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Halfway into January the pre-Christmas optimism going into 2021 seems a long way off. With another lockdown in place, relentless bad news in the media, short dark days and either snowy or wet weather it can seem that there is little to be cheerful about. There are still reasons to be hopeful though. With the prospect of a comprehensive vaccination programme on the horizon we can be encouraged that life may start to look more normal by the summer. With lighter nights and warmer weather just weeks away, we can start to think about more outdoor activities again with our care farm participants and take time to make plans.
This lockdown has again seen many care farms close, although some continue to offer a skeleton service or online support. Camphill Village Trust are launching daily Zoom sessions from next week (Monday 18th January). Based upon in-house sessions they ran last year during lockdown, Opportunity TV is now open to everyone, whether you are supported by the trust or not, and best of all it's free. Take a look at this flyer if you think your service users might benefit while they can't visit your site. This is just another example of how communities have pulled together to support each other through difficult times.
It's so important for us all to stay connected with each other, so don't forget about our regular online networking meetings too. They can be a great opportunity to grab a coffee and spend an hour with others who understand the challenges of our sector.
Keep in touch with us - the GCF team is on the end of the phone or email to bounce ideas around with, answer questions or simply to lend an ear if you need it.
This newsletter covers:
Training
As you know, together with our partners at Thrive, GCF has developed 4 client-specific training courses around care farming for Mental health, Learning Disability and ASD, Young people with anxiety and depression and Alternative Provision on care farms. Our first three were successfully held last month, covering the specific benefits that care farming and green care can have for individuals within the particularar service user groups, as well as considering session set up and facilitation and ways to support individuals long-term. In January, the fourth of these courses on Alternative Provision will be launched!
These courses are now available and use a blended learning format with written information, interactive resources, and live sessions with the Thrive trainers and a care farmer (with hands on experience providing services to the specific client group) on hand to assist. As with the other GCF training, all four of the client-specific courses will be repeated regularly throughout 2021 - more details can be found here.
Training support - Paid opportunity!
This is where you come in! - We’re looking for care farmers who are experienced with working with one (or more) of the groups in these client-specific courses, to sit in on the live sessions and support the trainers in answering questions and sharing experiences. For each course we would ideally like you to attend two one-hour sessions (via Zoom) and we would of course pay towards your time. Preference will be given to Code care farmers (but it’s not essential), so if you are interested, have any questions or if you would like to know more, please get in touch with Katie via email at: [email protected] with your name, the care farm at which you work and the service user group/s you typically work with.
Resources & Networking
We highlighted last autumn that we have been working with a film company to produce some updated and uplifting films that really showcase the work that takes place on care farms. We're really excited to share these with you and will be in touch at the end of January to highlight the first of these - 'Care farming for mental health and wellbeing'. At the same time, we will share details of an online event we have planned to celebrate care farming and bring people together to discuss the effects of the last 12 months on our sector and impacts this will have going forward. Keep an eye on emails from us.
In the meantime, take a look at a new case study on our website, where Jo Dudek talks about her experiences of setting up 'Fields and Farms' and how she has benefitted from our Code of Practice.
Economics of care farming
In order to make relevant research more accessible, we are pulling together studies that have looked at economic aspects of care farming (such as cost benefit analysis, SROI (Social Return on Investment), effects on the rural economy, offset clinical costs or savings to wider society) and wondered if there are any recent ones that we may have missed. If you have been part of recent studies in this area or have conducted analysis on your care farm or green care site, we'd really appreciate it you sharing them with us. Email any reports or findings to [email protected] or contact us for more information.
Quality Assurance via the Code of Practice
The Code of Practice scheme is managed by a team which is made up of SF&G, retired and current care farmers as well as experts in the care farming industry. Have you ever wondered who is in this team and what their experience is? You can now read more about them here.
We have now created a certificate for organisations that have achieved the Code of Practice. This can be displayed at your site or shown to commissioners or included as evidence of quality service provision in funding bids. The certificates will be valid for a year – in line with the Code compliance process – and will automatically be sent to organisations who have been approved. For those who have already achieved the Code, you will be sent one at the time of your next successful compliance completion. If you need one creating before then, please email [email protected].
Advocacy and promotion
This month sees the team continue to fly the flag for care farming and green care. Whilst our health, social care and education providers are busy coping with delivering services, helping those who are ill and rolling out a vaccination programme, we have still been promoting the role of care farming within agriculture. Another aspect we are keen to promote, is the role care farming will be able to play in helping people to recover from the mental health challenges that Covid-19 has brought. All of us have been affected to some degree and, with an increase in mental ill-health nationally, there will inevitably be increased demand for services. Care farming and other nature-based interventions can be part of the solution.
January's GCF theme is focussed around mental health and wellbeing, so keep an eye on our webpages and social media for new resources and support.
This month we are talking about outcome measurement. The debate about outcome measurement in care farming and green care has been going around for a long time, and we know that many people find it quite difficult to navigate the enormous array of questionnaire and outcome measures. Measuring particular outcomes for service users is one aspect of measuring success and change at your care farm - but some argue that this is quite a narrow focus and misses the holistic context. What do you think? We would also be interested in what resources, support and sessions you'd find helpful relating to outcome measurement, so let us know by answering a couple of questions here.
December's question was all about the 'Animal Welfare (Activities involving animals) (England) Regulations 2018' and whether the changes were applicable to care farms. Many thanks to those of you who completed the survey. It was interesting that some of you who responded had never even thought about getting this licence as you had never been asked, others had been told they need one by their local authority and some had got a licence - 'just to be on the safe side'. What's clear is that some clarity is needed and so we have asked Defra if they can help with this.
Wednesday 20th January, 3.30 - 4.30pm, GCF Online Care Farming Network Meeting
A chance to see and meet other care farmers in person but remotely! These network meetings provide an opportunity for care farmers, prospective care farmers, commissioners, GCF team and anyone else with an interest in care farming to come together and discuss any issues they feel are relevant. They are also an opportunity to share experiences and learning and make new contacts. The meetings are not regionally based, they are open to anyone involved in care farming regardless of where they live. Book here.
Thursday 28th January 2021, 10.00am - 12.00pm, Going live: Care Farming North East
During this 2 hour event we will highlight the work of several North East based care farms and will discuss the different ways in which the GCF project can support the growth of care farming and the development of a regional network in the North East. If you are a care farmer, prospective care farmer, health, education, social care or social prescribing professional based in the North East region then we'd love you to join us. Book here.
