Welcome 

Here we are in March – ‘in like a lion, and out like a lamb’ as the saying goes. There are many ways to interpret that, but let’s hope it means more settled times, mild weather and plenty of positivity.

This month we’re having a think about all the people who have got into care farming via a non-traditional farming route. Did you start out from the world of health, education and social care but with less direct farming experience? We’ve noticed that many of our resources and training support existing farmers into care farming, but what about vice versa? Supporting people who already understand statutory services but would like to work with their service users on a farm setting. What would have been helpful to you in starting up? Would some shadowing or mentoring with an experienced farmer have helped? What about practical training? Our question of the month covers this but we’ll also get the conversation started on Twitter and do email us with any thoughts too.

There’s lots to look forward to this month and we are particularly excited about our first online care farming conference on 25th March. We normally love a face-to-face conference with all the networking, chatting, coffee and sharing that comes with it. This is a bit trickier online, but it will still be a great opportunity to celebrate our sector and hear about some of the work that happens on care farms. Find out more below and we will see you there!

This newsletter covers:

• GCF Update
• GCF Question of the Month
• GCF Networking & Events
• England Wide Funding Opportunities
• England Wide Training Opportunities
• News & Opportunities (North)
• News & Opportunities (Central & East)
• News & Opportunities (South)
• Other News & Resources

GCF Update

Training

Three of our online client-specific courses have been delivered this month, covering service provision for young people with anxiety and/or depression, for service users requiring Alternative Provision, and for those with a Learning Disability and/or ASD. These courses have been well-received by those either looking to set up a care farming organisation or develop the service provision they currently offer. All of our client-specific blended learning courses are repeated regularly, allowing you to choose course dates that suit you. Each of the courses can be found on our website here.

Resources & Networking

Last month's themed webinar on moving 'From measuring outcomes to measuring change' saw record audiences! If you missed it, not to worry. You can find it together with all our previous webinar recordings here.

In October we introduced Hannah Beal, our Digital Content Coordinator. Hannah has spent the winter and early spring auditing and updating the resources relating to care farming. From tips to starting up, to more in depth research, we've pulled everything into one easy to find place. We are looking forward to sharing these with you in the next newsletter. In the meantime, your feedback and questions inform a lot of what we develop, so do keep in contact with issues and challenges you come across.

Our monthly online network meetings remain popular and details of the next one on the 17th March are below. From April we will alter the format of these to bring them in line with different themes suggested by members. We're also looking at how they can tie in with our programme of webinars. We will share further information on this early next month.

Our first GCF North West online event took place on Thursday 25th February 2021. Forty six people attended from a wide variety of backgrounds. We enjoyed welcoming existing and prospective care farmers and health, social care and education staff. We also had representatives from agriculture and other nature based organisations in attendance. Mary Smith from Growing Well and Susan Aglionby from Susan's Farm talked about their work.  They descibed how it provides for the varied needs of their different service users and some of the issues and challenges they face. We were also supported by NHSE Regional Social Prescribing Facilitator, Jo Ward, who took part in the Q&A session. The event has kick started networking in the North West with lots of interesting questions posed and connections made.

Quality Assurance via the Code of Practice

Advocacy and promotion

February saw the launch of the second of a suite of three promotional films for care farming, aimed at each commissioning sector. The newest film covers care farming for service users requiring social care, and promotes the value of care farming using interviews with care farmers, service users and their families, and commissioners from the social care sector. The first film, launched last month, covered care farming for mental health, and both films can be found on our website here. The final film, looking at care farming for education, will be launched in April and we look forward to sharing it.

Online Conference

We're really pleased to share details of our free online conference on the 25th March from 2pm - 4.30pm, where we will be bringing our community together to reflect on a challenging year, celebrate all that has been achieved and look ahead to the future for care farming in the UK. Click here for more information, programme and booking

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Question of the month

Thanks to those who answered last month’s question asking about Covid adaptions for your care farming services. It seems there are a wealth of innovations out there from live streaming virtual farm sessions, virtual site tours and catch ups with the farm animals, online social get togethers to maintain connection between co farmers, carers, families and care farm staff, right through to one to one walking sessions. It's great to hear all about them and that you will keep running many of them in the future. We'll be sharing some of these innovations at our conference later on in the month too.

