Funding for Young People for Volunteering or Community Service Projects in the UK

The Alec Dickson Trust supports volunteering or community service projects in the UK that are organised and run by young people aged 30 and younger.

Grants of up to £500 are available to individuals or small groups of young people in the UK to help them put their ideas into action and run projects that benefit the lives of others.

The funding is for UK based projects that:

• Support and encourage youth volunteering, particularly those that involve lots of volunteers and encourage young people to stay engaged as volunteers in the long term.

• Have a positive impact on disadvantaged communities and individuals. Projects should identify a specific need and how to clearly address this need. There is particular interest in projects that will have a deep and meaningful effect on those it reaches, as well as projects that are as long-lasting and sustainable as possible.

• Are innovative and try to do things differently. This could be addressing a real need for the community or doing something that has not been done before.

Applicants will need to provide a referee who know them in in a professional capacity, but who is not part of the volunteer project.

Applications are reviewed on a quarterly basis (January, April, July and October).

The deadline for the current round of applications is 1 July 2024 (10pm).

For more information and to apply, please visit Alec Dickson Trust

MSE Charity to Open for Applications on 19 June

Following a strategic review earlier this year, MSE Charity has announced that from June 2024, the funding approach is changing from two themed grant rounds per year to two grant rounds per year with no specific themes.

Instead of a specific theme, all applications must be aligned with MSE Charity's vision of funding activities which make a lasting impact on the way people think, behave and manage their money.

Project grants of up to £10,000 will be available (this is an increase of £2,000 from previous rounds).

A new staged application process is being introduced:

• Eligibility quiz and Stage 1 Outline proposals open on 19 June.

• Stage 1 Outline proposals close on 31 July; however, please note the closing date may be earlier if too many Stage 1 proposals are received.

• Assessment of Stage 1 proposals during August

• Notification of Stage 1 outcome by 30 August

• Full applications close on 4 October

• Notification of funding decisions in mid November 2024.

Full details will be provided as soon as they are available from MSE Charity.

Stage one applications are expected to open on 19 June and close on 31 July 2024 (or sooner depending on the number of proposals received).

For more information and to apply, please visit Home (msecharity.com)

Co-op Local Community Fund Opens for 2024 Applications (Early July Deadline)

The Local Community Fund supports projects in Co-op members’ communities that help to create Sustainable Future for People and the Planet (the themes for this year).

There is a total of £5 million for Co-op communities across the UK with £6,000 to share between three local causes in each community.

Funding is determined by Co-op community members who vote on the project they wish to support in their local community. The more Co-op members that support the project and shop at Co-op, the more money groups will receive. Successful groups will receive a minimum of £1,000 to support their projects. 

Not-for-profit groups that are registered or based in the UK with their own bank account can apply if their project supports this year’s themes of:

• People – project should enable people to play a part in their community’s future by:

• Supporting young people to fulfil their potential.

• Helping older people feel connected

• Improving people’s mental wellbeing

• Planet - projects that help to protect the planet by:

• Tackling climate change

• Reducing waste and resource use

• Protecting nature

The funder is keen to support projects across both themes that promote and celebrate diversity and inclusion.

Projects need to take place in the UK or Isle of Man and take place or still be running after November 2025. 

Applicants will need to provide a Co-op membership number for one of the people making the application. Non-members can join online.

The deadline for applications is 7 July 2024 (midnight).

For more information and to apply, please visit Co-op (coop.co.uk)

Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation Accepting Applications for Autumn Funding

The Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation was established 24 years ago by Skipton Building Society. Since then it has given away more than £3.4 million to good causes across the UK.

The funding is intended for UK registered charities based and working in the UK whose purpose is to:

• Benefit children and adults particularly those living in socially deprived areas, through education to develop core skills and support wellbeing and mental health.

• Benefit the wellbeing and welfare of children and adults by preventing or reducing poverty and homelessness in the community.

