Small Grants Information

A small grant can make a tremendous difference to a local community seeking to undertake a project of local significance. Whilst there are many grant makers some only fund specific causes and therefore it is advisable to research what a potential grant maker will fund.  If you need help to identify a potential funder for your project why not fill in the Funding Search Form and have a professional search undertaken with the results returned to you.  Applying for funding can take time, in both the writing of the application form and the appraisal process.  It is therefore essential to plan well in advance before a project start date (six to nine months or more).

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Small grants up to £5,000

Small grants are a good way of gaining experience when applying for funding.  Most grants are available for  community and voluntary groups to apply, especially where the project involves the community in the management and delivery of the project.  Small grant application forms are clear and straightforward and are normally assessed within twelve weeks.  As part of the assessment of the application, funding organisations may contact you to gain a better understanding of the project if needed.

Once approved funding is paid at the beginning of the project to help with the projects cash flow.  Applicants will be required to complete one monitoring form to demonstrate what they have spent the grant money on and the benefits that have been delivered during the duration of the project.  Occasionally, projects will be visited by the funding organisation, to gain a better understanding and to see what the grant has been spent on and the outcomes of the project.

County Durham Foundation

The  Neighbourhood Renewal and Community Learning Chest 

You do not need a constitution to apply but you must have one in place before the grant is approved.  Funding can be used for a wide range of activities including community and voluntary groups that benefit the area in which they work, environmental improvement schemes and projects that benefit children who are disadvantaged.

Applicants must complete a form and include a copy of their constitution, a copy of up to date accounts or a recent bank statement plus an annual budget if you are a new group.  Copies of quotes if available and a child protection policy if your group works with children.  The County Durham Foundation manages a wide range of funds and your application will be matched with one of the funding streams.  Applications will be assessed against whether they address a need or issues faced in the area, the impact of the project, the applicants ability to manage the project, realistic budget, how service users are involved in the decision making, is the project open to all members of the community and what will happen once the grant ends.  The assessment takes up to twelve weeks and funding is paid up front, successful applicants will be required to complete a monitoring form.  You cannot use the funding for any expenditure that has been incurred before the grant has been awarded.

Detailed information is available from the County Durham Foundation.  If you want to discuss your project before applying you are advised to contact them.  Two of the funds that the County Durham Foundation manage are the Neighbourhood Renewal Community Chest and the Neighbourhood Renewal Community Learning Chests.  These funds provide grants from £50 to £5,000 for community groups that want to start an activity or provide a project that benefits the local community.  The Neighbourhood Renewal Community Learning Chest provides funding that can be used to help develop the management and running of community groups.

Contact Details, County Durham Foundation, Jordan House, Forster Business Centre, Finchale Road, Durham DH1 5HL Tel: 0191 3830055

Investing in Children - Local Network Fund administered by the County Durham Foundation.

This programme aims to support groups that work with children or young people in County Durham to improve the services available to them and to combat child poverty and disadvantage.  This fund supports projects for young people by young people.  Projects should demonstrate that children and/or young people would play a key role in the decision-making and management of the project.  The maximum grant available is £7,000.  The grants committee will consider a wide range of projects and activities.  The Investing in Children element of the programme is funded by Durham County Council and the County Durham Health Authority.  A full detailed guidance note and application form on both elements is available from the County Durham Foundation .  Tel:0191 3830055

Community Environment Fund County Durham Environmental Trust (CDENT)

Donations from the Durham County Waste Management Company are used to support community and voluntary based organisations to improve their local environment.  This can include cleaning up or landscaping local community land or improving access to a particular site.  Projects must be based on sites accessible to the general public. Grants are normally awarded between £500 - £2,500.  The Community Environment Fund is administered by the County Durham Foundation.  Further details can be obtained by contacting 0191 383 0055 .