We know that new care farmers can come either from a farming background or move from health, social care or education sectors. This month we are interested in supporting resources for those who are coming into care farming from outside agriculture. If this applies to you, let us know how you have set up your sites without land-based knowledge. Have you found any useful training or supporting resources? Did you partner with a farmer or gardener or a nature based-organisation? We’d love to know more so that we can develop resources and signpost to helpful links for  others. Please tell us more by answering our question of the month here.

GCF Networking & Events

Tuesday 9th March, 2.00pm - 3.00pm - SF&G Monthly Webinar - 9ft in Common; On the potential of Belfast alleyways

Social Farms & Gardens in NI would like to invite you to to this webinar to hear the current findings of the 9ft in Common project (a research project which asks questions about the wider use of alleyways), and discuss with others the potential of these underused spaces in the city. Belfast’s terraces are built around a complex network of entries, alleyways, and commonages. Once used as access for important coal deliveries and sewage networks, this infrastructure has been demoted to bin runs, leading to areas of dysfunction with fly tipping and antisocial behaviour. However, as COVID-19 continues to restrict social interactions, these wild, liminal spaces present an opportunity to those craving spaces beyond their homes.  They can become places to grow, places to play, places to come together in a ‘rurbanisation’ of the ‘entries’, as they are locally known. Book here.

Wednesday 17th March, 3.30pm - 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.

Wednesday 24th March, 10.00am - 11.00am - Lincolnshire Food Partnership event - Introduction to Care Farming

This free event aimed at farmers & land-owners, community gardeners, health & education professionals, and other curious people in the Lincolnshire area, will provide an overview of care farming. Sarah Marrison, Regional Support Officer for the Growing Care Farming project will provide and overview of care farming including practical information about how to start a Care Farm. This will be followed by a discussion of the realities of running a Care Farm in Lincolnshire, from Mark Coulman of Hall Farm, Eastoft. There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions. Book here.

Thursday 25th March, 2.00pm - 4.30pm - GCF National Conference

Join us to reflect on a challenging year, celebrate all that has been achieved and look ahead to the future for care farming in the UK. Click here for more information, programme and booking

Thursday 25th March, 5.30pm - 7.00pm - SF&G 40th Anniversary Awards; Virtual Ceremony with Pam Warhurst CBE

Join us for an evening of celebration as we reveal the winners of Social Farms & Gardens 40th Anniversary Awards and hear stories of how our incredible members are transforming lives. We are also excited to announce that Pam Warhurst, co-founder of Incredible Edible, will be inspiring us all to get involved in making change happen in our local communities. Book here. Our thanks to McClarrons for sponsoring the Awards and to Royal Agricultural University for supporting the two School Farm Network awards.

Thursday 8th April, 4.00pm - 5.00pm - SF&G Members Gathering

A chance for SF&G members - particularly new members - to gather virtually, build connections and share support ideas in a safe, encouraging environment. Open to any SF&G member. Book here.
 

If you're interested in any GCF or SF&G webinars but can't attend on the day, please don't worry as all webinars are recorded and uploaded to our website here for GCF webinars or GCF YouTube channel, or here for the SF&G webinars.

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England Wide Funding Opportunities

Win £4,750 for your patch

Social Farms & Gardens have teamed up with Nature's Path to offer one lucky SF&G member group the chance to win £4,750 to install a new feature on your site. Tell us your idea for your chance to win and look out for specially SF&G branded packets of Nature's Path cereal in a supermarket near you!

Countryside Stewardship Scheme Update  

We recently received this email from The Country Trust. In November 2020 'The Path to Sustainable Farming' published by Defra announced changes to the Countryside Stewardship Scheme relating to payments for educational access:  

We intend to introduce further changes to support continued delivery of our 25 Year Environment Plan goals. We will:

• expand educational access provision to farmers in Mid-Tier agreements, to let school pupils visit farms for educational experiences and for care farming visits (P29)

For the first time this year, Educational Access payments will be available to Mid-Tier applicants. Previously only Higher-Tier applicants qualified for payments. However, claims for Educational Access payments cannot be made in isolation and must be linked to other Mid-Tier payment options.The payment rate is £290 per visit. A PDF version of the Mid-Tier manual is not yet available but the ED1 Educational Access .gov.uk page has been updated (09.02.21) and you can find the requirement details for this year’s applications there. 

