The following national and local business related organisations can help your voluntary and community groups in the following ways:

National Business Help

Business in the Community (www.bitc.org.uk)

Works with 650 member companies to raise business awareness of community issues, share information and expertise, promote partnerships between the public, private and voluntary sectors and match business resources and community needs.

Local Business Help

The Beds & Luton Community Foundation

The Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation funnels donations from businesses across Bedfordshire to voluntary and community groups, through there grants programme. So if your group is looking for up to £500 in funding then the Foundation may be able to help. It is dedicated to improving the quality of community life of Bedfordshire people, and in particular those in special need by reason of disability, age, financial or other disadvantage. Grants can be made for a wide range of purposes, including Buying Equipment, Training Staff & Volunteers, Printing & Publicity, Start Up Costs, Social Events and Running Costs. Grants will not be considered from individuals, Political Parties / Organisations, Statutory Groups and for the promotion of anyone religion. Contact the Foundation Director, Mark West at The Beds & Luton Community Foundation, The Barn, Buttercup Farm, Hockliffe Road, Tebworth, Beds, LU7 9QA. Tel/Fax: 01525 878142. For more information on Community Foundations visit www.communityfoundations.org.uk

The Cranfield Trust (www.cranfieldtrust.org.uk)

Free Management Consultancy for Voluntary Sector

Organisations working to address issues of poverty, disability or disadvantage can apply to the Cranfield Trust for free management consultancy. The organisation provides this service using a register of volunteer consultants and students from the commercial sector. While the system is available UK wide, it is limited to between 100 - 120 projects a year. Mid Beds CVS used their services last year in formulating a development/business plan and found their help to be invaluable. To find out more contact: The Cranfield Trust, Wykeham House, 88 The Hundred, Romsey, Hants, SO51 8BX. Tel: 01794 830338. www.cranfieldtrust.org.uk. The trust would also like to hear from any consultants who might be interested in joining the register.

Finance ReDirect Ltd (www.financeredirect.co.uk)

The new way to give to charity - without it costing you a penny!

Finance ReDirect Ltd is a non-profit making financial services company.  Its sole purpose is to distribute its profits to the registered charity Create (reg. no. 1078672).  Create is a nationally registered charitable Trust, which has been set up to give grants to local community and/or church projects. 

Finance ReDirect Ltd generates its profits by working in partnership with a range of companies to provide services to community minded individuals, non-profit making organisations and businesses. 

Initially, it formed partnerships that enabled you to automatically give to local charities when you took out insurance or whenever you made a telephone call! Now they also offer web hosting for your website, which is actually free if you have take advantage of their insurance services!

So why not take a look at their website at www.financeredirect.co.uk and find out more. You can also find out about the charitable side to the buisness, name Create. which makes grants available to local community groups & churches, whose projects help those in need, hardship or distress or those who are aged or sick. Details can be found at www.create-charity.org.uk.

£5 Million Public Liability for less than £50 a year!!

Finance ReDirect operates within the insurance industry and recently received funding to develop a range of insurance products aimed at organisations in the voluntary sector and in particular the need for affordable Public Liability cover for small community groups. 

As a result, Finance ReDirect has negotiated a unique scheme for Public Liability cover from as little as £38.85 per annum. The scheme is designed for small groups who fall within the following criteria:

• have an annual turnover of less than £10,000
• have less than 100 members
• hold meetings in hired premises

and provides cover for the following activities

• regular meetings;
• up to 6 fund raising events in the year; and
• up to 6 outings in the year.

The scheme, which launched early February 2006, offers the choice of two levels of indemnity: £1,000,000 or £5,000,000 and can be arranged online or by telephone. Applications received via their website receive a discounted premium, as this method of application allows Finance ReDirect to save costs and thereby redirect more of their profits into the local community.

Tanya Richardson (Managing Director) said “We have come across so many community groups who do not have adequate Public Liability cover simply because they cannot afford it. As a result we wanted to design a product that would specifically cater for their needs. We are very excited about the provision under our Community Group Scheme and hope that it will help meet the needs of these small groups.”

To find out if your community group is eligible, you can contact Finance ReDirect via their website www.financeredirect.co.uk or by telephone on: 0845 373 2759.