Bridging the Gap - Coalfields Regeneration Trust

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust  (CRT) has been specifically set up to fund the regeneration of former coalfield areas.  Organisations within the District of Easington may be eligible for funding from this Trust who have a range of grant making programmes which includes the small grants programme (Bridging the Gap) for applications between £500 - £10,000.  Tel:  0191 4285550

Local Heritage Initiative

The Local Heritage Initiative can provide grants between £3,000 and £25,000 for projects that have a archaeological, natural, built, industrial or cultural focus to them, or indeed a mix of these themes.  However, it is also important that projects raise awareness of local heritage and give added benefit to the community.  Tel:  0870 9000 401

 

Awards for All

Awards for All applicants must complete a form and include a constitution, up to date accounts, provide a bank statement, plus an annual budget if you are a new group.  Applications will be assessed against the following criteria, how well the group is managed, is the project is well planned, if it meets one of the Award for All aims, who the project will benefit, is the budget realistic and is the group contributing to the project.  In April 2006 the limit for applicants will be raised from £5,000 to £10,000.  Telephone 0845 6002040 for an information and application form.

Northern Rock Foundation

Northern Rock Foundation has two application forms depending upon the size of the grant you are applying for. In addition to the application form you must include, a current year’s budget, recent accounts, constitution, information about applications to other funding organisations and a detailed budget for the project.  Applications for less than £15,000 will be assessed within 3 months and grants for more than £15,000 within 4 months.  During the assessment of the application the Northern Rock Foundation may telephone to discuss the project or visit the organisation.  The Northern Rock Foundation provides eleven months of the funding up front.  Successful applicants will be required to submit a monitoring form.  The Northern Rock Foundation encourages applicants to have funding from other funders or a contribution to the project from the applicant.  Contact, Northern Rock Foundation, Woodbine Road, Methodist Church, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 1DD  Tel: 0191 284 8412

Co-op Community Dividend Fund

Co-op Community Dividend Fund aims to help communities to help themselves by providing local groups committed to enhancing community life with grants, to help fund their activities or specific projects.  Awards are decided from set criteria based on a set of values and principles including self-help and co-operation.  Allocations range from £100 to £5,000.  Leaflets containing further information can be obtained from Co-operative Group Stores or contact Tel: 0191 4770291.

Lloyds TSB Foundation

Applicants must complete a form and include a registered charity number, annual report and accounts, bank details, a recent bank statement and if applying for funding for salaries a job description.  The Lloyds TSB Foundation prefers facts and figures and bullet points from applicants on the application form.  In addition, the Lloyds TSB Foundation will give priority to projects in the North East that aim to tackle rural isolation, address issues associated with substance abuse, work in areas of high levels of social need, support older people in terms of harnessing skills after retirement or supporting independent living, and work with refugees and asylum seekers.  Applications will be assessed within three months and funding will be paid upfront.  You cannot use the funding for any expenditure that has been incurred before the grant has been awarded.  Successful applicants will be required to complete a monitoring form and may be visited.  If your project is successful you cannot apply to Lloyds TSB Foundation for two years, if unsuccessful you have to wait twelve months.  Lloyds TSB Foundation are keen to speak to applicants before submitting applications.

Contact details; Lloyds TSB Foundation, PO Box 779, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE99 1YJ Tel:  0191 2618433

Nationwide Foundation

The Nationwide Foundation makes charitable grants to UK based charitable and not for profit organisations whose aims are to improve the quality of life and the range of opportunities for those in need.  The foundation seeks to promote social inclusion and achieve real and sustainable benefit to communities.  The Foundation currently has two areas of special interest, supporting volunteering programmes and rural regeneration.  The foundation considers applications for grants between £500 to £10,000 and up to £30,000 for work spanning up to three years.  For further information or an application pack contact 01793 657183

Sherburn House Charity

Sherburn House Charity has objectives for the relief of need, hardship and distress, and therefore their grant giving is fairly wide.  Grants range in value from £200 - £20,000.  Groups do not have to be a registered charity to apply.

