average large grant will range from £20,000 to £80,000. Occasionally, large grants of up to £150,000 are made for outstanding projects. Large grants are for projects and can be used for salary costs, activities, materials, etc. 

PLEASE NOTE: grant amounts should not exceed 15% of the total income of the applying charity. Charities can only apply for either a Small Grant or a Large Grant – they are not permitted to apply for both concurrently.

There are separate deadlines for the Large and Small Grants programmes:

1. The Large Grants deadline is Friday 5 October 2018 (please note this is a first stage deadline – successful applicants at this stage will be invited to apply to a second round);

2. The Small Grants deadline is Friday 26 October 2018.

Guidelines, together with an application checklist and an online eligibility test are available on the Masonic Charitable Foundation website. Applicants must complete the online eligibility test in order to proceed to the application form.

Contact details for the Foundation are:

Charity Grants Programmes 
Masonic Charitable Foundation 
60 Great Queen Street 
London 
WC2 5AZ 
Tel: 020 3146 3337 
Email: charitygrants@mcf.org.uk

Source: GRIN

BUPA UK FOUNDATION

For 2018 the Foundation’s theme is “Caring for Our Carers” and support for practical, community focused projects designed to help older carers to manage and improve their own health and well-being. The Foundation selected this theme for 2018 in recognition of the fact that ‘carers make a vital, hidden contribution to the health and well-being of the nation, yet they can often feel socially isolated, lacking support and a sense of community’ and ‘many carers report that caring has taken a toll on their own health’.

To be eligible, projects must:

o Meet the current funding focus;
o Be clearly for public benefit;
o Take place within the UK; and
o Be delivered within 12 to 18 months.

Not-for-profit organisations, including social enterprises and community interest companies, based and operating in the UK can apply for a one-year grant of up to £20,000.

Projects awarded funding from the BUPA UK Foundation automatically receive 15% of the level of funding awarded as a contribution to core costs. There is no requirement for match funding.

Applications from a local or regional charity that is affiliated to a wider network, federation or organisation will only be accepted if the application has been submitted through the national office.

To be eligible, organisations must ensure their application fits the following criteria:

o They can clearly evidence a track record of engaging, working with and supporting carers;
o Their project focuses on carers, rather than on those they care for. If carers are able to look after their own health, those they care for benefit too;
o The project will support older carers (those aged over 65) directly and specifically; and
o The project aims to support or improve health and well-being. Applications will need to outline the difference the project is likely to make to people's health and well-being and how the applicant intends to measure this.

The following are not eligible for funding:

o Individuals or causes that benefit just one person;
o Work that does not fall within the scope of the Bupa UK Foundation's charitable purposes;
o Work that is not clearly aligned with the stated funding priorities of a specific funding programme;
o Projects delivered outside of the UK even if the applicant is UK based;
o Long-term projects and initiatives. It is expected that most projects will be delivered within 12 to 18 months;
o Projects delivered by local authorities, housing associations, or other work which might reasonably be eligible for funding from statutory bodies;
o General awareness or information campaigns;
o Respite breaks or cover for respite breaks, day trips and holidays;
o Sponsorship of or attendance at meetings, events and conferences;
o Fundraising appeals, including requests for contributions to capital or equipment costs;
o Unrestricted funding for charities or other organisations;
o Academic research, including funding for educational or research posts; or
o Multiple applications in each round. Only one application per organisation per funding round will be accepted.

Applications will be accepted from today, 3 September 2018, for practical, community focused projects designed to help older carers to manage and improve their own health and well-being.

The deadline for applications is Friday 5 October 2018.

There are three stages to the grant-making process:

1. Stage 1 - the summary information provided in the project outline by the applicant is reviewed;
2. Stage 2 - applications that most clearly fit the application criteria are then invited to submit more detailed information; and
3. Stage 3 - a small number of applications will be considered by the Bupa UK Foundation's Board of Trustees, who make all final funding decisions.

The Foundation aims to advise all applicants whether they have been successful in progressing to Stage 2 within 6 weeks of the closing date.

For further information, visit the BUPA UK Foundation website.

Contact details for the Foundation are:

Bupa UK Foundation 
Bupa House 
15-19 Bloomsbury Way 
London 
WC1A 2BA 
Email: bupaukfoundation@bupa.com

(Source: GRIN)

TRUSTEES WEEK 2018

Fundraising online? - read on

Fundraising Regulator

The Fundraising Regulator has published a new section of the Code of Fundraising Practice covering online fundraising platforms, and developed guidance for fundraising platforms to help them meet the expected standards of transparency.

Key areas of requirement for online fundraising platforms include:

•  Fees and charges transparency
•  Complaints procedures
•  Refund criteria
•  Fraud prevention
•  Private bank accounts policy

The Fundraising Regulator has also published its annual review, made up of accessible infographics.