Below is a list of different funding bodies that may be of use to your organisation.

This page is regularly updated so please keep an eye out for new funding opportunities and/or deadline updates....

Making a Funding Application

If you or your organisation would like help with a funding application, guidance on what funders are available contact Linda Candita or Jane Owen on 01234 354366 or email; linda@yourcvs.org or jane@yourcvs.org  CVS also offer Fit for Funding Workshops which they offer for FREE to voluntary groups. These workshops cover all the basics to get you to the stage where your organisation will be able to apply for funding. Contact mandy@yourcvs.org or again contact her on the above number to book your place. Click here to see upcoming Fit for Funding Workshops.

Grant Application Tips ...

Visit the National Council for Voluntary Organisations website for information on making a successful grant application.

New VoluntaryWorks Tender Alert System

A webpage has been created to alert the voluntary sector in Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton to the latest tender opportunities from the local statutory authorities. The page can be found here. At the moment the page is highlighting two opportunities, through Central Bedfordshire Council, Bedford Borough Council and NHS Bedfordshire as they are currently seeking expressions of interest from consortia or organisations to deliver two key services for vulnerable groups across Bedfordshire to begin in October/November 2011:

Consortia or organisations interested in tendering for either of these services should contact the relevant commissioning organisation to request a Pre Qualifying Questionnaire (PQQ). Contact details and further information can be found at the following link here.

GRANTnet

Central Bedfordshire Council subscribes to GRANTnet, a user-friendly FREE to use service which has been devised to assist community and voluntary groups, sports and other clubs, schools, social enterprises and small businesses in identifying funding sources available for specific projects.

Once you have registered with GRANTnet, you will be e-mailed a password which will allow you to gain access. Having logged into the system, you must answer a few simple questions about your organisation and the project which you wish to undertake; GRANTnet will then provide an overview of all the schemes available. To register with GRANTnet please click here.

Central Bedfordshire ‘Supply the Council’

Click here to find out what types of goods and services the council buys, to find out if a current contract exists and to find tender opportunities.

SchoolFundFinder

SchoolFunderFinder.co.uk is a web service that allows users to search for available grants, funding and FREE items from one, easy to use website. This service is for subscribers and for this, subscribers will get up to date funding streams / grants, e-mail alerts, unlimited support and advice with bid writing and end of project reports and will research funding for specific projects. Click here for more information.

Time Limited Opportunities

1) Community First Fund

The £80 million Community First fund, which will provide small grants to community groups and local social action projects, is now open for applications. Grants can be awarded up to £5,000 to build on existing activities or to initiate new ones.
These activities must provide some measure of economic, environmental or cultural benefit. Projects will aim to encourage more community involvement and the restoration of community spirit and pride in making a Communities First area a better place to live.

Applications are welcome from a wide range of community projects and activities including music and the arts. Your group can apply if you:

• are a small community led organisation and /or are a not-for-profit group with an annual income under £150,000
• are working in and involving people from a Communities First area, or if you are based outside the area, the beneficiaries must be living in a Communities First area

The deadline date for applications is Friday 29 January. Click here for for application details.

2) Lady Allen of Hurtwood Trust - Travel Awards

Applications are now invited for the 2012 Lady Allen of Hurtwood Travel Awards. Lady Allen was a pioneer in the field of children's rights and adventure play for disabled children. Grants are awarded to candidates working with children with a particular emphasis on those who work with disabled children and/or children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The aim of the award is to offer candidates the opportunity to travel and broaden their experience which they can then apply to their work with children. The closing date for applications is Tuesday 31 January 2012. Click here for full details.

3) Kellogg's Breakfast Club

Kellogg’s has been working with education charity ContinYou to promote the benefits of breakfast clubs since 1998. As part of the initiative, schools and community groups can apply for grants and training to help them set up breakfast clubs. The scheme has so far helped to establish more than 500 clubs in school and community settings across the country. In addition, every year the Kellogg’s Breakfast Club Awards offer cash prizes in recognition of the best clubs, with more than £200,000 being handed out so far.