Wednesday 17th February, 2.00 - 3pm GCF Themed Monthly Webinar - From measuring outcomes to measuring change: what this could mean for your care farm
In this webinar we will be talking about the complex area of measuring outcomes and measuring positive change (for your clients, your referrers, you, your staff team and beyond) and showing how a holistic approach - wider than measuring 'outcomes' can benefit your care farm or green care site. The session will be led by Dr Rachel Bragg (Growing Care Farming) and Sarah Giles (previously of FarmAbility). if you want to find out about thinking holistically when measuring change; if you are new to care farming and don't know where to start; if you are looking to refresh what you already do; or if you are simply curious to see alternative approaches, then join us in our webinar! Book here
Wednesday 17th February, 3.30 - 4.30pm, GCF Online Care Farming Network Meeting
A chance to see and meet other care farmers in person but remotely! These network meetings provide an opportunity for care farmers, prospective care farmers, commissioners, GCF team and anyone else with an interest in care farming to come together and discuss any issues they feel are relevant. They are also an opportunity to share experiences and learning and make new contacts. It will also offer an opportunity to discuss subjects highlighted in the GCF Themed webinars in more detail. The meetings are not regionally based, they are open to anyone involved in care farming regardless of where they live. Book here.
Thursday 25th February, 10.00am - 12.00pm, Going live: Care Farming North West
During this 2 hour event we will highlight the work of several North West based care farms and will discuss the different ways in which the GCF project can support the growth of care farming and the development of a regional network in the North West. If you are a care farmer, prospective care farmer, health, education, social care or social prescribing professional based in the North West region then we'd love you to join us. Book here.
If you're interested in any GCF webinars but can't attend on the day, please don't worry as all webinars are recorded and uploaded to our website here and YouTube channel for you to access whenever you want.
Baily Thomas Charitable Fund
Grants are available for voluntary and community organisations who support those affected by learning disabilities. Funding can be used for both capital and revenue costs. Application for funding is normally considered for capital and revenue costs and for both specific projects and for general running/core costs. Grants are awarded for amounts from £250 and depend on a number of factors including the purpose, the total funding requirement and the potential sources of other funds including, in some cases, match funding.
Read more - Baily Thomas Fund
Covid-19 Emergency Loan Fund for UK Social Enterprises
Social Investment Business has announced that their Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund will close to new applications at 11.59pm on the 31st March 2021.The £25 million fund provides emergency loans of between £100,000 to £1,500,000 with no fees or interest for the first twelve months to social enterprises and charities which are facing financial difficulty and disruption to their trading due to the coronavirus pandemic.The Fund is intended to provide working capital until normal business can resume for organisations that are improving people’s lives across the UK. Loans, which are backed by the Government’s existing Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, could be used to cover delays in trade payments, or for business modification to meet increase in service demand. Applicants will be considered on a first come first served basis.
Read more - Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund
Funding for Projects that Work with disabled children and their families
Through the True Colours Trust UK Small Grants Programme, charities and projects with a charitable purpose can apply for funding that work with disabled children and young people; children and young people with life-limiting conditions; and their families.
Grants of up to £10,000 are usually available for;
- hydrotherapy pools
- multi-sensory rooms
- mini buses
- young carers projects
- sibling projects
- bereavement support
- specialised play equipment / access to play and leisure
- family support / parent-led peer support, etc.
Applications can be submitted at any time.
Read more - True Colours Trust
NFU Mutual Community Giving Fund
Charities, schools, and community groups can apply for grants of up to £1,000 through the NFU Mutual Community Giving Fund. The fund is available in areas that are local to NFU operations in the UK.In 2020, the Fund helped 49 community groups and charities across the UK, providing support for front-line charities dealing with the impact of Covid-19. The grants have funded equipment for a Search and Rescue team, an outdoor shelter for a community centre, PPE for a dementia support group and food parcels for vulnerable members of the community to name but a few.
Applications are likely to be more successful if they meet one or more of the funds priorities. These are:
- Connecting the community
- Reducing social isolation
- Providing opportunities, and encouraging resilience
- Providing care and support to vulnerable members of our community
- Relieving poverty
- Improving the health and wellbeing of our communities
- Advancing education and experiences for young people.
The next closing date for applications is the 31st March 2021.
Read more - NFU Mutual Community Giving Fund
The Cruach Trust
The CruachTrust is a small charity which provides financial support for gardeners, retired gardeners and for preserving gardens throughout the United Kingdom has announced that the next deadline for applications is the 10th September 2021. The funding is available to registered or recognised charities, societies, trusts or other bodies. There is a preference for small local and national charities. The trustees also have discretion to make donations to a wide range of organisations in the UK and abroad, with charitable objectives of whatever nature.
Previous projects supported have included:
- Supporting a horticultural apprenticeship, arranged through the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
- Grants for gardens, wildlife and the natural environment.
- Grants for music, the arts and cultural charities.
- Grants for medical research and support.
- Grants for organisations working with children, the elderly and vulnerable.
The trustees also have discretion to make donations to a wide range of organisations in the UK and abroad, with charitable objectives of whatever nature.
Read more - The Cruach Trust
The National Lottery Community Fund
Although it's main programmes were closed during 2020 in order to focus on the Covid-19 relief funding streams, NLCF has re-opened a number of it's core programmes this year.
Read more - TNL Community Fund
Call for user-led organisations to apply to the Tackling Inequalities Fund
Disability Rights UK (DR UK) is one of the National Delivery Partners for Sport England's Tackling Inequalities Fund. The fund aims to reduce the negative impact of Covid-19 and any widening of inequalities in participation rates in sport and physical activity. The Get Yourself Active team at DR UK is accepting applications from User Led Organisations (ULOs), or organisations which can demonstrate a user-led project idea, that supports disabled people, and/or people with long-term health conditions, to keep active in a Covid-19 safe environment and in a way that is right for them. Funds are also available to organisations supporting people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups and people from Low Socio-Economic Groups. These applications would need to be processed via a different delivery partner, but DR UK can signpost if needed. For more details about the fund, including how to apply, please contact [email protected] or call her on 0203 687 0784.
Warburtons community grants up to £400
Warburtons' financial giving programme is aimed at supporting projects, activities and organisations that have charitable aims and will be of real direct benefit to families. The support they provide should reach charitable organisations delivering work that aligns to their three key priorities – Health, Place and Skills - and have a direct and tangible impact on families.
Read more - Warburtons Community Grants
The Soil Association Small Grants (Birmingham, Stoke on Trent, Walsall, Leicester City, Leicestershire, Nottingham City, Hull, Calderdale, Kirklees, Sheffield, Rochdale, Salford & Wigan only)
Small grants of £150 to support community-led food growing, cooking and sharing activity and Get-Togethers. For projects that bring people of different backgrounds and/or ages together to strengthen and connect communities.
Deadline: This round-12 February, Next round-12 March.
Read more - Food For Life Get Togethers
The Ford Britain Trust
Grants £250 - £3,000 to help communities across the UK, with a focus on projects working in education, environment, disabilities, and children and young people. They are keen to fund projects that provide clear benefits to the local communities close to their UK locations. Deadline is 31st January. Across the UK, however projects near Ford Motor Company Limited / FCE Bank plc operations are given a higher weighting:
- Essex (including East London)
- Bridgend (South Wales)
- Southampton
- Daventry
- Manchester
- Liverpool
Read more - Ford Britain Trust
The Henry Smith Charity (Gloucestershire (Inc. Bristol and South Gloucestershire), Hampshire (Inc. Southampton and the Isle of Wight), Kent, Leicestershire, Suffolk, Surrey, East Sussex and West Sussex)
The Henry Smith Charity County Grants programme is open for applications in selected counties. Grants of up to £20,000 are available to registered charities with income of £250,000 or less (up to £1m if working countywide) for work benefiting groups experiencing social and/or economic disadvantage and work in areas of high deprivation.
