The Funding Advice Service has produced a series of Funding Information Sheets to provide information on:

• the different types of grants available
• good practice when applying for funding
• sustainable fundraising

Local Trusts and Foundations
With 10,000 independent trusts and foundations in the UK, giving £2 billion in grants each year to voluntary and community organisations, this information sheet lists those that have a preference for funding projects in Bedfordshire.

Making a Successful Application 
This information sheet will cover what you will need to do to research, collect and prepare information about your project in order to communicate clearly with your potential funder.

Identifying Funding for your Organisation
Statutory agencies, lottery, trusts and foundations, earned income, corporate support, fundraising activities and tax effective giving are some of the many different types of funding available. We outline the research required to identify the best source for your organisation.

Grant Schemes in South Bedfordshire
A compilation of all the active grant schemes available to voluntary organisations and community groups in South Bedfordshire, with funding criteria, size of grants and an indication of when applications need to be in by.

National Lottery Funding Streams 
This information sheet explores the national lottery grants most suitable for voluntary organisations and community groups based in South Bedfordshire.

Developing a Sustainable Fundraising Strategy
A simple and practical approach to developing an effective sustainable fundraising strategy is outlined in this information sheet.

Introduction to Social Enterprise
The term ‘Social Enterprise’ is attracting a lot of attention in recent times. But with its increasing popularity has come less certainty about what exactly a social enterprise is and does. The purpose of this information sheet is to introduce the subject of ‘Social Enterprise’, to help those who are completely new to the concept get an understanding of the values associated with the term as well as those considering whether or not to become (further) involved.

Environmental Grants
This Information Sheet is a compilation of all the active grant schemes available to voluntary organisations and community groups in South Bedfordshire, for funding environmental projects.

Social Enterprise Resources
This resource sheet complements our own Funding Information Sheet that introduces local voluntary organisations and community groups to Social Enterprise. It lists the different resources available for developing social enterprises. Where the reports are available online, we have given the direct link, if not, we do have a copy in our resource library.

Full Cost Recovery
The principle behind full cost recovery is simple. Full Cost Recovery (FCR) means your organisation recovers the total costs of delivering a service, including the direct costs of projects and all of the organisation’s overheads. Working out the full cost of delivering a service is essential. Voluntary and community organisations, both big and small, are increasingly providing services on behalf of central government, primary care trusts and local councils. FCR is crucial if these services, and the organisations delivering them, are to be sustainable.

Budgeting for an Application
A budget is an estimate of how much money a group needs to spend and raise in order to carry out it's work. This information sheet explains why a group needs a budget and how to go about preparing one.

Funding for Places of Worship
This Information Sheet is a compilation of all the active grant schemes available to Place of Worship, with funding criteria, size of grants and an indication of when applications need to be in by. Contact Voluntary and Community Action for help and guidance with the completion of applications.

Local Government Grants
A main source of funding for voluntary organisations and community groups is still the local authority or Council. Different departments within a local authority may each have their own pots of money to allocate in the form of grants or Service Level Agreements. This information sheet lists the local government grants available to voluntary organisations and community groups in Bedfordshire.