The scheme provides schools with grants of up to £400 and £50 of Kellogg’s vouchers to help fund schools or community groups looking to set up a breakfast club. A helpline is also available for those wanting extra guidance on setting up or developing a breakfast club. The scheme accepts applications throughout the year. However, the closing date for the next round of funding is Tuesday 31 January 2012. Click here for full details.

4) Developing a New Investment in Young People

The Big Lottery Fund are looking for a group of motivated 16-25 year olds to help develop an investment that will benefit young people in England. In 2012 and 2013 they plan to invest money in ideas that will inspire young people in need to build on their strengths and make a difference to their lives and communities.

They are recruiting young people aged 16-25 with a range of skills, backgrounds and experience to help them do this. The young people we recruit will

• know what kind of services young people need
• have experience of making difficult decisions as part of a team
• be able to share their own views, not just those of an organisation or group they may belong to

Visit the website for full details. To apply, complete the application form  and send it via by post or email by Wednesday 1 February 2012. When the application forms have been read, the Big Lottery Fund will invite 20 people to come to a training and assessment day where we will select the young people we need. If you have support needs or will need someone to come with you, we will be able to arrange this. Applicants must be 16-25 years old and living in England. BIG will pay travel expenses and an attendance fee.

5) Social Action Fund Has Opened for Second Round

The Social Action Fund, administered by the Social Investment Business on behalf of the Cabinet Office, is looking to support organisations that can create new social action opportunities throughout England.

Properly constituted civil society organisations, public sector organisations and businesses with a social mission that have been operating for more than two years and have a minimum turnover of £100,000 may apply. Projects must address the following themes:

• Encourage people to come together in their locality to support each other: Projects that scale proven models to regional or national levels, or replicate them in other localities. Some priority will be given to models that encourage those who do not traditionally get involved as volunteers
• Focus on the different life stages of volunteering. Programmes that target the following will be favoured:
• Building a culture of participation among school children and university graduates
• Encouraging professionals who have retired or are on point of retirement to use their experience and skills for community/public benefit
• Inspire and support NCS graduates who want to continue contributing to their communities through social action projects

The budget for this second round is approximately £10 million. The minimum grant is £100,000. Grants are intended to be used for revenue costs (with up to £5,000 for capital costs). Match funding is not a requirement, although it is preferred. The deadline for applications is noon on Friday 3 February 2012. Click here for full details.

6) Music Foundation

The PRS for Music Foundation is offering grants to voluntary organisations working in any genre of new music. It will support commissioning of new (UK) work, music residencies, tours, programmes, community projects, and work involving new technologies. For first time applicants the maximum grant is £5,000; those who have been funded previously can apply for up to £25,000. There are 4 deadlines in the year, and the next is on Monday 6 February 2012. Click here for full details.

7) Provision of Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) Service Tender

Suitably qualified organisations are invited to tender for the provision of Domestic Abuse IDVA service across Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire. The services will need to be delivered in line with CAADA guidelines. Applicants will need to demonstrate that they have skills and experience in delivering domestic abuse services. The service will include provision of housing related support, and will be available to clients for a period of up to two years. The contract will be offered for a period of 3 years. To receive a Tender Pack, please email operational.procurement@bedford.gov.uk. Completed tenders must be returned by 1.00pm on Friday 10 February 2012.

8) Innovation and Sustainability Programme

The Innovation and Sustainability Programme is part of CDC's work as Strategic Partner to the Department for Education. The programme is intended to support the development of capacity building and sustainability across the voluntary and community sector.

In the programme CDC is supporting up to 19 projects totaling £180,000, made up of:

• Seven projects of £5,000
• Seven projects of £10,000
• Five projects of £15,000

CDC is asking for applications from not-for-profit organisations for the above grants.

