29 April 2022

We understand that funding to run your vital support services remains a big concern for many, and we want to support wherever we can. As well as helping save money on supplies we signpost to new funding sources we hear about. Here are some current opportunities.

Providing opportunities for disadvantaged children and young people

The Ironmongers’ Company looks to support projects from registered charities that provide opportunities for disadvantaged children and young people under the age of 25 to fulfil their potential.

They are looking for projects that deliver clearly defined educational benefits. Items of equipment will be considered only where a full explanation is given of how they will support the activity. Preference will be given to projects piloting new approaches where the outcomes will be disseminated to a wider audience.

Applications are considered twice a year at the end of March and October. The next deadline is 31 July.

Places and Spaces funding

Sport England’s Places and Spaces funding is for community sport and physical activity groups looking to create, improve or change a space or place that will provide opportunities for people to be more active in their local community and leave a legacy from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

They are especially interested in receiving bids from areas experiencing high levels of deprivation; the impact of Covid-19; and loss of capability and capacity in community organisations.

Places and Spaces is a match-funding initiative, delivered in partnership with Crowdfunder. You must set up a crowdfunding campaign before they’ll consider awarding funding, and have a lot of support on hand to help you with this.

Improving the mental wellbeing of people in rural communities (Scotland)

Support in Mind Scotland has been funded by the Scottish Government to work with them to improve the mental wellbeing of people in rural communities as we all recover from Covid-19.

Local groups and organisations across Scotland’s rural communities can apply for micro grants of up to £2,500. The grants are specifically aimed at:
• People who are marginalised and experience health inequalities due to factors such as poverty and social deprivation
• People who face multiple layers of inequality within specific marginalised groups:
• Refugees and Asylum Seekers
• Young Carers
• LGBTI+ communities.

All sizes of groups and organisations are eligible to apply but smaller community groups will be prioritised.

Deadlines to apply:

Current round: 15 July 2022.

The next round opens 1st August and closes 21 October 2022.

Wooden Spoon, for educational or disability sports projects

Wooden Spoon is the children’s charity of rugby. They fund life-changing projects that support children and young people (under 25) in the UK with disabilities or living in disadvantage.

There must be a key rugby element to engage children and young people in the projects they fund . Grants will be considered for kit and equipment, salaries and administration costs.

Download the qualifying criteria here.

Better Community Business Network Grant Initiative

A small number of grants are available each year from BCBN’s Grant Initiative to small groups including local community, self-help or voluntary groups and charities (including local branches of national charities) which can demonstrate they can bring real improvements to communities and to the lives of people most in need.

Grants of up to £3k are awarded.  Causes supported include:

• Education (e.g. schools, extra-curricular clubs)
• Ex-Offenders (e.g mentoring, rehabilitation)
• Homeless/Poverty (e.g shelter projects, food banks)
• Older people (e.g befriending, social clubs)
• Disability (e.g helplines, inclusion).

Deadlines to apply: 

15th July 2022 for awards on 18th August 2022

11th November 2022 for awards on 7th Dec 2022.

Allen Lane Foundation

The Allen Lane Foundation funds smaller organisations working locally with an income of less than around £100k and organisations that work across the whole of the UK with an income of less than around £250k. They do not fund work within Greater London.

They fund charities and organisations that work with seven particular end-user groups:

• Asylum seekers and refugees
• Gypsies and Travellers
• Migrant communities
• Offenders and ex-offenders
• Older people
• People experiencing mental health problems
• People experiencing violence or abuse.

Their maximum grant is £15k, and the average grant size is around £5-6k.

Deadline to apply: All applications submitted now, and until early August will be considered in the round leading up to their October meeting.