The Countryside Stewardship scheme opened for applications on 9th February 2021 and will close on 30 July 2021 for 2022 agreements. Defra claims applicants will experience a simplified process and more options.  Payments are claimed through the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) so farmers and landowners must register with the RPA in order to claim payments.  

Please note: at the time of writing (10-02-21) some of the information on the Government website is not up-to-date and is NOT CORRECT. For example, the ‘How to Apply’ page says: There are no Mid-Tier grants for woodland or educational access.

Funding for projects that help disadvantaged children and young people (England and Wales)

The funding is being made available through the Masonic Charitable Foundations Early Years Opportunities Grant scheme. The Foundation operates two funding streams. Small grants of between £1.000 and £15,000 per year for up to 3 years and large grants of between £10,000 and £60,000 per year for up to 3 years. The next closing date for the large grants programme is the 31st March 2021. The small grants programme is currently closed to applications and will re-open for applications between the 1st March and 5pm on the 31st March 2021.

Read more - Masonic Charitable Foundation

The Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust (UK)

The Trust offers grants of up to £5,000 (average grant size £3,000 – £4,000) to charities, community and voluntary organisations and institutions for projects that meet the objectives of the Trust:

• to promote horticulture
• to promote the conservation of the physical and natural environment by promoting biological diversity
• to promote the creation, development, preservation and maintenance of gardens (preference will normally, but not exclusively, be given to gardens accessible to the public)
• the advancement of horticultural education.

Read more - Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust

The Margaret Dobson Trust

The Margaret Dobson Trust supports organisations working with young adults aged 18 to 25 years with a learning disability who are leaving formal education. The Trust aims to give these young people the practical skills needed to prepare them to be able to lead independent lives and will fund projects designed to:  

• Offer the opportunity for people to gain transferable skills
• Offer employment experience
• Build in accredited training
• Enable social interaction with other people and allow, self-expression and confidence-building.

Applications are open until 31st March.

Read more - Margaret Dobson Trust

The Green Hall Foundation

The Green Hall Foundation’s objective is to sustainably improve lives among the sick, the elderly, the disabled and the disadvantaged, particularly in the UK. Grants of between £1,000 to £10,000 are available to registered charities to fund special projects or the purchase of equipment that will benefit their charitable purposes. The next application cycle is due to open at 9am on 1 March 2021 and close when 100 applications have been received.

Read more - Green Hall Foundation

NFU Mutual Charitable Trust

Charities working in rural areas to support the education of young people or relief of poverty can apply for grants of up to £50,000. The funding is available for mainly larger projects that would have a significant impact upon rural economies. Projects supported in the past have ranged from city farms, Federations of Young Farmers Clubs and farming Community Networks. The funding is being made available through the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust. Deadline is 29th May.

The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust also provides small grants of up to £250 through the NFU Mutual's Community Giving Fund which supports worthwhile community events, charities, schools and community group activities that are local to their operations.

Read more - NFU Mutual

Bursaries and grants available for horticultural projects

Here is a useful list on the Chartered Institute of Horticulture website.

Read more - Chartered Institute of Horticulture

Veterans Association grants.

Grants up to £30,000 (spread over up to three years if you wish) can be given, for organisations which are helping past or present members of the British Armed Forces, operationally qualified seafarers, and their immediate dependants, who are in need. Projects can include those that reduce homelessness, increase employment, provide welfare and medical support, increase confidence and social integration, as well as reducing dependence on alcohol and drugs. There is no deadline, but for consideration in April, applications should be made by the end of March. Find out more details on the Veterans Association website, where you will also find an eligibility test.

Read more - The Veterans Association

Community Business Renewal Fund.

Power to Change grants for community businesses in England to adapt, renew and rebuild their business so they can remain financially viable. Unrestricted grants between £10k and £20k. Round 3 opens 2 March. Deadline 9 March.