This programme is available to not-for-profit organisations only to use to:

• Help improve their sustainability
• Increase the participation of disabled children and young people and those with special educational needs (SEN)
• Support innovative work which leads to better sustainability

From this programme CDC hopes to support the building of sustainability across the whole voluntary and community sector as well as learn more about how local voluntary and community sector organisations can use different models to operate in financially difficult times. An introductory letter, guidance and frequently asked questions document and an application form are all available to download from the CDC website. Applications must be received at the Council for Disabled Children's office on or before 6.00pm on Wednesday 15 February 2012. Your application should be sent to us via email to jcrangle@ncb.org.uk. 

9) Get ready, Get Set, Go! - with Sports Relief grants!

Sport Relief (an initiative of Comic Relief) is offering Community Cash grants for a second year in a row. The funding is administered locally by community foundations across England in partnership with local newspapers. Grants ranging from £500 to £1,000 are available to local voluntary and community groups, registered charities working to make local people's lives better. To be eligible, groups should be working in a disadvantaged or deprived area within the specified area, have an income of less than £100,000 and limited access to other sources of income.

The funding is meant to support projects and activities that benefit those who are disadvantaged and can support things such as lunch clubs, cross generational work, community festivals, dads and lads projects, training for committee, volunteers and staff. Although the deadline for most applications is Friday 9 March 2012, some areas may have an earlier deadline. Interested groups should contact their local community foundation for further information, an application form and the deadline. Visit the Community Foundation Network website to find your local community foundation.

10) Steven Gerrard Foundation Launches Grants Programme

The Steven Gerrard Foundation was set up as a registered charity in February 2011 by Steven Gerrard with the Consortium for Street Children to award grants to charitable organisations throughout the UK that work with disadvantaged children and young people up to the age of 18 years. The grants programme is intended to provide relief to children and young people in need, whether through illness, family breakdown, disability, involvement in the streets, financial or educational disadvantage. Although the foundation operates in the UK and worldwide, the foundation will focus on Liverpool, the home town of Steven Gerrard.

Eligible applicants will be UK registered charities with a track record of at least two years delivering effective support to disadvantaged children. Grants of up to £10,000 per year for up to three years are available for projects that can start between June and September 2012.

Projects, can be new or existing, and should focus on one or more of the following themes:

• Children with disabilities
• Children and health
• Children and family breakdown
• Street children
• Children and education

The Foundation welcomes a wide range of projects. An application and further information can be found on the Steven Gerrard Foundation website. The deadline for applications is Friday 9 March 2012.

Local Opportunities

Are you looking for funding?

Funding Central is a FREE website enabling you to identify thousands of grants, contracts and loan finance opportunities. It is updated daily and features statutory and non-statutory funds all in one place. It also has practical tools and resources supporting you to develop sustainable income strategies appropriate to your needs. Funding Central makes complex searching easy. Sign up and receive your weekly, tailored funding and deadline alerts, news, events and support delivered straight to your inbox. Click here to register. 

1) B and Q Waste Donation

What's on offer?

B & Q donate unsaleable products and waste materials for re-use by recognised community groups. They donate items such as slightly damaged tins of paint, off-cuts of timber, broken tiles for mosaic projects. The items are donated on the understanding that they will be re-used. Items available for donation will vary from store to store. Full details are available here. To apply please contact your local store and speak to a duty manager. Your nearest store is Queens Park in Bedford and Sandy, Central Bedfordshire.

2) The Bedford Charity

There are five main application deadlines a year.

How much is on offer?

There is no minimum or maximum awards, although most applications are for between £1,000 and £20,000.

What will it fund?

Projects which benefit residents of the Borough of Bedford. The Bedford Charity has £1m to distribute in 2009 – 2010. £500,000 is available in their themed grants programmes, including Child and Adolescent Mental Health and £500,000 in a general responsive programme. Applicants are encouraged to telephone the grants department before applying.

Click here for more information.

3) Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation

How much is on offer?

Grants are available up to £5,000

What will it fund?

Funding is available for projects aiming to improve the quality of life of those in Bedfordshire and Luton, particularly those in special need by reason of disability, age, financial or other disadvantage. Click here for more information.

4) Bedfordshire Police Partnership Trust

Applications for funding are considered throughout the year.