Read more - Henry Smith Charity
The A B Charitable Trust
The A B Charitable Trust (ABCT) was set up in 1990 by Yves and Anne Bonavero. Its purpose was to support unpopular causes that championed human dignity, and to focus on small and medium-sized charities working close to the ground. Applications are particularly welcomed from charities working to support:
- migrants, refugees and asylum seekers
- criminal justice and penal reform
- human rights, particularly access to justice
Deadline: The trustees meet four times a year, in January, April, July & October. Deadlines are 4-6 weeks prior to the meeting dates. Please see the latest deadlines on the website.
Read more - AB Charitable Trust
D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust funds UK registered charities operating in the fields of the advancement of the arts, health and medical welfare and environmental protection or improvement. The majority of the Trust’s grants are single grants over a one-year period. Occasionally longer-term grants (usually up to 3 years) are agreed by the Trustees when deemed to have particular merit. Deadline: 10/02/2021.
Read more - D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
Ulverscroft Foundation
Grants between £100 - £500,000 are available for projects which help visually impaired people. Applications are welcomed from a broad range of organisations as long as a significant number of their beneficiaries are affected by a vision impairment. Deadline is 15th March for consideration at the April meeting.
Read more - Ulverscroft Foundation
Garfield Weston Foundation
Grants are available to charitable organisations in the UK for a wide range of projects in the areas of welfare, youth, community, arts, faith, environment, education, health, and museums and heritage. Grants can be used for capital, revenue (core costs) or project work. Apply any time, but applications take around four months.
Read more - Garfield Weston Foundation
Tesco Bags of Help
This scheme is still open for new applications to support local projects focused on children and young people. This theme could cover a large mixture of local causes. Examples include:
- Mental Health support for children and young people – COVID-19 has had an impact on the health and well being of children, particularly mental health.
- Outdoor activities – sport & green space provision for children & young people including use of green spaces support well being through physical activities.
- Non statutory educational activities – to support, widen and rebuild educational support networks for children, web based activities.
- Sport, exercise, and arts.
- Young carers– support for young carers as a result of current and continued isolation.
- Bereavement counselling – offering support to children that have lost family members and support networks due to COVID-19.
- Child poverty – to support organisations that offer family support that are further impacted by COVID-19, which could include food/educational packs, free activities.
- Vulnerable at risk children – the pandemic has impacted vulnerable children with challenging home & family circumstances.
Voluntary/community organisations, registered charities, schools, health bodies, Parish/Town councils, social enterprises, Community Interest Companies, community councils, local authorities and social housing organisations can apply. Take the eligibility quiz below which will be followed by the application if you are eligible.
Bags of Help Eligibility Quiz
Charles Hayward Foundation - Funding Programme For Older People.
The Trust is interested in supporting programmes which show some creativity in improving the quality of life of older people:
- Programmes aiming to alleviate isolation & depression in older people, including informal day care or social
- Physical & recreational activities
- Programmes which mainly use volunteers to give practical help, assistance and support for older people living in their own homes
- Programmes addressing the emotional and practical needs of older carers
- Programmes designed to meet the specific needs of people with dementia.
Small Grants are up to £7000 and you can apply any time. Charles Hayward Foundation also provides main grants for projects related to justice, heritage, overseas work and older people.
Read More - Charles Hayward Foundation
BlueSpark Foundation
The BlueSpark Foundation are offering grants of up to £5,000 for schools, community groups, clubs, societies and other not-for-profit organisations to fund or part-fund projects that aim to improve the education and development of children and young people by means of educational, cultural, sporting or other activities. Apply anytime.
Read more - Blue Spark Foundation
Edward Gostling Foundation
Support to improve life opportunities for disadvantaged people. Our 'Vision' is that people living with a physical and/or mental disability or a long-term illness should have, as many as possible, of the same choices, quality of life opportunities and aspirations as others more fortunate than themselves. To help us achieve this goal we provide grants to other charities with a gross annual income of £5M or less and operating front line services supporting this beneficiary group. Two grants are available:
- Small unrestricted grants to £5,000 for charities with income under £3m needing urgent support.
- Capital grants open to all charities with a gross annual income of £5M or less wishing to apply for a grant in excess of £5,000 towards the cost of funding a new project.
Read more - Edward Gostling Foundation
Betty Messenger Charitable Foundation
Grants of £100 - £1000 are available to 'small charities (turnover of less than £1m) who are temporarily struggling but otherwise viable'. It's a rolling programme of support, the deadline for applications is the 20th of each month. You have to be a registered charity to apply.
Read more - Betty Messenger CF
The Archer Trust
Small charities can apply for grant of between £500 and £4,000 to support a defined group of needy or deserving people, for instance those with physical or mental disabilities or the disadvantaged. The Trust favours organisations that make good use of volunteers and that operate in areas of high unemployment and deprivation. You must apply in writing and there are no deadlines, but the trustee only meet twice a year, normally March and September.
Read more - The Archer Trust
Finnis Scott Foundation
Charities and charitable organisations, including school Parent Teacher Associations, are eligible to apply for grants of up to £10,000 to support projects relating to horticulture, plant sciences, fine art and art history. Grants awarded may cover capital or revenue expenditure. Preference is given to smaller organisations where the grant will have a significant impact. The next meeting is in April and applications need to be received at least 4 weeks in advance to be considered.
Read more - Finnis Scott Foundation
The Volant Charitable Trust
The Covid-19 Response Fund aims to help charities in the UK to alleviate social deprivation, helping vulnerable people affected by the coronavirus pandemic.Registered charities, community interest companies, community organisations and social enterprises based and working in the UK may apply.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be constituted (have a governing document).
- Have a bank account in the name of the group with at least two unrelated signatories.
- Have at least three unrelated members on their management committee.
- Have committee meetings with a quorum of at least three unrelated members present.
- Be at least two unrelated cheque signatories.
- Activity must be specifically related to the Covid-19 pandemic and can be for project and administrative costs, as the Trust does not usually fund capital expenditure. However, applications for medical equipment and the production or distribution of PPE may be considered.
Deadlines: Round 2-31st July 2021.
Read more - The Volant Trust
David Solomons Charitable Trust
The David Solomons Charitable Trust offers grants to registered charities supporting people with learning difficulties. To be eligible for funding, organisations working with both physically and mentally disabled people must be able to show that at least 75% of those supported have learning difficulties. Grants tend to be in the range of £500 to £1,000.
Applications must be made in writing to Mrs Elizabeth Prior, David Solomons Charitable Trust, 2 Highfield Road, Collier Row, Romford, RM5 3RA. Telephone: 01708 502 488. Email: [email protected].