• Support the elderly and improve their wellbeing by reducing isolation, helping reduce the effects of Dementia and Alzheimer's and support later life/palliative care.

Grants of up to £6,000 are available, though the Foundation prefers to give smaller amounts with the aim of supporting as many good causes as possible throughout the UK.

The grants are to be used for items or activities that have tangible benefit to the charity's beneficiaries.

For example, equipment to:

• Support young people as they transition from homelessness to new accommodation such as toiletries, bedding, cooking utensils.

• Engage the elderly in activities, exercise and experiences to help improve mental and physical wellbeing such as a large, digital interactive activity table for a care setting.

Applications are considered quarterly.

The next deadline for applications is 31 July for consideration at the September 2024 meeting.

For more information and to apply, please visit Skipton Charitable Foundation

Community Mentoring & Grants Programme

Elevate provides a unique opportunity for community organisations to put their collective learning on health inequalities into practice in a supportive and encouraging environment. One of the elements of Elevate is the Community Mentoring & Grants programme.

Groups who are successful in the Elevate Mentoring and Grants Programme receive:

• Direct support for your group from a mentor organisation

• Networking sessions, coming together with other Elevate mentee Groups

• A grant of up to £5,000 to implement a community-based project following identification of local needs and solutions.

We continue to work with four organisations that demonstrate excellent community development practice and a solid commitment to tackling health inequalities, to deliver the mentoring on behalf of Elevate. These are Mid & East Antrim Agewell Partnership, County Down Rural Community Network, ARC Healthy Living Centre, and Supporting Communities. These mentors will each support groups by providing them with mentoring, supporting them to build their community development practice as a group, and networking sessions where groups have the chance to come together with other Elevate mentee groups. The networking sessions allow local organisations to make connections, build networks, share information and ideas and support each other in their work. Successful groups also receive a grant of up to £5000 to enable them to use a community development approach to deliver a project aimed at reducing health inequalities in their locality or for the target group they support.

You can find out about what difference Elevate made to previous mentee groups by looking at our Elevate Impact Stories and Videos here.

The Elevate Community Mentoring and Grants programme 2024/25, funded by the Public Health Agency (PHA) is NOW OPEN.  The programme supports groups who could benefit from mentoring and funding (up to £5,000) to deliver a project which uses community development to tackle health inequalities.  Information sessions are taking place throughout June, click to here to book a place.

The closing date for applications is  4:00pm on Monday 22nd July 2024. 

This year, we will consider all applications, and particularly welcome applications from groups who are in local areas with previously low uptake (Lisburn and Castlereagh, Antrim and Newtownabbey, North Down & Ards, Faughan, Clogher Valley and Slieve Gullion), groups who support people from LGBTQIA+, BAME, and people with a physical and/or learning disability.

For guidance notes and to apply, please visit Community Mentoring & Grants Programme - Elevate NI

Fibrus Play it Forward Fund

Focused on children and grassroots sports, the Fibrus Play it Forward Fund provides essential funds to non-profit voluntary and community groups, organisations, and charities across Northern Ireland and Cumbria. The Fund helps with a range of sports projects including, purchasing new kits and equipment, improving club facilities or subsiding training fees.

As a broadband provider, we champion the use of the internet and tech devices but also recognise the importance of switching off and getting active outdoors. We care about our local communities and strive to enhance the health and wellbeing of children within them.

We are excited to announce that we are allocating £50,000 to the Play it Forward Fund in 2024.

This funding will support children’s sports and projects in the communities we serve. Eligible organisations can apply for up to £1,000 in funding.

The 2024 Play it Forward Fund will go live on Monday 10 June
and will close at 12PM on Friday 5 July.

How to Apply:

1. Download the application at Play it Forward Fund | Fibrus

2. Fill in your information and attach the completed form along with supporting documentation.

3. Submit by 12 PM on Friday 5 July.

For more information, please contact us at sponsorships@fibrus.com.

