As part of the CVS Funding Tookit has produced an information sheet that details all the major local funders. This can be downloaded from this webpage. However, below we highlight some of the major local funders:

A to Z of Major Local Funders

Bedford Charity (The Harpur Trust)

Contact details: Lucy Bardner, Princeton Court, Pilgrim Centre, Brickhill Drive, Bedford, MK41 7PZ
Telephone 01234 369500, Fax 01234 368505
Email grants@harpur-trust.org.uk
Website www.bedfordcharity.org.uk (online form now available)

The Bedford Charity, also known as The Harpur Trust, is one of the 200 largest charities in the UK, but a local one, with three charitable objectives:

• The promotion of education
• The relief of those who are sick or in need, hardship or distress
• The provision of recreational facilities with a social welfare purpose

Within the Borough of Bedford Only (includes North Bedfordshire).

The Bedford Charity is a big supporter of the local community, providing grants for a wide range of activities and projects under its Responsive Grants Programme.

The Bedford Charity Themed Programmes

The Bedford Charity (The Harpur Trust) has launched a brand new set of grants programmes based on the recommendations of an influential report which it co-funded.

The publication of ‘Sinking and Swimming – understanding Britain’s unmet needs’ by leading think tank The Young Foundation coincided with the Charity’s five-year strategic planning process.  This was an ideal opportunity to incorporate its innovative recommendations into the Charity’s grant-making.

Rather than focusing on particular client groups, sectors or “issues”, the new themes look at common factors which play a part in need across all sectors of society. We hope they will be accessible to a wide variety of voluntary organisations operating in Bedford Borough. The new themes are:

• Transitions – Every Bedford resident undergoes transitions from one phase of life to another. Some, like leaving school will affect us all and others, like leaving prison, only affect a minority. But if transitions go wrong the impact can be devastating for individuals and be expensive and problematic for the rest of the community.  This programme will support projects which help people (individuals and communities) prepare for and negotiate significant life changes.
• Psychological Fitness (Resilience) – Most of us know people who cope with life’s difficulties better than others, using them to grow and become stronger. This programme will support initiatives which help people develop a positive attitude to change, and help them avoid negative coping mechanisms such as alcohol.
• Isolation - Modern British society is increasingly individualistic, and many people live on their own, lonely and isolated, particularly when they are older. Some groups of people, such as people with learning disabilities or homeless people, can feel cut off from the wider community and feel they lack social and emotional support. This programme will support projects which aim to reduce the loneliness and lack of social networks experienced by Bedford’s more vulnerable residents.

The new themed programmes will replace four of the existing themes, but the continued presence of our responsive or general grants programme means that all applications benefiting residents of the Borough of Bedford and meeting one of the Charity’s general objects of education relief and recreation can still be considered

Bedfordshire & Luton Community Foundation

Contact details: Mark West, Chief Executive, The Barn, Buttercup Farm, Hockliffe Road, Tebworth, Nr Leighton Buzzard, LU7 9QA. Telephone 01525 878142.
Email mark.west@blcf.org.uk

The Foundation states that it was established in 2000 and 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 disadvantages. Grants of up to £500 are available and can be for start up and running costs or for specific projects. No grants for religious or political activities. Applications by a simple form. The panel meets quarterly in March, June, September and December.

Website: www.blcf.org.uk

Beds and Herts Historic Churches Trust

This Trust was established in 1991 to raise and manage funds to help the restoration and repair of churches and chapels in the counties of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. The Trust also acts as a distributive agent for church grants made by the Wixamtree Trust in Bedfordshire.

Website: www.bedshertshct.org.uk

Biffaward

Contact details: Sue Norman or Beni Wright, Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity, The Old School, Cardington, Bedfordshire. Telephone 01234 832614.
Email sue@bedsrcc.org.uk

Biffaward is one of the Landfill Communities Fund schemes, and has awarded more than £80 million to worthwhile projects since 1997. They support projects which enhance communities or biodiversity, sometimes both. Managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts and using landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services, Biffaward offers different levels of funding:

• Small Grants – £250-£5,000 for groups that need funding to improve the quality of life in their community
• Main Grants (Community) – £5,000 - £50,000 to provide or improve community spaces and cultural facilities
• Main Grants (Biodiversity) – £5,000 - £50,000 to create, restore and manage areas to increase biodiversity
• Flagship – £150,000 - £500,000 for community-led regeneration schemes and large scale biodiversity projects of regional or national significance

Projects can only be funded if they are within the required proximity of a Biffa operation. Whether you need to have a Biffa operation within 10 or 25 miles depends on the type of funding you are looking for. To find out more about Biffaward, see if your project is eligible or download application forms, visit the website at www.biffaward.org

The House of Industry Estate

Funding is available to groups in Bedford Borough. Whilst each application for financial assistance will be considered on its own merits, provided it falls within the criteria of the Charity, normally the Trustees would only provide grant assistance for:

• Capital items up to £25,000 which do NOT involve works to land or property (with any larger requests only being considered by the Trustees in exceptional circumstances)
• Core revenue funding for one-off emergency purposes of up to £15,000 provided that, where applicants receive such assistance, they be advised that the Trustees will not normally renew revenue assistance in future years
• Revenue funding for projects including those lasting for more than one year (subject to organisations providing annual reports on the outcome to the Trustees);

Contacts: Service Manager (Benefits and Community Welfare) (01234) 221651, Email saudin@bedford.gov.uk or Community Welfare Officer: (01234) 276284, Email smealor@bedford.gov.uk

Website: The House of Industry Estate

The Steel Charitable Trust

The Steel Charitable Trust is a grant-making trust supporting general charitable purposes. It is the policy of the Trustees to make grants to a wide range of charitable bodies, including those mentioned in the Deed of Settlement. Grants are made primarily to registered charities in the UK within the following funding areas:

• Arts and Culture
• Education
• Disadvantaged
• Environment
• Health

The total level of grants is expected to be £1,000,000 per annum of which approximately 30% will be made to organisations in the Luton and Bedfordshire area. Grants are generally made as single payments between £1,000 and £25,000.

Website: www.steelcharitabletrust.org.uk

Wixamtree Trust

Contact details: Paul Patten, Administrator, The Wixamtree Trust, 148 The Grove, West Wickham, Kent, BR4 9JZ. Telephone 0208 777 8754. Email wixamtree@thetrustpartnership.com

This Trust states that they favour registered charities based in Bedfordshire. No grants to individuals. Single grants average £1000 to £5000 and can be for one-off projects, core costs and research. Trustees meet quarterly to consider applications.
Application forms are available from the administrator by email. A recent set of audited accounts will be required. Any donations awarded to be treated as ‘anonymous’ by the recipient.

Website: www.wixamtree.org

WREN

Contact details: Emma Brooks, Telephone 01234 772370
Email emma.brooks@wren.org.uk
Website www.wren.org.uk

Grants are available in Bedfordshire from the Landfill tax money of the Environmental Body WREN (formerly Shanks). The grants made under the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme look to improve community life by enhancing existing facilities as well as providing new facilities, including play areas, skate parks, community gardens, woodland improvements, greens and public parks, nature reserves, churches and religious buildings of all denominations, listed buildings, monuments & village halls. For more information about WREN and the availability of LTCS funding visit www.wren.org.uk or call 01953 717165.

Contact

Linda Candita or Jane Owen on 01234 354366 for help in identifying potential funders in Bedfordshire