The Astor Foundation
The Astor Foundation provides grants to registered charities in the UK working in the following areas:
- Children and youth groups
- The disabled
- The countryside
- The arts
- Sport
- Carers groups
- Animal welfare.
Preference is given to assisting with the launching and initial stages of new projects and filling in gaps/shortfalls.Grants are generally between £250 and £1500. Applications should be in writing to the secretary and must include the applicant’s organisation most recent accounts and an annual report if available. Contact details: Trust Secretary, Astor Foundation, PO BOX 168, Bideford, EX39 6WB. Telephone: 07901 737488. Email: [email protected].
Boshier-Hinton Foundation
The Boshier-Hinton Foundation awards grants to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities, learning difficulties or sensory impairment, and their families. Requests to support projects which are innovative and developmental are particularly welcomed. Registered charitable trusts, community charities and institutions providing services, facilities or advocacy for children or adults with special educational or other needs in the UK can apply for grants up to £2,000.
All organisations that are awarded a grant must confirm that they have in place Health and Safety, Vulnerable Persons, DBS and Equal Opportunity policies, as appropriate. Applicants should include a copy of their most recent balance sheet or audited accounts, showing funds received from all sources, with the application form.
Read more - Boshier-Hinton Foundation
Peter Cruddas Foundation
Registered charities in England and Wales can apply for funding for projects that help disadvantaged and disengaged young people in England and Wales. Priority is given to projects designed to help disadvantaged and disengaged young people in the age range of 16 to 30, to pursue pathways to Education, Training and Employment with the ultimate aim of helping them to become financially independent. There is no minimum or maximum amount and projects can be funded for more than one year. The next closing date for applications to the Peter Cruddas Foundation is the 1st March 2021.
Read more - Peter Cruddas Foundation
DM Thomas Foundation for Young People
Applications are received for quarterly deadlines from registered charities (and CIC's). There is approximately £200,000 available to distribute each quarter. Applications working in the areas of education or health with one of our four chosen focus groups are selected or considered:
- Children and young people with disabilities
- Children and young people who are sick in hospital
- Children and young people who are life limited (requiring palliative care)
- Children and young people who suffer from mental health issues.
If favoured, grant applications for up to £5,000 can be approved by the Director, up to £10,000 can be approved by the Grants Committee, and applications for more than £10,000 are recommended to the Trustees for final approval. The Foundation is a small charity and generally will not make awards of over £30,000 (per year). Funding can be requested for up to 2 years for any particular project.
Read more - DM Thomas Foundation
Grants to cover running costs for small charities.
Grants of £300 to £2,000 are available to small charities to help them to pay for with running and core costs. The funding is available to registered charities (CICs are excluded) working in the areas of literature, arts and heritage; social welfare; environmental causes and animal welfare; education and training; and healthcare.
The funding is being made available through the Marsh Christian Trust. The Trust focuses on providing funding which could help small organisations pay for various running costs, such as volunteer expenses, training days, equipment maintenance and other core outgoings. Their funding strategy is to provide long-term core funding for such costs, as they understand that many of the organisations they support depend on unrestricted income in order to meet their operating needs. Grants are unrestricted and range from £300 - £2,000. Successful new applicants can expect to receive a grant at the lower end of this scale.
Applications are considered on the basis of the organisation’s financial position, performance against charitable aims and objectives and the ratio of voluntary income against fundraising expenses. The Trust aims to build long-standing relationships with successful applicants and, subject to an annual review, continue its support over time.There are no application deadlines. Examples of the support given include core costs for Compaid, a digital skills centre in Kent that supports people with disabilities and sensory impairments and Glassdoor, an organisation that offers shelter to the homeless in London.
Read more - Marsh Christian Trust
Grants to support those with mental health issues
The Gamesys Foundation is a newly formed charity, set up by the Gamesys Group to alleviate Mental Health Issues. Funding is available to charities and other not-for-profit organisations with an income of more than £50,000 who support individuals suffering from mental health issues, as well as those who focus on research in the mental health field. The Foundation will also consider funding for other types of organisation so long as they can be proven to have an impact with regard to mental health, support, and treatment. Funding comes from both corporate contributions and employee initiatives. There is no minimum or maximum grant amount and applications can be made at any time.
Read more - Gamesys Foundation
The Grocers' Charity
The Grocers’ Charity typically provides one-off grants up to £5000 for UK. registered charities working in the areas outlined below. Please follow the links to read the specific criteria for each;
Applications will NOT be considered from:
- Places of worship;
- Educational establishments (schools, colleges, universities);
- Individuals;
- Charities whose beneficiaries are overseas;
- Non-UK registered charities (not regulated by the Charity Commission);
- Charities with a turnover of over £500,000, except for Health/Medical Charities (up to £15m turnover).
Deadlines for an initial enquiry:
- 9 March (if invited, 2nd stage application decisions are in June).
Read more - The Grocers' Charity
The Douglas Arter Foundation
This Foundation offers grants to charitable organisations working in the UK for projects to aid the physically or mentally disabled. Previous grants have been for between £500 and £2,000, with the majority being given in the £250 to £500 range. All grants are made on a one off basis with no ongoing commitment. Applications must be made in writing and should include a copy of the organisation's most recent accounts. Contact details: The Secretary, Douglas Arter Foundation, Fern Villa, Melksham Road, Patterdown, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 2NR. Telephone: 01249 448252.
Latest update on CEVAS training
CEVAS stands for the Countryside Educational Visits Accreditation Scheme. It's an accredited training programme run by the Access to Farms Partnership for anyone wanting to provide education or therapeutic (care farming) experiences on a farm or countryside location. During 2020 courses all courses were put on hold, but their website says dates for new courses will be published 'early in the new year'.
Read more - CEVAS website
SF&G launches Growing Teachers training programme
Growing Teachers is about inspiring, supporting and empowering teachers, support staff, independent practitioners and volunteers to develop and run a school growing and/ or farming project successfully and sustainably. Whether you are breaking new ground in your school or seeking to grow an established school project, this programme offers a complete approach to the subject suitable for everyone from novice to experienced practitioner.
The learning combines educational materials and opportunities for interaction online with traditional online classroom methods. This is combined with assignments personalised to your own project which lets you work on your own and involves visits to other school and community gardens/farms and with other learners and mentors.
Read more - Growing Teachers
Fully Funded Learning Curve Courses available across most of England (excluding Liverpool City Region and Bristol/Gloucester)
Learning Curve Group have a wide range of training courses including an updated infection control course, behaviour that challenges, children & young people's mental health, dementia care, learning disabilities, understanding autism and many more. These courses are available fully funded to learners who are;
- 19+
- have lived in the UK or EU for at least 3 years
- are not on any other government funded programme
- who have not previously accessed for funding for the same course
For a full list of the courses available visit www.LearningCurveGroup.co.uk. For more information on how to sign yourself or your staff up to these courses please contact Stephen Hind at Learning curve on [email protected] with how many people you are looking to put forward.
