Applying - Organisations

Who may apply

Only registered charities in the U.K. whose primary objectives are to assist one or more of the following groups:

• Disadvantaged/underprivileged young people (under 25 years of age)
• People with disabilities (physical or learning disabilities) or mental health problems
• Older people (aged over 60)

We do not respond to organisations who do not meet the above criteria.

Type of grants offered

We have two programmes for organisations:

Large grants – one off payments for capital expenditure of approximately £2,000 and over (the majority of grants fall within the range of £2,000 to £5,000)

Preference is given to specific items of furniture and equipment (excluding office items) which the Charity can fund in their entirety.

Please bear in mind that the Trustees prefer to use the Charity’s funding to complete projects in order to maximise effectiveness and ensure grants are taken up as quickly as possible. This means that minibuses are only considered in the final stage of the fundraising appeal. Please apply once you have a shortfall of £15,000 or less.

When to apply: Applications may be submitted at any time and will be considered at the next appropriate Board meeting. Applications for Small Grants are considered monthly.

How to apply: Please see below. You are welcome to telephone this office for advice and guidance at any stage of your application.

WHO the Charity will fund

The Charity will consider capital funding for the following projects and schemes:

1. Disadvantaged/underprivileged young people (persons under 25)
   Supported housing schemes and educational and training projects to encourage disadvantaged young people who may be homeless and/or unemployed away from crime, substance/alcohol misuse and homelessness.
   
   Facilities for recreational activities and outdoor pursuits specifically for young people who are educationally or socially underprivileged or disadvantaged
   
   
2. People with disabilities (physical or learning disabilities or mental health problems)
   Residential, respite care, occupational and recreational establishments for children, young people and adults with physical or learning disabilities or enduring mental health problems
   
   
3. Older people (aged over 60)
   Day centres, nursing and residential homes, sheltered accommodation and respite care for the frail or sufferers from dementia or age related disorders
   
   Projects to encourage older people to maintain their independence.
   
   

What the Charity does NOT fund (These are some examples and the list is not exhaustive)

• Running expenses for the organisation or individual projects
• Salaries, training costs or office equipment/furniture
• Projects for general community use e.g. community centre and church halls
• Disabled access to community buildings
• Publication costs e.g. printing/distributing promotional and information leaflets
• Projects that have been completed
• Items that have already been purchased
• Provision of disabled facilities in schemes mainly for the able-bodied
• General funding/circularised appeals
• Pre-schools or playgroups (other than predominantly for disabled children)
• Play schemes/summer schemes
• Holidays or expeditions for individuals or groups
• Trips, activities or events
• Community sports/play area facilities
• Exterior works such as paving, roofing and garden landscaping
• Consumables (e.g. stationery, arts and crafts materials)
• Refurbishment or repair of places of worship/church halls
• Research projects
• Mainstream pre-schools, Schools, Colleges and Universities (other than special schools)
• Welfare Funds for individuals
• Hospital/medical equipment
• Works to premises not used primarily by the eligible groups

HOW TO APPLY

Large Grants (£2000 and over)

Organisations can apply by clicking here or following the "Apply Now" link from the home page.

Please note you will need to provide the following information during the application process:-

• Outlining the amount you are requesting and what the funding is for.
• A brief history of your Charity including year established, its objectives and work.
• Description of the project and what you intend to achieve
• An itemised list of the equipment/furniture with estimate of costs. Please obtain at least 2 competitive estimates except where this is not practicable e.g. specialised equipment
• When you expect to purchase the equipment/furniture.
• Details of funds already raised and other sources that you have approached
• Proposals to monitor and evaluate the project
• A copy of your most recent Annual Report and audited Accounts.
• Any other relevant information that will help to explain your application

Contribution towards purchase of minibuses

Minibuses can only be considered if used to transport older and/or disabled people with mobility problems. Please include the following details:

• Please give details of provision made for insurance, tax and maintenance etc. We require confirmation that your organisation can meet future running costs.
• Specification of the minibus including make, model and number of seats.

Small Grants (up to £750)

Organisations can apply by clicking here or following the "Apply Now" link from the home page.

During the application process you will need to provide:-

• Brief details about your organisation and its work
• A copy of your most recent annual accounts
• Outline of the project and its principal aims
• Breakdown of the cost of item/s required
• The organisation's bank account name to which the cheque should be made payable if a grant is approved. (We cannot make cheques payable to individuals).
• If your organisation is not a registered charity, please supply a reference from a registered charity with whom you work or from the local Voluntary Service Council.

How we deal with LARGE GRANT applications

When do we ask for additional information and why?

We may telephone, email or write to you for further information if this is necessary to understand and assess your application fully. This does not mean that funding is guaranteed however all applications within the Charity’s criteria will be considered and the applicants notified of the decision, in due course.

If a grant is offered, when will payment be made?

• Equipment/furniture – When we receive a copy of the invoice.

Please note that we shall make the payment only to your organisation and not direct to the supplier.

Is there a time limit on offers?

We require all large grants to be taken up within 12 months of the date of approval to avoid funds being committed to projects that are unable to proceed or have been delayed for any reason. This helps us to release funds to support other causes. We would ask you to bear this in mind when applying so that offers do not lapse before you are in a position to proceed.

What are the requirements after the grant is paid?

We may ask you to provide a report after the grant is paid describing the outcome and what the project has achieved. This helps us to monitor the use of our funds. We may visit your organisation to evaluate the use of the grant.

Can organisations re-apply for a grant?

Yes, after 12 months of receiving a grant. Please allow at least one year from the date of payment before reapplying. If your application was not successful, you can re-apply after 12 months from the date of refusal.

While we shall always do our best to help, the Charity receives many more applications, for both large and small grants, than it can fund and some will regrettably be unsuccessful. Please note that the Charity’s decision is final.