Please note that when purchasing new materials, such as kits, equipment, or facilities improvements, please remember to include the Fibrus logo.

For full eligibility criteria, please read the Fund T&Cs.

Funding for community mental health projects

Community and voluntary groups are being encouraged to apply for a short-term funding programme that focuses on improving mental health and emotional wellbeing.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) initiative which aims to address health and wellbeing needs in local communities, is now open, with groups having until 3pm on Friday 21 June to submit applications.

Fiona Teague, Regional Lead for Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing at PHA, said: “Community and voluntary organisations are most acutely aware of the issues that affect people on the ground and this short-term funding programme will give them the opportunity to address issues of mental health and emotional wellbeing specific to their communities.

“More than 29,000 people benefited from direct involvement in the 438 funded projects across Northern Ireland.

“The PHA is keen to invest in programmes that will have a particular focus on using one or more of the ‘Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing’. These are five simple steps that we can build into our daily lives to maintain and improve wellbeing – Connect, Be active, Keep learning, Give and Take Notice.

“We are encouraging applicants to work collaboratively to develop innovative projects and most importantly involve local communities in project design.”

The short-term funding programme provides the community and voluntary sector with the opportunity to access small, non-recurring funding which can be used to support health improvement in local communities.

The PHA has commissioned the Clear Project to facilitate this process in each Health and Social Care Trust area.

Brenda Morris, Manager of the Clear Project, said: “Short-term funding plays a vital role in supporting programmes within the community. This work can take a range of forms from self-help and life skills initiatives supporting those in need to giving groups the opportunity to develop and build their capacity to help others.”

Two types of awards are available under the programme:

• Award one: Funding of up to £1,000 for non-constituted and constituted non-profit taking community/ voluntary sector groups.

• Award two: Funding of between £1,001 and to a maximum of £5,000 for constituted, non-profit taking community/ voluntary sector groups.

Closing date for applications is 3pm on Friday 21 June 2024.

To apply for the short-term funding opportunities for Western, Belfast, Northern, South Eastern and Southern Health and Social Care Trust areas visit www.dhcni.com/pha-short-term-funding-grants

For further details please contact:

The Clear Project
Developing Healthy Communities
Building 83
Ledwidge Avenue
Derry/ Londonderry
BT47 6GZ.
Tel: 028 7138 3386
Email: clear@dhcni.com

NI's Community Relations and Cultural Diversity Funding Programme Open for Applications

Northern Ireland's Community Relations/Cultural Diversity Grant Scheme is inviting applications from locally based voluntary and community organisations to develop their capacity to engage in community relations work and to enhance the community relations potential of projects they undertake.

The scheme is aimed at organisations such as community development groups, cultural organisations, women's and men's groups, faith based groups, tenants' associations, youth groups and rural groups involved in community relations, reconciliation projects and cultural engagement for projects primarily involving adults.

The funding is for projects which address at least one of the Community Relations Council's objectives:

• Develop opportunities for groups to explore their own cultures, beliefs and traditions increasing their capacities to develop relations with those from other cultures.

• Develop opportunities for groups to extend their knowledge and understanding of others' culture, beliefs and traditions.

• To enable groups to challenge stereotypes of their own and other communities in order to acknowledge and address differences.

• To increase the ability and confidence of groups and organisations to identify issues which divide them.

• To develop networks of communication, trust and co-operation between divided communities.

• To promote models of good practice for community relations work in Northern Ireland.

Groups can apply for grants of up to £10,000, but most grants awarded will be of between £2,000 and £5,000.

The deadline for applications is 1 November 2024 (4pm).

For more information please visit Community Relations / Cultural Diversity | Community Relations Council (community-relations.org.uk)

Preserving Northern Ireland's Natural Heritage: Funding for Peatland Projects

Funding is available to not-for-profit organisations and local authorities for projects to help people improve and to connect with Northern Ireland's peatland environment.