FutureLearn Free Courses
Learn 100% online with world-class universities and industry experts. Develop your career, learn a new skill or pursue your hobbies with flexible online courses. Categories include business and management, healthcare and medicine, nature and environment and psychology and mental health.
Read more - Future Learn
Health Education England - Free online courses
HEE have a huge range of online training available free for NHS professionals and those working or volunteering to improve the population's health.
Read more - HEE courses
Bettys and Taylors Group Coronavirus Community Fund (Yorkshire)
Administered by the Two Ridings Community Foundation, the fund aims to support the long term sustainability of small groups who are working to improve the lives of local people. Grants up to £5000 are available to support groups with running and/or organisation development costs. Applications will be considered from groups from organisations with an income of under £200k per annum across the whole of Yorkshire. Priority will be given to groups whose work meets one or more of the following aims:
- Promoting good health & wellbeing
- Reducing inequality
- Reducing loneliness and social isolation.
Priority will also be given to disadvantaged communities and may also be given to projects in the areas surrounding Bettys Café Team Rooms and the Bettys and Taylors head office.
Read more - Bettys and Taylors CCF
The Chrysalis Trust (North East)
The Trust supports local projects in the North East of England only, national organisations providing benefit across the UK, as well as, international charities registered in the UK. The Trust is able to provide support for both capital projects and core funding with 'one off' donations. Their current priorities are;
- Relief of poverty and disability
- Provision of access to shelter, education, healthcare and water
- Less popular and hard to fund activities/projects
Read more - The Chrysalis Trust
The George A Moore Foundation (Yorkshire)
The Foundation supports registered charities based in North and West Yorkshire. Typical grants made by the Foundation range from £500 to £2,500, although larger grants may be considered for selected projects. The next quarterly trustee meeting to discuss general applications for funding is on Tuesday 23 February. The deadline for applications to be considered during this meeting is Monday 8 February.
Read more - George A Moore Foundation
Scoping Exercise (North Cumbria only - Districts of Allerdale, Carlisle, Copeland (excluding Millom) and Eden)
North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Cumbria Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Trust are undertaking a scoping exercise to understand if the third sector may have any staffing and/or service delivery capacity to support people with mental health needs (adults, older adults, children and young people) and people with learning disabilities. They are reaching out to organisations in our sector to help them to better understand how our sector might be able to support people and the system to respond to this third challenging wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
If your organisation has any of the following:
- Capacity within your current care service
- Staffing capacity either registered or care assistant
- Ability to develop and initiate additional services at pace.
If you think your organisation might have something to offer and would like to discuss this further please connect with Tania Desborough, Senior Commissioning Manager Mental Health Commissioning and Learning Disabilities, NHS North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group. [email protected].
Free skills training (East Riding of Yorkshire)
The Skills Network and ERVAS are currently working together to offer learners access to qualifications via distance learning. This opportunity provides access to interactive and engaging learning content from The Skills Network, a company that has partnered with a number of leading awarding organisations, including NCFE, CACHE and TQUK, to develop outstanding learning resources that meet a diverse range of learning needs. Learners can submit their answers online or via the answer booklets provided.
Read more - Find out more and apply for a course
Useful Northumberland Focused funding list
Northumberland CVA has produced this useful list of 30 funding sources all Northumberland based groups should know about.
Read more - 30 funding sources
Closing soon - The Big Farm Tree Planting (Yorkshire & North East England)
Would you like to improve the environmental value of your farms? You now have the chance! The NFU in the North East has joined forces with the Woodland Trust to launch The Big Farm Tree Planting. Farmers across Yorkshire and the North East are being offered the chance to further improve the environmental value of their farms by collectively planting 5,000 native trees.
Read more - NFU Big Farm Tree Planting
SEN & Disabilities Network Meeting (East Riding of Yorkshire)
East Riding Voluntary Action Services (ERVAS) are hosting an opportunity for professionals working with children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities to join them for a meeting on 25th January 2021.
Read more - ERVAS network meeting
CDL Fund (Greater Manchester)
This fund will support the activities of local community or voluntary groups and projects that contribute positively to the quality of life, wellbeing and improved health of people and communities which address any or all of the priorities listed below:
- Older people
- Children and young people
- Stronger communities
- Environment
- Health and Wellbeing.
The CDL Fund is particularly keen to receive applications from groups who are using technology to adapt their activities or change how they support their community during the Covid-19 pandemic. Grassroots community organisations based and delivering activity in any of the ten boroughs of Greater Manchester can apply. Applicants must have an annual income of less than £150,000. Grant amount: Up to £1,000. Deadline: Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis and as such there is no deadline, however, please note that the Fund may close at short notice if oversubscribed.
Read more - CDL Fund
Greater Manchester Mental Wellbeing Grants
Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisations, working in partnership with 10GM, have launched a small and medium grants programmes to support adults from communities of identity or experience, based in Greater Manchester, that may struggle to achieve high levels of mental wellbeing. These grants are in addition to the micro grants already available to voluntary and community groups and social enterprises that will support people to develop high levels of mental wellbeing.
The communities they want to reach are:
• Adults from black Asian minority ethnic (BAME) communities
• Adults living with long term physical and mental health conditions
• Disabled adults
• Socially isolated older people
• Military veterans
• People who are unemployed
• Adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning/queer and/or intersex (LGBTQI)
• Adult carers.
Read more - GM Mental Wellbeing Grants
Psychological Support Fund for North Cumbria
North Cumbria Health & Care System and Cumbria County Council have provided a combined total of £180k of funding for voluntary sector organisations supporting people struggling with their mental health during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The Psychological Support Fund will be held by Cumbria Community Foundation. The considerable impact of Covid-19, and the subsequent lockdown, has been significant on people’s lives – physically, emotionally and economically. Anxiety, stress and depression are normal reactions to life events such as losing someone, losing your job, or suffering isolation.
It isn’t inevitable that everyone needs clinical intervention and timely support may be better delivered by small, local organisations. Bids for grants of up to £25k which tackle the following areas will be considered:
- emotional wellbeing - impact of anxiety and isolation
- bereavement.
Bids for grants of over £25k which demonstrate a collaborative application from multiple charitable organisations will also be considered. If you are considering making an application please call Annalee Holliday at Cumbria Community Foundation on (01900) 825760 or e-mail [email protected]. To find out more about each strand of the Psychological Support fund please click on the links below.
Read more - Emotional Wellbeing Strand
Read More - Bereavement Support Strand
Free Training in Youth Work, Health and Social Care (Oldham)
We have been made aware that training company The Training Brokers is running a number of courses which are free and accessible to people living in the Oldham area. Courses on offer include a number of adult care issues (dementia, dignity, safeguarding), adult and young peoples' mental health awareness, plus youth work and education support qualifications.