Read more - CBRF

LNER Customer and Communities Investment Fund

LNER offers grants (minimum £1,000, maximum £100,000) to projects located within 10-15 miles of the east coast mainline, where there is an identified social need in the areas of mental health, education and employability skills, diversity and inclusion, or environment and sustainable travel. Applications must show how the project will work with the community to mitigate the social need and therefore help to create a more inclusive, prosperous and connected community. The East Coast mainline runs from Kings Cross to Edinburgh. The fund opens on 22nd February, deadline 2nd April.

Read more - LNER CCIF

BBC Children In Need

Not for profit organisations can apply for grants of up to £10,000 per year for up to 3 years for projects that help children and young people overcome the effects of illness, distress, abuse or neglect; disability; behavioural or psychological difficulties; and poverty and deprivation. Projects funded through BBC Children in Need aim to make a difference in children’s lives that help prevent or overcome the effects of the disadvantages they face. Projects achieve these differences by either working directly with children or seeking to improve their social and physical environments. Deadline - 12th April.

Read more - BBC Children in Need

Cameron Grants

Seed funding grants (up to £2500) are available for UK based charities and other not-for-profit groups and organisations to trial new and innovative ways to support people in the UK who are suffering with poor mental health.

Read more - Cameron Grants

Register now for the Social Entrepreneurs Programme

Register interest in The Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneurs Programme (opens soon), jointly funded by The National Lottery Community Fund. They are offering free learning, a grant (between £1,000 and £7,000) and a mentor. The intake is from October 2021 to October 2022.

Read more - School for Social Entrepreneurs

Ann Rylands Small Donations Programme

Funding for UK based charitable organisations that work in the following areas of interest:

• Serious illness - to assist many fundraising initiatives by charities and charitable institutions which help those suffering from serious illness. The needs addressed include nursing, residential facilities, assessment and treatment, and support and advice.
• Disability - to make life easier for the disabled, to improve their quality of life, and to promote integration with the able bodied.
• Disadvantage - to help those less fortunate in society to enjoy new experiences, and to provide support to help them to lead more fulfilling lives and to realise their potential.  
• Overcoming adversity - for work with people experiencing particular difficulties in their lives, who are vulnerable and in need of support.

Funding is intended to support registered charities that will use the grant for a specific project of a humanitarian nature or to supplement their core funding. The scheme aims to support charities that share the organisation's vision of helping sick and disadvantaged people. Eligible organisations must have registered charity status, be based in the UK and use the funds for domestic purposes. Grant amount: Up to £1,500. Applications are accepted at any time.

Read more - Ann Rylands Small Donations

Allen Lane Foundation

The Allen Lane Foundation funds small registered charities, voluntary groups, and charitable organisations that work with seven particular beneficiary 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.

Applications received from now, until the early part of April, will be considered in the round leading up to the June 2021 meeting. Please apply as soon as you are ready.

Read more - Allen Lane Foundation

Grants online - Full list of Coronavirus funding including regional and national.

This list compiles all current coronavirus funding, so it's worth having a look to see if there is anything you could apply for locally or nationally

Read more - Grants Online

Postcode Places Trust

This grant-giving body is looking to make the process more flexible to better serve smaller charities and good causes. With this in mind there will be a funding round opening each month from February until October. Each round will close once a maximum number of bids have been submitted. Once a round has closed organisations that didn't get to apply are encouraged to apply in the following month's round.

Funding Themes:

• Improving mental wellbeing;
• Enabling community participation in the arts;
• Preventing or reducing the impact of poverty;
• Supporting marginalised groups and promoting equality;
• Improving biodiversity & green spaces;
• Enabling participation in physical activity;
• Responding to the climate emergency & promoting sustainability;
• Increasing community access to outdoor space.

Funding up to £2,000 for unregistered charities and community groups; up to £20,000 for registered charities. Opens 1 February 2021.

Read more - Postcode Places Trust

The Matthew Good Foundation

Grants for Good is the foundation's first fund that invites charities, community interest companies and social entrepreneurs to apply to them directly for funding. Every three months, they'll share £10,000 between 5 shortlisted projects that have a positive impact on communities, people or the environment. Funding will be awarded every three months, in April, July, October and January, with an application deadline of the 15th of the month before. e.g.. for the April round, applications will close on the 15th March.