The Peatland Challenge Fund 2024-2027 Competition has been funded by the Northern Ireland Executive's Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs as part of its wider Environment Fund, together with the Irish Government's Shared Island Initiative.

The competition is intended to support projects including nature recovery initiatives, such as developing restoration plans and implementing erosion control measures, as well as efforts to connect people with nature through community engagement projects and educational opportunities. Additionally, the funding will support the strategic development of citizen science initiatives to monitor and conserve peatlands effectively.

For the Peatland Challenge Fund 2024-2027 Competition, funding will cover 100% of project costs. DAERA will not provide funding of less than £50,000 (the minimum total cost of a project, therefore, is £50,000). Although there is no maximum project cost, applications will be assessed based on Value for Money, given the expected strong competition for funding.

The funding is used to support projects that address the following Environmental Impact Priorities:

• Nature Recovery; Building ecological and climate resilience in Peatland

• Developing and/or delivering peatland restoration plans to maintain and increase the area of peatlands in favourable condition. This includes restoration of erosion impacts, reactivation of drained peatlands, forest to bog restoration, control of alien invasives, and projects that address grazing pressure.

• Development of environmental surveying, monitoring and mapping programmes for biodiversity, archaeology, climate and water impacts of the peatland restoration works. This includes the development of pilots to demonstrate success of existing restoration proposals.

• Connecting People with Nature; Peatlands

• Provision or improvement of resources and capacity building activities to deliver environmental learning and community engagement projects for peatlands. This includes an arts-based approach to engagement.

• Improving educational opportunities relating to peatlands, including for under-represented groups.

• Volunteering, including the establishment of new local groups or greater public involvement within their organisation.

• Strategic development of citizen science for peatland conservation and improvement where this will produce reliable long term surveillance indices/data.

If proposals for restoration projects require a development plan, these must be completed by September 2025.

The deadline for applications is 19 June 2024 (12 noon).

For more information, please visit Environment Fund 2023 - 2028 | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (daera-ni.gov.uk)

Hubbub and Starbuck’s ‘Eat it Up Fund’ Accepting UK Applications

The Eat it Up Fund was created last year with funding provided by Starbucks (using the money coming from Starbucks 5p cup charge) in partnership with Hubbub Foundation UK, an environmental charity.

Now in its second year, the grant fund is offering six grants of £60,000 each to support innovative ideas to tackle food waste in the UK. The grant must be used within a year.

The fund will support UK registered organisations with an early-stage food waste project with potential for impact at scale.

The funding is for initiatives that do one or more of the following:

• Address pre-farmgate waste (the food production process, up to the point where the products have been harvested and prepared as produce for sale).

• Prevent food from being wasted at the manufacturing and processing stage.

• Minimise food waste from retailers.

• Find creative ways to use surplus food in communities or at home.

The fund can support ideas that are ready to test, or concepts that have been tested and are ready to progress further.

The focus for this funding is as high up the food waste hierarchy as possible. Priority will be given to prevention and edible recovery/ repurposing over initiatives that do not result in food being kept within the human food chain.

Applications will be accepted from any organisation that can prove they are an officially constituted body, registered in the UK.

This includes:

• Registered charities, including charitable incorporated organisations and not for profit companies.

• Social enterprises.

• Community Interest Companies.

• Schools, universities and colleges.

• Local authorities.

• Micro and small businesses with a clear social purpose.

Applications from a collaboration of organisations are welcomed as long as the lead organisation is one of the types of organisations listed above.

A Q&A webinar will be held on 4 June 2024 (11:00 to 11:45am). Registration is required for this Zoom session.

There is a two stage application process.

The deadline for Expressions of Interest is 14 June 2024 (5pm).

For more information please visit Eat It Up Fund | Hubbub x Starbucks

Funding to Help Improve the Mental Health of Young Women in NI and North of England

Now in its fourth year, the Pilgrim Trust’s five-year, £5 million Young Women in Mind programme (previously known as Young Women’s Mental Health Grant Programme) is open to applications from UK registered charities with an annual income of between £100,000 and £1 million, have been operating for at least three years and whose work or project is located in the North East England, North West England, Yorkshire and The Humber or Northern Ireland.