Read more - The Training Brokers courses
Digital Skills Apprentices offering services (Tyne & Wear & Northumberland)
Could you benefit from the skills of a digital apprentice? As part of the Skills Match initiative by the Community Foundation Tyne and Wear and Northumberland, charitable organisations can apply for support over 12 months from a digital apprentice. Local apprentices from Accenture will provide support in areas such as website design, customer relationship management systems development, and the effective use of digital communication platforms. Eligible organisations can apply by sending a short paragraph summarising the project idea for which they'd like support to Colette Harrison, Sector Support Officer at [email protected].
Greater Manchester Moving Oldham Local Pilot Grants
Do you have an idea for a local project which will contribute to increasing physical activity? They are open to any ideas for all groups across Oldham, but priority will be given to activities which involve:
- People in Failsworth and Glodwick (as selected 'Local Pilot' areas)
- Children & Young People aged 5-18 in out of school settings
- People out of work/at risk of becoming workless
- People aged 40-60 with, or at risk of, long term conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disorders
Any group can apply if you have an activity which might contribute to the above aims. This includes unconstituted groups if they can identify other ways to be sure the funding you receive will be spent on the aims above.
Grant amount: Micro grants are available for amounts up to £1,000 on a rolling programme. Larger grants up to £5,000 are available for decision through community-wide 'Participatory Budgeting' event, as well as up to £25,000 for ideas that have been developed alongside the community as part of the wider Local Pilot work. Contact [email protected] if your project requires more than £1,000.
Read more - Greater Manchester Moving
ELM trial launches reverse auction for turtle dove project (East Anglia)
Farmers in parts of East Anglia are being encouraged to take part in a reverse auction where they bid for funding to create habitat for turtle doves. The RSPB will shortly begin testing a new scheme as part of Defra’s Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme tests and trials process. Farmers will need to be very near to or in one of four target areas to be eligible to take part in the auction, which will be split into two bidding rounds.
The target areas are: Hadleigh and Dedham Vale, Suffolk; Stonham Aspal and Gipping Valley, Suffolk; Upper Wensum, Norfolk; and North West Norfolk.
Read more - Farmers Weekly article
Covid-19 recovery Fund (Cambridgeshire)
Grants of between £5,000 and £14,999 are available to community-focused not-for-profit organisations that are helping the most vulnerable communities in Cambridgeshire to recover from and adapt to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Charities, community groups, parish and town councils, social enterprises, schools, and other not-for-profit organisations that have lost income due to the crisis can apply for funding from the Cambridgeshire Coronavirus Community Fund – Recovery Grants to help them to adapt their operations, services and working practices, and continue to support vulnerable people experiencing hardship as a result of the crisis. The Fund is particularly keen to support projects helping BAME communities, young people, those affected by domestic violence, people with disabilities, and projects which support mental health and wellbeing. The deadline for applications is the 1st February 2021.
Read more - Covid-19 Recovery Fund
Grants of up to £1,000 Available to Community Businesses (East of England)
Grants of up to £1,000 are available to support established and new community businesses in the East of England through the current pandemic. The funding is being made available through a partnership between East Anglian housebuilder Hopkins Homes and national charity the Plunkett Foundation. As well as funding, the scheme is also providing free support and expertise from the charity’s central support service and network of advisors. To be eligible for funding community businesses need to be established in one of the following counties:
- Suffolk
- Norfolk
- Cambridgeshire
- Rural Essex
Grants of £200 to £1,000 will be made available until the end of March 2021. The grant scheme may close before March, if all the funding has been allocated before this time.
Read more - Plunkett Foundation
FREE Resilience training (Bedfordshire)
The session is aimed at staff/volunteers from VCS organisations in Luton to equip them with the knowledge and skills to build their resilience and help protect their mental health and wellbeing during these challenging times. Choose from two upcoming dates: Wednesday 27 January at 2pm to 3.30pm or Tuesday 9 February at 10am to 11.30am. The session will cover:
- Describing stress and its impact on mental health and wellbeing
- Managing your mindset and understanding emotional energy
- Behaviours and daily habits to support mental wellbeing.
To book, please email [email protected] with the name of your organisation and the names of the people who would like to attend. Places are free, but if there is high demand for this course, they will limit places to 2 per voluntary organisation.
Supplier Engagement event on 19th January - Respite for Young Adults with Complex Needs (Bedfordshire)
Bedford Borough Council and partners are seeking to procure respite care and support services for young adults (primarily aged 18-30) with complex needs. The respite services will also support young people with complex needs aged 16 and 17 as they transition between children's and adults' services. Service providers will be required to work closely and collaboratively with families, social services and health services and short break services for young people with complex needs preparing for adulthood. These services will support young adults with the following needs:
- Young adults with a Learning Disability
- Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and behaviours which can challenge
- Young adults with complex health needs, including those with physical and/or learning disabilities.
Read more - Supplier Engagement - Bedford Council
Online learning - Introduction to Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) (Bedfordshire)
Central Bedfordshire has some new online learning for professionals who work with children or young people who have SEND. The modules will help participants to gain an understanding of how to support children and young people to ensure a positive outcome.
Read more - SEND Local offer
The Tudwick Foundation (Essex & Suffolk)
The Tudwick Foundation is now accepting applications for grants of up to £3000 from voluntary and community groups which are working to benefit the residents of Essex and Suffolk. Not-for-profit organisations with an annual income of £500K or less are invited to apply. The foundation supports requests for core funding as well as project-based grants, and actively encourages applications from relatively new organisations to help them become established or organisations which are struggling to find the funds they need during the Covid pandemic. Apply anytime.
Read more - The Tudwick Foundation
Funding for Men's Mental Health (Suffolk & NE Essex)
Grants are available from the Suffolk and North East Essex Men’s Mental Health Community Fund for projects to improve men’s mental health, to reduce the risk and incidence of suicide amongst men in high risk groups. If you have an idea about a project that supports and/or works with men in any of the following high risk groups, please contact Karen Tedder-Ward – [email protected] or call 01255 425692 in the first instance to register an interest and to discuss the funding available.
- Men in the care of Mental Health Services, including inpatients.
- Men working in specific occupations such as the construction industry, rural and agricultural sectors.
- Men in other high-risk groups – BAME, LGBTQI, Veterans, Homeless and rough sleepers.
- Men in contact with the criminal justice system.
- Men who are survivors of domestic/sexual abuse.
- Men with a history of self-harm.
Severn Trent Community Fund (Warwickshire)
Customers have helped to create and share the new community fund to better understand community needs and as a result, have chosen to design the fund around improving community wellbeing:
- People: Projects that help people to lead a healthier life and gain new skills
- Places: Projects that help to create better places to live in and use
- Environment: Projects that will help to look after our environment, give people greater access to that environment or help look after water.
If your organisation is registered not-for-profit, and the project you would like to fund will benefit Severn Trent customers, you may be eligible for a grant from the Severn Trent Community Fund.