Greggs Trust

Greggs Trust do not have an application form, applicants are recommended to contact the Trust before applying to receive a copy of their policy and priorities leaflet.  Grants up to £10,000 can take up to six months to approve and must be submitted by mid March.  A number of projects will be visited before they are approved.  Smaller grants of up to £1,000 are normally approved in two months.  Organisations are encouraged to contact the Trust before applying.  Email: Greggs trust 

Contact details; Greggs Trust, Fernwood House, Clayton Road, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1TL Tel: 0191 2127626 Fax: 0191 2819536

Camelot Foundation

The Camelot Foundation aims to support organisations that help disabled and disadvantaged people (aged 11-25 years old) play a fuller role in the workplace and in the community.  The disadvantage theme focuses on Alzheimer's disease and other dementia, carers, domestic violence, refugees, rural transport schemes and programmes that help people to find work.  Camelot operates 3 grant programmes.

The Community Support Programme that can make grants between £500 and £5,000 to cover equipment, training and running costs.

The Employee Participation Programme can assist with fund-raising or volunteering opportunities through the utilisation of Camelot Group employees.  Any funds raised for eligible community projects may be matched £1 for £1.

The Charitable Projects Programme places emphasis on large-scale innovative national projects or pilot programmes that test out new initiatives.

For further details on all the Camelot Foundation Schemes contact 0207 8286085.  To receive an application pack, please send a 40p stamped self addressed A4 envelope to Community Support Programme, The Camelot Foundation, One Derry Street, London, W8 5HY

Abbey National Community Partnership Programme

The Abbey National Community Partnership Programme has a priority for donations to Equal Opportunities for Disabled People - covering special equipment, access, housing, participation in sport and the arts.  The aim is to help people with physical and sensory impairments, as well as learning difficulties, mental illness, infirmity and old age.  Education for Disadvantaged Groups - to help people of any age with special educational or training needs, including minority ethnic communities, disabled people, homeless people or inner city social exclusion projects.  Employment for Disadvantaged Groups - the same priority groups apply as above and Youth Unemployment can be added here.  The Trust operates three donations programmes, Minor Donations £100 to £1,000, Intermediate Donations £1,000 to £5,000 and Major Donations - usually in the range of £5,000 to £20,000.  For further details call 0870 608 0104 or email communitypartnership@abbeynational.co.uk

Henry Smith's Charity

Henry Smith's Charity can only award grants to registered charities unless organisations are exempt.  The aim is to support organisations with an annual income of under £250,000 anywhere in the UK by making grants of between £500 and £10,000.  Grants can be for capital or revenue purposes such as equipment or help with costs of transport, training, information packs or for volunteer expenses, however ongoing running costs are unlikely to be supported as grants need to be spent within six months.  Applications are considered every two weeks.  To apply send a written application, no more than two A4 sides and avoid using jargon and technical terms, together with your most recent annual report and audited accounts to; The Treasurer, Henry Smith's Charity, 5 Chancery Lane, London, EC4A 1BU  Tel: 0207 320 6216

Paul Hamlyn Foundation

The Paul Hamlyn Foundation aims to give opportunity to those who start with little, but are willing to help themselves.  Projects need to be arts based and one of its main areas of interest is education.  Grants are usually for £5,000.  Applicants are advised to discuss a possible application with foundation staff on the telephone before submitting a formal application.  For further information please contact Patricia Lankester, Director, 18 Queen Anne's Gate, London, SW1H 9AA  Tel: 0207 227 3500.

Tesco Charity Trust

Tesco Charity Trust helps local and national charities as well as voluntary organisations to provide practical support for children, education, elderly and people with disabilities.  Donations generally range between £1,500 and £5,000.  Further details can be obtained from Tesco Charity Trust, Tesco Stores Ltd, Delamare Road, Cheshunt, EN8 9SL.

Other Information

There are many Charitable Trusts who have a preference for funding in the North East.  Details of these can be found in the regional publication called 'The North East Guide for Grant Seekers'.  This useful book provides contact details for numerous Trusts together with their funding priorities.  A copy of this book will prove useful to organisations who are seeking grants and may require additional grants in the years ahead.  This book can be purchased from Funding Information North East (FINE). Contact FINE on 0191 4771253 email to enquiries@fine.org.uk

See also Useful Publications for more information in your search to access a grant.