Grants of between £60,000 and £100,000 spread across three years are available. It is expected that between 10 to 12 projects will be supported.

The funding is for mental health services that support young women with existing and increasingly entrenched mental health problems. Their mental health needs may not have been formally diagnosed but will have a clear impact on their ability to cope.

The following costs are supported:

• Project delivery costs.

• Staff costs and fees.

• Cores costs eg, a contribution toward salaries of core staff, building overheads

• Advocacy, learning and evaluation costs, networking, advocacy/campaigning activities and sharing good practice (eg, publications, convening groups).

Funding is for projects where at least 80% of the participants of the work fall within the 16-25 age band.

There is a two-stage application process.

The deadline for Stage One applications is 8 July 2024.

For more information, please visit Young women’s mental health grants - Pilgrim Trust (thepilgrimtrust.org.uk)

The Naturesave Trust

The May – June 2024 funding window is now open!

We are pleased to announce that the theme of this funding window is soil health.

UK soils currently store about 10 billion tonnes of carbon, roughly equal to 80 years of annual UK greenhouse gas emissions. The priority must be to stop further soil degradation and keep that carbon in the soil. But intensive agriculture has caused arable soils to lose about 40 to 60% of their organic carbon to the atmosphere.

Soil scientists have variously claimed that the UK has only enough soil left for another 100 harvests. To reverse this, systemic change is required in the way the land is managed. We need to commit to increasing soil organic matter levels in UK arable and horticultural soils by at least 20% on existing levels in the next 20 years.

If you have a project or initiative working to combat this problem, please apply to the Trust below.

Want to hear the theme for the next window? Sign up for our newsletter!

APPLY HERE

For more information, please visit The Naturesave Trust - Naturesave

Northern Ireland Community Groups Invited to Apply for Social Justice Project Funding

Funding is available for locally based community organisations in Northern Ireland to support projects that give voice to excluded groups, and work to advance a fairer and more equal society where the human rights of all are protected.

The Social Justice Small Grants Programme is provided from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Fund (NIHRF), a 10-year, £10 million fund dedicated to realising the vision of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and the principles of democracy, equality, rights and mutual understanding which underpinned it. The programme is inviting applications from constituted, locally based community groups and locally based 'communities of interest', or those working towards being constituted, with an income of £1.5 million or less.

The funding is to be used for costs associated with projects that address at least one of the following objectives:

• To give voice and power to those whose human rights are most at risk and to support them to challenge inequality, exclusion, and unfairness.

• To provide groups and communities with support to challenge, monitor and remedy inequality and rights violations.

• To increase awareness of and contribute to building a culture of rights within and between communities, particularly those most marginalised from decision making

• To support communities and marginalised groups to find solutions to contentious issues.

In addition, applicants must show how they will advance and adhere to the values of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Fund.

There is particular interest in projects which focus on peacebuilding/legacy, racial justice, gender, health, socio-economic rights, tech, and digital rights, (including the need for accountability and safeguards), and climate.

Grants of up to £5,000 are available. In some instances, grants of up to £15,000 may be considered.

The deadline for applications is 10 June 2024 (1pm).

For more information and to apply, please visit Social Justice Small Grants Programme - Community Foundation Northern Ireland (communityfoundationni.org)

Call 2 Financial Assistance 2024/2025

Please be advised that Newry, Mourne and Down District Council wish to advise that Call 2 Financial Assistance Funding for 2024/2025 is opening on Monday 13 May 2024 at 12.00 noon for applicants, under the Themes –

• Community Events, Festivals

• Community Facility Minor Capital Items

• Community Lets Grow NMD

• Local Biodiversity

• Sports Development Minor Capital Items

• Sports Facility Capital – Major and Minor

• Suicide Prevention and Emotional Wellbeing

• Defibrillators for Sports Club

Closing dates:

Revenue themes and Sport/Community Minor Capital Items 24 June 2024 at 12 noon.