Read more - Severn Trent Community Fund
Youth Action Grants (Derbyshire)
Derbyshire County Council has extended its Youth Action Grants programme, making an extra £221,000 available. The grants are aimed at projects for children and young people aged 0 to 19 years and up to 25 years if they have a disability. Eligible organisations include voluntary and community groups, social enterprises and parish councils providing services in Derbyshire. Applications must support the wellbeing priorities in the DCC Council Plan. Applications should be made ASAP as the programme will run until the money has been allocated. DCC have committed to responding to all applications within 6 weeks.
Read more - Youth Action Grants
IGas Community Energy Fund (Lincolnshire)
IGas Energy Plc is one of the UK's leading onshore hydrocarbon producers has announced that its Community Energy Fund has opened for applications. The fund covers specific areas of Hampshire, West Sussex and Lincolnshire where the company operates. IGas support projects that make a difference to life in the mainly rural communities where they operate. Organisations that are eligible to apply include community and voluntary organisations that are charitable, educational or benevolent in purpose; as well as local schools. Applicants will need to demonstrate need for their project, real community benefits and value for money. IGas need initial expressions of interest in order to register projects and then require submission of full applications by the 28th February 2021. The grants panel will make its decisions in April 2021.
Read more - IGas Community Energy Fund
Health & Wellbeing Grants (Derbyshire)
South Derbyshire CVS manages a number of small grant funds for voluntary, community and not-for-profit organisations wanting to make a difference to local people and communities. You can apply for up to £2,000 in total. Guidelines and application forms can be found online.
Read more - South Derbyshire CVS Community Funding
Heart of England Winter Wellbeing Fund
Grants of up to £10,000 are available for charitable organisations providing wellbeing and economic support services to help communities in Birmingham, the Black Country, Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire through a COVID-19 winter.
Read more - Winter Wellbeing Fund
Alfred Haynes Charitable Trust grants (Birmingham)
The Alfred Haines Charitable Trust is a small local grant making charity. The Trust primarily allocates its funds to support local organisations helping people to improve their quality of life. The Trust prefers to make donations towards specific items and does not give to large appeals. The Trustees prefer to support specific projects and concentrate on helping smaller charities based in Birmingham and the immediate surrounding area. They meet quarterly to consider written applications for grants.
The majority of donations are made on a one-off basis. Sometimes the Trust will agree to fund a project annually for up to three years subject to receipt of satisfactory project reports. One off grants are normally in the range of £250 to £2,000. Please check their exclusions list before applying. Also grants are not normally made to individuals.
Read more - Alfred Haynes Charitable Trust
Devon Social Entrepreneurs Start Up Programme 2021
Social entrepreneurs in Devon can now apply to a new learning programme that will help set up a project that will create social or environmental change. The free Social Entrepreneurs Start Up programme will give you the skills and support you need to start your own business as well as a community of people who are going through the same things.
Read more - SSE Devon Social Entrepreneurs
Coronavirus Response Grants (Wiltshire)
Wiltshire Community Foundation have a Coronavirus Response Grants programme to distribute funds raised through their own appeal and Wiltshire and Swindon’s share of the National Emergencies Trust Coronavirus Appeal Fund. Details on how to apply are available below.
Read more - Wiltshire Community Foundation
Free skills support (Bristol)
Bristol’s voluntary sector organisations can access free skills-based support from local businesses, with the help of the City Funds Pro Bono service. Contact [email protected] to find out how Bristol's City Funds Pro Bono Brokerage can connect your organisation with the skills or resources that you need.
Health and Wellbeing Funding (Plymouth)
The Livewell Foundation has announced £100K of funding for Plymouth charities and non-profits. Grants up to £10K are available to help people to live happier and healthier lives, by improving health & wellbeing or reducing social isolation.
Read more - Livewell Foundation grants
Social Prescribing online directory (Cornwall).
Pluss Social Prescribing has signed up to iNavigator, to improve its social prescribing directory. Any other organisations offering social prescribing activities in the Cornwall area are invited to join too, to ensure that people can access their services.
Read more - INavigator
Open Mental Health Community Grants (Somerset)
Voluntary and community sector organisations can now apply for grants of up to £15,000, for projects which aim to improve mental health and wellbeing in Somerset. Applications can be submitted at any time and the next deadline for grants over £2,000 is Monday 18th January.
Read more - Spark Somerset
Involve Community Services (Berkshire)
Involve is a charity that helps other charities. No time to write grants? Stuck for words? The Involve Funding Advice Team have launched a grant-writing service FREE for not for profit organisations serving those in Wokingham Borough Council and Bracknell Forest Council areas. In the last 4 months NFP's using the service have received more than £180,000 from applications and they are still waiting for decisions on applications worth more than £350,000. For those NFPs outside these areas they also offer a low cost grant writer service drawing on experienced writers from their register.
Read more - Grant writing service or contact [email protected] or call 01344 304404.
Funding for the rehabilitation of young offenders (Kent)
Registered not-for-profit organisations in Kent can apply for grants of up to £75,000 for projects that support the rehabilitation of offenders and to help reduce the consequences of their imprisonment. Grants are offered to local organisations working in Kent and national charities currently offering, or planning to offer their services in the county. Collaborative/partnership working is particularly welcome, but consortium applications must be submitted by a ‘lead’ organisations. The funding is being made available through the NewColyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust’s Investing in Rehabilitation programme. This is a rolling programme and applications can be submitted at any time.
Read more - Investing in Rehabilitation Programme
IGas Community Energy Fund (Hampshire & West Sussex)
IGas Energy Plc is one of the UK's leading onshore hydrocarbon producers has announced that its Community Energy Fund has opened for applications. The fund covers specific areas of Hampshire, West Sussex and Lincolnshire where the company operates. IGas support projects that make a difference to life in the mainly rural communities where they operate. Organisations that are eligible to apply include community and voluntary organisations that are charitable, educational or benevolent in purpose; as well as local schools. Applicants will need to demonstrate need for their project, real community benefits and value for money. IGas need initial expressions of interest in order to register projects and then require submission of full applications by the 28th February 2021. The grants panel will make its decisions in April 2021.
Read more - IGas Community Energy Fund
Green Social Prescribing Test Sites announced
In December the government announced which seven sites have been awarded a share of £5.77 million pot to test the ways in which connecting people with nature can improve mental wellbeing. The new test and learn sites, which are based across England, will focus on communities hardest hit by coronavirus. Since the coronavirus pandemic, when many people have experienced distress, loneliness or anxiety, there has been an increased public awareness of the benefits of regular access to green spaces. Studies have shown that this has the potential to improve mental health and wellbeing.
The sites will each explore and bring together opportunities for communities to get involved in their natural environment. This could include activities such as walking, cycling, community gardening and food-growing projects, and practical conservation tasks such as tree planting. For people who need help to get involved this could include supported visits to local green spaces, waterways and the coast, and other outdoor activities to reduce isolation and loneliness.