Read more - Grants for Good

Tweed Family Charitable Foundation

Grants of up to £10,000 per annum over 3 years are available to registered charities or not for profit enterprises with an annual turnover of less than £1m. These are for work that offers life enhancing opportunities to young people under the age of 25, particularly those who are disadvantaged and in their teenage years. Such opportunities may be educational or vocational and should provide experiences that would otherwise be inaccessible to the young people concerned. Funding is for specific projects that meet the trustees’ objectives over one, two or three years and the funding of core costs will be considered where the organisation’s objectives meet those of the foundation. Deadline 31 March 2021.

Read more - Tweed Family Charitable Foundation

CLA Charitable Trust

The CLA Charitable Trust is dedicated to helping those who are disabled or disadvantaged to visit and participate in learning experiences about the countryside and the great news is that they have a record of giving grants to care farms. The aims of the Trust, and the criteria for funding applications, are:

1. To promote education about the countryside for young people from towns and cities and those who are disadvantaged.
2. To provide facilities for those who are disabled, who have learning difficulties or who are in some way disadvantaged to enjoy the benefits of the countryside.
3. To support the advancement of education in agriculture, horticulture and conservation for disadvantaged people, particularly the young.

Trustees meet three times a year with 2020 meetings scheduled in March, July and November. All completed applications need to be sent to the Trust Administrator at least one month before the meeting.

Read more - CLA Charitable Trust

Barchester Healthcare Foundation

The foundation's mission is to make a difference to the lives of older people and other adults with a physical or mental disability; supporting practical solutions that lead to increased personal independence, self-sufficiency and dignity.

They fund:-

•     Older people 65+
•     Adults (18+) with a physical disability
•     Adults (18+) with a mental disability
•     Individuals living in England, Scotland or Wales
•     Small community groups and charities based in England, Scotland or Wales.

The foundation favour applications that encourage a person’s mobility, independence and improved quality of life. Their grants range from £100 up to £5,000. Apply via the online form on the website. Applications can be submitted at anytime. Allow 10 weeks for a decision.

Read more - Barchester Healthcare Foundation

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. Applications for small grants are made in the same way as general grants and you must complete the online application form. Such appeals are usually considered on a monthly basis, or as demand decrees. For grants over £10,000 a 3 months lead in is required, so applications received by 1st June will be considered at the September meeting.

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

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

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. Quarterly deadlines in November, February, May and August.

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 for this round is 12th March. Next round is 17th June.

Read more - Food For Life Get Togethers

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 from £500 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. Please note decisions take around 6 months.

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. Next deadline - 16th June 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. Applications for Regular Grants (under £100,000) are reviewed by our Trustees on a regular basis and are dealt with in order of receipt. Apply at any time.

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. Their '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 them achieve this goal they 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.

Apply anytime. They aim to decide all applications made under the Small Grants Programme within 1 month; Capital Grants Programme, they target a decision on 90% of grant applications under £25K within 2 months of receipt and 100% within 3 months.

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 September 2021.

Read more - Peter Cruddas 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.

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;

• Relief of poverty
• The Elderly
• Disability
• Health
• Military
• Heritage and the Arts
• Environment
• Children & Young People

Deadlines for an initial enquiry: 9th March (decisions are in June) or 10th September (decisions are in December).

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.

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England Wide Training Opportunities

Free Nature Connectedness course

This free online course offered by the University of Derby provides an opportunity to learn about Nature Connectedness and the value of having a strong relationship with nature. Made up of eight short units, the course encourages you to actively consider our relationships with nature, for well-being as well as for the longer-term benefit of nature and the natural world. During the course, you will look at why nature connectedness matters and how it can be improved. You’ll learn about the Pathways to Nature Connectedness Framework and will look at how you can use this framework to positively impact our connections with nature, pro-nature and environmental behaviours and our overall well-being.

Read more - Free Nature connectedness course

Directory of Social Change training courses

DSC are running a series of training courses on a huge range of subjects. These are not free but costs are on a sliding scale. Courses include income diversification, communicating to influence, dynamic leadership, proposal writing, etc.

Read more - DSC courses

ACAS training

ACAS, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service offer a range of management, employment law and HR training courses (run remotely using Zoom).