Capital Theme 22 July 2024 at 12 noon (Sports Facility Capital – Major and Minor).

Funding Workshops

Newry Leisure Centre – Monday 20 May 2024 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm

Ballynahinch Community Centre – Wednesday 22 May 2024 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm

On-Line Workshop Tuesday 28 May 2024 at 1.00 pm

All themes are subject to funding availability. Late application submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Please check the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council web page under Grants and Funding.

OCN to award £85K in grants to support NI learners

Open College Network NI (OCN) plans to award another £85K to education, voluntary and charitable training providers locally via their Centre Learning Grants Programme, now in its third year.

The Centre Learning Grants Programme, with a closing date for applications of Thursday 30th May 2024, was created by the OCN Board of Trustees to help fulfil its charitable objectives.   At its core, the Grants Programme is designed to encourage innovation, enhance learning experiences, and facilitate progression for learners. By supporting innovative approaches and initiatives, OCN strives to create a conducive environment where learners can thrive and achieve their full potential.

This is the first learner funding scheme of its kind in Northern Ireland created by an awarding organisation, explained Martin Flynn, CEO, of OCN.

“This is the third year of our Centre Learning Grants Programme and if the previous two years are anything to go by, we are expecting another huge response from our very deserving centres. The grants programme provides a unique opportunity for education, voluntary and charitable training providers to apply for much needed additional funding that will help them to innovate and enhance their current offering to help learners achieve their full potential.

“We will be awarding grants of up to £3 000 for specific projects or activities that advance the mission and vision of OCN in a way that provides robust evidence of how learning positively impacts individuals, families and communities.”

OCN made a total of £93,819 available to centres and funded 33 projects across NI in 2023. Successful applicants include the NOW Group, FLEX Language Services, Reach Across, The Advantage Foundation and the Marion Centre of Excellence, all of whom received a total of £3,000.

Speaking at the Stormont launch of this year’s grants programme Sorcha Eastwood MLA said: “It was extremely inspiring to hear first-hand from previous grant recipients of the positive impact these awards have created.  Even relatively small grant awards can have a dramatic impact on the lives of learners when they are targeted and used at the point of most need.  I would like to commend the board of OCN for having the vision to come up with such a programme and the expertise to see it delivered in such an impactful way.” 

Paul Donaghy Chair of OCN, said: “OCN is once again delighted to be in a position to ‘give back’ to learners and training providers through our Centre Learning Grants Programme.  Being able to fund and deliver this programme for another year underscores our commitment to fulfilling our charitable purpose, which revolves around the advancement of education for the public benefit.

“Over the last two years we have seen the positive impact from the programme to help engage, enrich and equip learners for life, so I would encourage centres to apply as soon as possible for the 2024 grants scheme.”

To apply for funding from the Centre Learning Grants Programme visit https://ocnni-centre-learning-grants.grantplatform.com/. The closing date for applications is 11pm Thursday 30th May 2024.  

Coca-Cola Thank You Fund 2024

The Coca-Cola Thank You Fund is back again this year!

The fund opens for application on Monday 22nd April and closes on Friday 24th May at 5pm

Fund Objective

A fund of €200,000 / £171,000 (sterling figure based on conversion rates at the time) will be available to support community-based projects and programmes across Ireland and Northern Ireland that are focused on cultivating inclusive communities by empowering young people aged 16- 25 to become skilled and engaged citizens under the pillars of learning and sustainable development.

Who is eligible to apply for funding?

To be eligible the applying organisation must;

1. Work with young people aged between 16-25 years old.

2. Be a registered not-for-profit or charitable organisation.

3. Have a bank account set up in the name of the organisation.

4. Be registered in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland and active for the past 12 months.

5. Have a child protection / safeguarding policy in place.

What funding opportunities are available?