Here are a list of the successful areas;
- Humber Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership
- South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System
- Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care System
- Joined Up Care Derbyshire Sustainability and Transformation Partnership
- Greater Manchester Health & Social Care Partnership
- Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership
- Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Sustainability and Transformation Partnership
Our Regional Support Officer, Sarah, is currently making contact with lead staff on these projects to raise awareness of care farming as a green social prescribing option, but hopes to be able to pass on contact details to any care farms interested in making direct contact with their local project in the next week or so. If you are delivering services in one of these areas and wish to find out who you can contact please email [email protected].
SF&G AGM 2021
Our AGM will be online this year and takes place on Saturday 23rd January 2021 from 2pm - 3pm. All SF&G members are very welcome to attend. The Agenda will include a report on SF&G's Activities, as well as elections of four Trustees to join our Board. You can book your place using this link: www.farmgarden.org.uk/sfg-agm-2021. You can also download associated documents from this page.
Voting members - please return your voting forms
If your organisation is a voting member of SF&G, please note that all voting forms should be received by midday on Thursday 21st January. You need to do this even if you are planning to attend the meeting as we will not be conducting voting on the day due to the online format for the meeting. Voting forms were sent out on Monday 11th January and include details and biographies for each of the ten nominees to join our Board of Directors. Any questions, please contact: [email protected]
SF&G 40th Anniversary Awards - relaunch!
When Covid-19 restrictions hit the UK in March last year we put our 40th Anniversary Awards, sponsored by McClarrons, on hold. We'd received around 200 entries across the seven categories and it was wonderful to hear about all the amazing individuals, organisations and activities connecting people and nature throughout the UK. We now plan to reveal the winners during a virtual awards ceremony in March 2021. Winners will be invited to a House of Lords reception at a later date. So many members have stepped up to meet the needs of local communities and beneficiaries this year so we have decided to add one additional award category to recognise the incredible impact that your organisations have had on their local communities, beneficiaries and wider issues. Vote for your "Covid-19 Response Hero" by Sunday 31st January 2021.
Vote here - Survey Monkey voting form
New Charity Governance Code
An updated version of the Charity Governance Code has been published by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO). After consultation with the sector, the code has been refreshed with a particular focus on equality, diversity and inclusion. NCVO has also made a webinar about the updates available to view any time on the Charity Governance Code's website.
Read more - Charity Governance Code
Agricultural transition plan 2021 to 2024
The Government has published ‘Path to Sustainable Farming’, the agricultural transition plan which sets out the changes that are going to be made to the agricultural policy in England from 1 January 2021. It also covers what these changes will mean for farmers and land managers.
Read more - Transition Plan
Tips for recruiting volunteers
This useful blog can help ensure you find the volunteers best suited to your organisation.
Read more - Fantastic volunteers and how to find them
A time for reflection?
2020 might not have been quite the year you had planned, however it is great to reflect on what you may have learned and let go of the year in style so that you can plan the year ahead. YearCompass is a free booklet that helps you reflect on the year and plan the next one. With a set of carefully selected questions and exercises, YearCompass helps you uncover your own patterns and design the ideal year for yourself. Learn from your mistakes, celebrate your victories, and set out a path you want to walk on. All you need is a quiet few hours and this booklet.
Read more - YearCompass FREE download
FREE Fundraising toolkit
ERVAS (East Riding Voluntary Action Services) in Yorkshire has produced this online funding toolkit but it is applicable and accessible to all. Having a fundraising strategy is key to survival for all Voluntary, Community, Charity and Social Enterprises. Ensuring that you comply with all legislation and codes of practice is vital to prevent irreparable damage to your organisation. Their toolkit provides some useful resources and links to ensure you develop a resilient and sustainable funding plan for your group.
Read more - ERVAS Funding toolkit
New Year's Honour for SF&G Member & Care Farmer
Congratulations from all at SF&G to Mary Chapman from Nuzzlets in York who has received the British Empire Medal in the 2020 New Year's honours. Mary founded Nuzzlets, where they rescue and care for animals and specialise in visits for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and life-threatening illnesses.
Read more - Yorkshire Post article
FREE webinar on how to get commissioned
As part of the National Academy for Social Prescribing Thriving Communities webinar series for voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise groups and organisations, our next webinar will focus on how to get services commissioned by your local NHS commissioners. In this webinar you will:
- hear from commissioners about the challenges of commissioning community activities for social prescribing
- learn about how community groups can work with commissioners to ensure each gets what they need
- hear from community projects about how they have built strong relationships with commissioners
- hear how community and voluntary groups have approached their local commissioners to build a shared vision for their work.
This webinar will take place on 19 January 2021, 3-4pm. Places are free but limited. Book your place online to join them. Please see the Thriving Communities webinars page for more details of future webinars and to listen to previous webinars in the series. You can also sign up to their Network and our newsletter (sign up at the bottom of the webpage).
Read more - NASP Webinar - How to get commissioned
Safeguarding guidance from NCVO
The importance of care farmers having robust safeguarding policies and procedures in place cannot be overstated, that is why it is a key part of the Code of Practice process, so it is worth spending time to get this right when you start up and also to review on a regular basis. NCVO provide a useful set of resources to support with this including;
New Copper Beech Play competition
This exciting bi-monthly photo competition run by SF&G offers the chance to win a beautiful handmade play equipment set for your site and there's another chance to win in January 2021. Share your photo that "Celebrates spaces that support and empower people living with learning disabilities" in our Facebook group with the hashtag #SFGCopperBeech between 1st and 31st January 2021. Full details on our website.
Webinar on bidding for central government contracts
DCMS is hosting a webinar aimed at VCSE organisations interested in finding out more about the new Social Value model and the opportunities it brings to the sector. You will also learn more about the central government bidding process, including Contracts Finder, the public procurement review service and consortia bidding. There are three dates available: 20 January, 3 February and 17 March.
Read more - VCSE Winning Central Government contracts
Pocket Guide to Farmer Safety Critical Skills
Why are non-technical skills important? This free guide to farmer safety critical non-technical skills provides a useful format for sharing information on the non-technical skills, provides guidance on how to implement these skills, and enables each farmer to edit the guide to produce something that is specific to them and their farm.
Read more - Pocket Guide
Sole Fundraiser support and development.
The Foundation for Social Improvement are launching a new, free programme providing specific and tailored support for sole fundraisers in small charities.
Read more - Sole Fundraiser Support Sessions
Free employing a member of staff resource sheet
If you are a voluntary group or small charity employing a member of staff for the first time, this Community First Yorkshire resource sheet has everything you need to know!
Read more - Employing a member of staff resource sheet
British Library - free webinars
The British Library are running 'Reset. Restart', a series of webinars 'to help you transform, future-proof or grow your business through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond'.
Read more - Reset. Restart. webinars
Delivering safe face to face adult day care
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) have produced a useful guide for day care managers, social workers, commissioners and providers to restart or continue activities. It is focused on community-based day services, day centres (with and without personal care), including specialised day centre environments, and those with outdoor spaces.
Read more - SCIE Guide for delivering safe adult day care
Stay safe everyone and keep in touch with us. We love to hear from you!
You can send general enquiries to [email protected] or you can contact Debbie and Rachel on [email protected]
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