How much is on offer?

Grants of up to £1,000.

What will it fund?

The Trust supports community initiatives in Bedfordshire that work in the following fields: crime prevention, community safety, drugs misuse and prevention, schools liaison or road safety. Click here for more information or contact Brian Prickett at: brian.prickett@bedspolicepartnership.org, tel: 01234 842612.

5) Central Bedfordshire Brokerage Project Grant

How much is on offer?

Funding up to £2,000.

What will it fund?

The project is inviting applications for funding of up to £2,000 to support the development of a range of brokerage activities in relation to more personalised services and the use of personal budgets. For further details on the aims and objectives of the project and to obtain application forms please click here.

6) The Central Bedfordshire Council's Chariman's Charitable Fund

How much is on offer?

The maximum you can apply for is £250. There is no minimum fund.

What will it fund?

The aim of this fund is to provide small grant for projects run by and for the benefit of people living in the Central Bedfordshire area. The fund will accept bids from locally based, volunteer led community groups. Click here for more information.

7) Choices for Carers Grants

How much is on offer?

Carers as individuals can apply for grants of up to £200.

What will it fund?

The NHS Choices Breaks fund is for people in Bedfordshire who care for a Bedfordshire resident and who themselves have a long-term health problem, or whose health is affected by their caring situation (e.g. back injury, stress-related illness, psychological ill-health). Carers who meet the above criteria can apply for a grant towards paying for an activity, short break, holiday, set of therapies, training course or something that aims to improve the carers health and / or awareness of their health which will improve their ability to manage their own health needs. Click here for full details or click here for an application form.

All forms should be returned to the Linda Di Michele, Carers in Bedfordshire, The Sea Cadet HQ, 4 Station Road, Biggleswade, Beds SG18 8AL or scanned and sent via email to linda.dimichele@carersinbeds.org.uk.

8) The Disadvantaged Subsidy Grant

How much is on offer?

Each school in Bedford has been allocated a proportion of the fund to spend against specific criteria. Requests need to be made directly to the school.  

What will it fund?

This fund is designed to subsidise access to extended service activities for economically disadvantaged children and young people and children in care, who might not otherwise be able to pay some or all of the charges associated with taking part - such as school trips, sports coaching and equipment. It aims to improve pupils' well-being, help raise attainment and narrow the attainment gap. Click here for the criteria and for further details.

9) Dunstable Town Council Community Grant Scheme

How much is on offer?

Grants from £50 to exceptionally £1,000 per organisation.

What will it fund?

Dunstable Town Council will fund any community or voluntary organisation which supports and benefits the residents of Dunstable; and in particular organisations that help to deliver the council's priorities and which meets the needs of the community, where the town council is unable to. Click here for further eligibility details and guidance or click here for an application form. The closing date for applications is Saturday 31 December. If you require further information, please telephone 01582 513000.

10) Houghton Regis Town Council

Grants are avilable throughout the year on a first come first served basis.

How much is on offer?

There is no set limit; however Grants are normally between £50 and £500 for small projects and between £500 and £1,000 for large projects.

What will it fund?

Grants are available for development costs or for setting up a new group, new activities or new projects and may be available for general running costs at the discretion of the Council.

For more information or for an application form, contact: Town Clerk, Houghton Regis Town Council, Council Offices, Peel Street, Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, LU5 5EY. Telephone: 01582 708542 or email: info@houghtonregis.org.uk.

12) Money Made Clear   

Money made clear provides FREE high quality services to help you get your money into shape.

• Squeeze into your new year budget
• Stretch your money further and tone your assets
• Pile on the pounds in 2011 and beyond.

Click here to try the Money Workout or click here to visit the website to find out more information.

13) The Wixamtree Trust

How much is on offer?

Grants usually average from £1000 to £10000.

What it will fund?

One off projects, core costs and research.  As long as the charity, project or service is for the benefit of people in Bedfordshire.  The trustees meet quarterly to consider applications. This trust favours registered charities based in Bedfordshire.

Click here for further information.