Awards of between €8,000 - €15,000 / £7,000 - £13,000 (sterling figure based on conversion rates at the time) will be available. Organisations applying for funding will be asked to submit a detailed budget breakdown of expenditure for the total funds being requested. The final allocation of awards will be determined after all applications have been reviewed.

How can projects apply for the funding?

All applications will be made online via the Irish Youth Foundation grants platform https://iyf.smartsimple.ie/s_Login.jsp which will be linked from the Coca-Cola Ireland website www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou

For more information, please visit Coca-Cola Thank You Fund 2024 - Irish Youth Foundation (iyf.ie)

Poundland Foundation launches grant programme Kits 4 Kids

Our current grant programme is Kits 4 Kids. If you're a local kids' sports club/organisation or team then we could support you with a grant of up to £750 to buy new kit.

What is Kits 4 Kids?

We want to support local kids' sport clubs to keep children active by taking part in the sport or activity they love!

Grants of up to £750 are available to buy new kit (clothing). We accept applications from organisations across the UK.

Please check your club or organisation meets our eligibility criteria before applying:

• Funding is only available to organisations based in the UK
• Applications are not eligible from profit-making organisations or schools: registered charities, community interest companies (CICs) and unregistered organisations can apply
• Groups must work with children under 18
• Grant to be spent on core kit only (clothing) and clubs must agree to display the Poundland Foundation logo on their kit
• Organisations must have an income of under £10,000 and hold reserves under £5,000
• Organisations must have a safeguarding and/or child protection policy that will have to be uploaded part of the application process
• Organisations must have their own bank account and will have to upload proof of the account name, sort code and account number at the time of application

Previous grant recipients are eligible to apply but you must have received your last grant before 7th November 2022.

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we can't respond to questions. We will notify you by email if your application has been successful or not.

Apply here!

Applications are open until 23:59 on 24th May.

The Rank Foundation Grants from Hospice UK

This grant programme will support hospices to deliver the Volunteer to Career programme.

The hospice sector is facing a retirement crisis over the next few years. One third of the hospice clinical workforce is aged over 55 compared to less than one fifth in the NHS. The loss of experienced clinical staff all at once would be devastating for the sector.

To help address this impending crisis, Hospice UK has developed a programme in partnership with the charity Helpforce to create routes into hospice clinical careers at all levels, and to establish a pipeline of new clinical staff through a Volunteer to Career (VtC) pathway.

Hospice UK’s Volunteer to Career will be a clinically led programme, whereby local volunteers considering a career in healthcare are recruited by hospices to undertake 60 hours of certificated training over the course of one year. Volunteers will be supported throughout the year by a dedicated Clinical Lead at each participating hospice.

At the end of the programme, hospices can recruit the volunteers, knowing they represent a talented, compassionate pool of potential employees, who can add real value to their clinical workforce. 

In partnership with Helpforce and the Rank Foundation, Hospice UK will:

• Engage 10 hospices, help them identify and build internal capacity to deliver the work and find and match interested volunteers from their local communities.

• Provide a blended learning programme for participating hospice Clinical Leads, who will work within their hospices to mentor the new volunteers. This includes help with project planning and data collection to build evidence of the value of the project.

By the end of their training, volunteers will be supported onto a career pathway aligned to your hospice’s identified workforce needs i.e. either via a university course, workplace apprenticeship, or paid employment route into eventually becoming a nursing associate (clinical band 2 or 3).

For full details of the programme please read the Information and Criteria Specification document, which is in the Apply Now section below.

Information Webinar

We will be running an information webinar on Wednesday, 15 May 11:00-12:00 to discuss the Hospice UK Volunteer to Career programme, and the grant application process, with staff from Helpforce and Hospice UK.

This webinar is being hosted by Helpforce.

Please register your details here to join. 