Read more - ACAS training

Free Prevent training

Have your staff and volunteers undergone Prevent training yet? Although primarily aimed at those in formal education it provides useful insight into potential signs and symptoms of radicalisation using two different case studies.

Read more - Prevent

Free Dementia Training through Dementia Adventure

Several of our care farms were involved in the ‘Dementia Adventure in a box’ project that finished last year and have experienced the really useful dementia skills training first-hand. If you are looking to deliver services to people living with dementia in future, Dementia Adventure are currently offering a couple of free training sessions that we think you might find useful. We recommend that you start with the 2-hour online course ‘Thinking Differently About Dementia’. Once you have completed this you can move on to their online training taster session – ‘Time in nature’. There has been a good take up from care farmers so far so we thought we’d spread the word!

Free courses in England

This website provides access to over 50 free courses across the country. Some of the most popular courses include awareness of mental health problems, understanding autism, understanding children and young people's mental health, mental health first aid and behaviour that challenges.

Read more - Free courses

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. They are piloting online delivery of their training between 17th March and 21st April 2021, but unfortunately this is already fully booked. If you are interested in future courses we suggest you keep an eye on the CEVAS website below.

Read more - CEVAS website

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

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North - News & Opportunities

Cumbria Youth Alliance

Cumbria Youth Alliance can help support any care farms or prospective care farms working with young people in Cumbria, with small grants, and support with fundraising, governance and quality assurance. For more information please contact Juan Shimmin via email at [email protected] or telephone 01900 603131.

Read more - Cumbria Youth Alliance

VCSE Mental Health Group meeting  (North East)

The NE VCSE Mental Health Group is a sub-group of the North East and North Cumbria (NENC) VCSE Partnership Forum for charities, social enterprises and community groups that undertake mental health and wellbeing work in the region. Its key function is to support and facilitate two-way communication and engagement between regional VCSE leaders and the Integrated Care System Mental Health Workstream, and its next meeting will be held from 9.30am to 11.30am on March 25th. Make sure you don't miss out on information and updates from this new forum by signing up via VONNE's website and indicating your interest in mental health and wellbeing.

Sign up here - VONNE

Funding for Young people (Cumbria)

Charities, voluntary and community groups, and other not-for-profit organisations can apply for funding for projects that support and inspire young people in Cumbria, particularly those from challenging backgrounds. The Young Persons Opportunity Fund, managed by Cumbria Community Foundation, will fund projects which work with specific groups of young people over a period to expand their horizons and self-confidence. Funding will also support the development of leadership qualities in young people, especially those who have the potential to inspire their peer group and/or their own communities. There is no minimum or maximum award amount, however, grants will normally be less than £20,000. Grants may be a single award, or a series of awards paid over up to three years and dependent on progress.

Read more - Cumbria CF

Community Health Fund (Newcastle)

Newcastle City Council is launching a new Community Health Fund which is now open for expressions of interest until Noon on 12 March. They're encouraging local communities to support people shown to be most at risk from Coronavirus (COVID-19), including those from an ethnic minority background, disabled people and others to follow safer behaviours and reduce the impact of the virus on themselves and those around them. The fund is estimated to be £60,000 and you can apply for up to £1,000 for your project idea.  They are looking project ideas from voluntary and community groups who specialise in working with communities shown to be most at risk from COVID-19.

Read more - Newcastle City Council

Seeking land or financial support for a project in Cumbria?

Cumbria Community Foundation () exists to address disadvantage by making life changing grants and philanthropy. They have told us that one of their donors has a piece of land outside Carlisle that they would like to be used by charitable groups.  If you are interested in putting your organisation forward please contact Ellen Clements via email at [email protected]. Why not also check out the various funds they manage and see if you are eligible to apply?

Read more - Cumbria Community Foundation

Children in Need Funding Masterclass (North Yorkshire)

Interested in submitting an outstanding application for the Children In Need grants programmes? Join Community First Yorkshire on 9th March to improve your understanding of these programmes. Fees vary from free (North Yorkshire based organisations with income under £5k) to £20 plus VAT.

