Funding Information

** Remember to check our weekly Ebulletins on our General Information page for funding updates** High Sheriff invites applications High Sheriff of Essex, Sarah Courage, is inviting local community groups, young people and volunteers to apply to the High Sheriffs’ Awards Scheme for recognition and grants. The deadline date for applications is 1 December 2008. There are three parts to the High Sheriffs’ Awards Scheme: Grants of up to £1000 are available to voluntary and community groups that are working to make their local communities safer places to live and work. Grants of up to £750 are available from the Essex Crimebeat programme to develop ideas from young people which will address crime related issues in their community. Recognition for volunteers who have made an outstanding contribution in their local community, making it a safer place to be. The deadline date for applications is 1 December. The High Sheriff said “It is a great honour to be the Queen’s representative for Law and Order in the County”. She added “I have met so many people who are contributing an enormous amount of time and effort to keep Essex communities safe from crime and the Awards ceremony provides a great opportunity to recognise their valuable contribution”. Local grantmkaing trust, Essex Community Foundation administers the High Sheriffs’ Fund, working with local Community Safety Officers and local Volunteer Centres. An independent panel of judges, chaired by the High Sheriff and including past High Sheriffs, will agree the Awards which will be presented by the High Sheriff at a special event on 4 March 2009 at the Fennes Estate, Bocking. Application forms and details about the criteria can be found on the Foundation’s website www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk or if you would like to discuss an application, please contact the Foundation’s grants team on 01245 356018 who will be happy to help Grassroots Grant This is a fast track rolling programme with monthly decisions. Available for: Any not-for-profit voluntary or community organisation, which has been active in their community for not less than 12 months and has a governing document. The organisation must be predominantly volunteer led. The group must have an evidenced income of less than £20,000 per annum averaged over the last three years. Groups running new or existing activity which can clearly demonstrate benefits and outcomes in the community How Much Can Be Applied For? The maximum any organisation can be awarded is £5,000 over the life of the Grassroots Programme (July 2008 to March 2011) either as a one-off amount or spread over this period. Please see website: www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk for more information and an application form or call the grants team on 01245 356018 Community Spaces The Big Lottery have launched a new funding programme Community Spaces to provide grants to community groups to make lasting improvements to their neighbourhoods and improve local quality of life. Community Spaces will fund projects that meet at least one of the following outcomes Better local environments Increase in peoples access to quality local spaces for interaction, play and recreation Increase in people actively involved in developing and running a practical environmental project that is visible in their community Improved partnerships between support organisations, communities and authorities. Applications are accepted from community groups based in England, Projects must be within 2 miles of a residential area and most be open to the public “most of the time” Examples of what could be funded include Community parks and/or gardens Informal sports areas Woodlands Nature reserves Play areas Orchards Green Spaces There are different sizes of grants that can be applied for Small Grants £10,000 - £25,000 Medium Grants £25,001 - £49,999 These grants have a rolling deadline and decision will be made within 10 weeks. Application can be made online at www.community-spaces.co.uk or by calling the advice line on 0845 3 671 671 Larger grants are also available between £50,000 and £100,000 or Flagship grants of up to £450,000. There will only be one bidding round for large and flagship grants. Community groups will be able to apply for these grants from Summer 2008 and will have approximately 9 months to submit their Stage 1 application form. For more information visit the website. Please remember that we are also available to give help and support on raising funds for your organisation, whether by identifying potential funders, giving you up-to-date information on funding opportunities, or going through funding applications with you before you submit them.