Funding & Information Alert

BBC CHILDREN IN NEED PROGRAMME 

The next closing date for receipt of application is 15 January 2009. 

BBC Children in Need distributes grants to not-for-profit organisations working with disadvantaged children and young people, under 18 &  living in the UK.

The charity aims to positively change the lives of those affected by: disability, behavioural or psychological problems, poverty or situations of deprivation, illness, distress, abuse or neglect.

Grants from £500 to over £100,000 are available for up to three years.  They can meet a wide range of costs. Priority will be given to projects that:

• improve young people's choice and opportunity
• enhance young people's abilities
• encourage independence
• build confidence and self-esteem
• involve disabled young people & adults as positive role models
• counter negative attitudes and barriers to participation
• recognise the needs of families and carers

(10th Nov)

BIG LOTTERY FUND - ECOMINDS GRANT

The Big Lottery Fund has announced that "Mind" the Mental Health Charity will run an open £8.8 million grant scheme funding projects across England. 

The funding programme is called "Ecominds" and aims to reduce social exclusion and stigma experienced by individuals with mental health problems by establishing environmental projects which engage with people across communities.

Further information

Contact: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk (see Changing Spaces Programme) or telephone: 0845 4102030

OR go to Ecominds website www.ecominds.org.uk

(10th Nov)

MORE LEGAL CHOICE FOR CHARITIES

Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) - The Office of the Third Sector (OTS) and The Charity Commission are consulting on the introduction of a new incorporated legal form for charities.  It is an alternative to the traditional structure of company limited by guarantee.

The Charity Commission has drawn up two model constitutions: one is for "foundation" CIO's whose only members will be their trustees; the other is for "association" CIO's whose memberships will be wider than their boards.

Becoming a CIO will allow charities that are currently unincorporated to limit the liability of their trustees without submitting themselves to the burden and expense of dual regulation by both the Charity Commission and Companies House, as charitable companies do.

Further details of the consultation are on the OTS website

For more information please contact Chester Voluntary Action on 01244 323527

(10th Nov)

BIG LOTTERY FUND (BLF) 

COMMUNITY SPACES PROGRAMME

The Community Spaces programme will provide grants and support to community groups wanting to make their neighbourhoods cleaner and greener. The programme is managed by Groundwork UK for the Big Lottery Fund.

Large and flagship grants schemes are now open for applications.  Grants will be distributed on a competitive basis, and only four large grants (£50,000 - £100,000) and one flagship (£100,001 - £450,000) grant will be available per English Region.

There is a two-stage application process. Deadline: Stage 1 applications:

Large grants: 9 January 2009 and Flagship grants: 30 January 2009

Small and medium grant schemes (£10,000 - £25000 and £25001 - £50,000): continues on a 'rolling' basis until 2011

Contact: Community Spaces

Telephone: 0121 236 8565

Email: info@community-spaces.org.uk

Website: "http://www.community-spaces.org.uk"

HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND

The Heritage Lottery Fund are changing all application forms and process for all of their programmes from April 2008.  For further information on the changes please contact a member of the Council's External Funding Team.