Read more - Community Support Yorkshire

Funding to support disadvantaged and vulnerable children (South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire)

Hallam FM is making grants of up to £3,000 available to individuals, groups or children’s charities that support local young people across South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire who are vulnerable, disadvantaged, living with an illness or disability, or who simply need additional support. The radio station provides funding through the Cash for Kids grant scheme to buy specialist equipment, to support projects or services that provide essential care and support for children up to the age of 18. Examples could include tablets or laptops, clothing and beds music lessons, therapy, respite-breaks, summer camps, and assistance dogs. Applications for larger amounts will be considered. The deadline for applications is the 7th March 2021.

Read more - Hallam FM grants

Local Lancashire

Local Lancashire is a facilitated 10 week conversation between the VCFSE sector in Lancashire. It's hoped to engage as many people as possible in order to be able to make the case for the communities, for the sector and for ideas that make a real difference. Have your say by following the link below.

Read more - Local Lancashire

North Yorkshire Adult learning

Selection of free courses running in Feb/March and April including Level 2 dementia, person centred approaches in health and social care and Level 2 equality and diversity.

Read more - NYCC adult learning

Grantfinder Access (Cumbria)

Cumbria CVS have Grantfinder (a funding database) and can carry out searches for potential funders, such as grant-giving Trusts and Foundations. For more information email [email protected]. They also have a fortnightly funding newsletter and a monthly funding forum.

Read more - Cumbria CVS

Funding Fair - 23rd to 25th March

Voluntary Action Rotherham are running a funding fair. Spread over three days there will be presentations from a variety of funders (Day 1 - Yorkshire only), day's 2 & 3 national funder. places are free, but donations are welcomed.

Read more - Funding Fair

Community Matters Yorkshire Funding Fair 2021

Each funder has been allocated a 30 minute session using Zoom to explain what funding they have and also how the application process works. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.  You will need to book separately for each session you wish to attend.

• Tuesday 23 March is a day for Yorkshire and Humber funders; Seedlings Foundation / PGMT, The Wharfedale Foundation, Sir George Martin Trust,  Leeds Community Foundation, South Yorkshire Community Foundation, Two Ridings Community Foundation, West Yorkshire PCC  Safer Communities Fund, South Yorkshire PCC, Groundwork, The Hillards Trust.
• Wednesday 24 March is a day of national funders; Tudor Trust,  Children in Need, Allen Lane Foundation,  Lloyds Bank Foundation, Henry Smith Charity, Good Things Foundation.
• Thursday 25 March is another day of national funders; Key Fund, The Foyle Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, Grantscape, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Sport England, The Architectural Heritage Fund.

Read more - Community Matter Yorkshire Funding Fair

Crowdfund North Tyne Project Creator Workshop

Your chance to pitch for up to £5k towards your project. Join North of Tyne Combined Authority for a free online workshop on February 11th to find out how you can pitch for up to £5k towards your project. 2020 showed us the power of communities coming together to achieve amazing things in the face of adversity. Do you have an idea for a community project in your local place? A way to make your neighbourhood more sustainable, inclusive, or accessible, from community gardens and cycle hubs to workshops and murals.

Read more - Project Creator Workshop

Prescription for Wellbeing Funding programme (Lancashire)

BPRCVS have been appointed by the East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group to deliver the Prescription For Wellbeing (Social Prescribing) programme of funding for 2020/2021. Funds are still available to community groups, faith groups and voluntary organisations operating in Burnley, and Rossendale. Don't delay, apply today! When it's gone, it's gone! The funding programme is aimed at local organisations (with an annual turnover of less than £150,000) operating within the VCF sector. The fund is open to groups and organisations that provide activities and services to meet local needs and are making a positive difference to the lives and wellbeing of people of all ages.

Read more - Prescription for Wellbeing

Bolton's Fund; Health and Wellbeing

Grants up to £1,500, up to £5,000 and £25,000 are available for groups and organisations to achieve one or more of the outcomes to the Health and Wellbeing fund. Find out more on this fund and its priorities and on how to apply.