If you have any questions or problems, please contact Helpforce.

Available Funding

Total available funding in this round is £100,000 and we are looking to award 10 grants of £10,000 each. 

This is to contribute towards the cost of supporting Clinical Leads to undertake this piece of work. Please note that other expenses arising from the programme (e.g. volunteer expenses) will need to be covered by the hospice. 

Deadline

The deadline for applications is 17:00 on Friday, 7 June 2024. Applicants will be informed whether or not they have been successful in early July 2024.

Eligibility

Eligible organisations are independent adult and children's hospices that are members of Hospice UK and based in the UK, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

Timetable

An outline timetable for the programme is given below. 

• 7 June: Deadline for submission of applications is 17:00

• 15 May: Information Webinar 11:00-12:00

• Early July: Notification of decisions to hospices

For more information and to apply, please visit Rank Foundation Grants | Hospice UK

King Charles III Charitable Fund's small grants programme is now open for applications

We are pleased to share that the small grants programme will open for applications from 9.30am on 1st May 2024 and close on 15th May 2024 at 12 noon.

We will only be accepting applications from organisations for projects / activities in our environment and countryside funding themes.

Environment: protecting and promoting the environment through efforts including habitat restoration, species conservation, carbon savings and sequestration and circular economies.

Countryside: investing in the economic and environmental future of the countryside. This includes support of sustainable and regenerative agriculture, nature friendly farming practices and a brighter future for those who live and work in rural communities.

If your organisation works across our other funding themes, you can learn more about our plans for the small grants programme in 2024/25 here. We will post the precise opening dates for the August and February application windows in due course.

Our small grants programme is open for non-profit organisations with an income of less than £1m per year to apply for funding. The programme provides awards of up to £5,000 per year for up to three years. The average award is £2,000.

Prospective applicants should review our detailed eligibility criteria and guidance notes, as well as all the information on our ‘Guidance for Grantees‘ page before applying.

Applications will be accepted through our online portal from 9.30am on 1st May 2024 to 15th May 2024 at 12 noon.

Grant decisions will be communicated to all applicants in mid-July. If your application is unsuccessful, please wait one year from the date of your application before submitting another to any of the Fund’s grantmaking programmes. Regrettably, we will not be able to offer specific feedback on applications due to the volumes we receive.

Stay tuned for updates and announcements regarding grant application deadlines, review processes, and funding decisions. Follow us on Instagram and X (Twitter) @kingcharlesfund to receive the latest news and opportunities.

For more information, please visit Small grants programme to open in May for environment and countryside - King Charles III Charitable Fund (kccf.org.uk)

National Lottery Community Fund to Close Two Northern Ireland Programmes

The National Lottery Community Fund has announced that two Northern Ireland programmes, People and Communities and Empowering Young People, will close for new applications in May 2024.

Each year, the National Lottery Community Fund awards nearly £30 million to communities across Northern Ireland. When the Fund launched its strategy 'It starts with community' in June 2023, the organisation committed to review its funding programmes in NI. Since then, National Lottery Awards for All has been refreshed and the Fund launched a new environmentally focused programme in Northern Ireland, Sustainable Community Buildings.

Closing People and Communities and Empowering Young People is intended to allow time to prepare for the launch of a new National Lottery grants programme in autumn 2024. Organisations applying before this date should note that demand is expected to be high, and should ensure their project idea strongly fits with the criteria before completing an application.

The following levels of funding are available:

• People and Communities offers grants of between £20,001 and £500,000 for projects lasting between one and five years.

• Empowering Young People offers grants of between £20,001 and £500,000 for projects lasting between one and five years.

Applicants can expect to hear from the National Lottery Community Fund within around six weeks of submitting their application.

The final deadline for new People and Communities or Empowering Young People applications is 13 May 2024 (5pm).

For more information please visit Funding in Northern Ireland | The National Lottery Community Fund (tnlcommunityfund.org.uk)