Read more - Bolton H&WB Fund

Bolton's Fund; Children Getting The Best Start In Life

Grants up to £25,000 are available for your group/organisation to meet any of the following priorities; Improving the mental wellbeing of children and young people (including early years), increasing engagement in activities that promote good nutrition and healthy lifestyle activities, improving access to out of school activities for children and young people of all ages and/or Improving the ability of young people to take control of their lives and reduce their risk of exploitation. Read more on this fund and how to apply. If you would like help with an application to one or both of the new rounds to the Bolton’s Fund, you can book a one to one session with their Grants Team by emailing [email protected]

NYC Stronger Communities Grants

Small grants of up to £1000 to help groups adapt existing activities or start new things that help people regain confidence and independence in a safe and Covid compliant way.

Read more - NYC Stronger Communities

CRH Charitable Trust (North West)

CRH support charitable activities that seek to support children, young people and adults with mental illness and mental disability. Applicants should be able to demonstrate how the work will be financed after the Trust's grant has ended. Priority is given to local organisations. National organisations will need to demonstrate that any spend can be restricted to the local area. Charities or not-for-profit organisations working in north west England can apply. There is no specific maximum or minimum grant. Funding is at the discretion of the trustees. Most grants range from £5,000 to £15,000 per annum with a maximum of three years funding. Larger grants may be subject to reducing amounts in the second and third years. Most forms of revenue expenditure are eligible. Capital costs will not receive priority but can be considered but not relatively small contributions to a large appeal. Preference for specific pieces of work rather than ‘general operating costs’. Priority will be given to requests for new work. Deadline: Rolling programme. The trustees meet normally four times a year and grant applications are considered at the next available meeting. For more information email [email protected].

Bridging the Access Gap (Yorkshire)

A new initiative to encourage more members of the public to take up sign language as an extra language and skill, is now available to residents of Yorkshire. The Signs4Life scheme is to help people to communicate and engage with children and adults who may have hearing impairments. They are offering a FREE 6-week British Sign Language program, which you can enjoy and access from the comfort of your homes, delivered through Zoom”. Signs4Life is leading efforts towards a society in which people with disabilities have full access and are working to raise the public and political awareness of disability provision. For more details on the free community program, due to start after February half-term, please email Hana, on [email protected].

Free safeguarding training (North East)

Safer Culture North East are hosting;

• Introduction to Safeguarding, Wednesday 24th March 2021, 1pm to 2:30pm, Online via Zoom. This session is for you if you are new to the world of safeguarding. It will give you an overview of the key issues about both adults and childrens safeguarding that any community organisation, charity or social enterprise needs to know.
• Designated Person for Safeguarding, Wednesday 9th June 2021, 9.30am – 12.30pm (Deadline for booking: 9am on Wednesday 2nd June), Online via Zoom. Every organisation that works with children and young people needs to designate someone to take the lead on safeguarding and child protection, and that person needs to have a thorough understanding of safeguarding issues. The role of Designated Person is a challenging one, but is vital in protecting your organisation, its staff and the people you work with.

To book your place email [email protected].  Please state the name of the session and date when booking.

Fully funded distance learning opportunities

Diamond Group, working in partnership with Tyneside Training Services, is offering fully funded distance learning that is suitable for volunteers, employees and the unemployed. Courses include: Awareness of Mental Health Problems;The Prevention & Control of Infection; Principles of Team Leading; Lean Organisation Management Techniques; Principles of Customer Service; Equality & Diversity; Safeguarding, Prevent & British Values; Understanding Nutrition & Health; and Principles of Warehousing.

For more information or to sign up contact: 0191 286 2919 or 0333 358 2002 or [email protected].

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

Free training (Rotherham)

The latest Learning & Development Calendar with courses taking place between January and March 2021 is now available to download.  Courses include Emergency First Aid, Moving and Handling and Safeguarding Adults; Raising a Concern.

Read more - Rotherham free training

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 in late May, so the likely deadline for applications to be considered during this meeting is the beginning of May, but do check deadlines with the foundation if you are thinking of applying.

Read more - George A Moore Foundation

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

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

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

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Central and East - News & Opportunities

East Midlands Airport Community Fund opens

Communities around East Midlands airport can apply for grants of up to £2,000 for projects that have a long-lasting community, social or environmental benefit. The funding is being made available through the East Midlands Airport Community Fund. In order for an application to be successful, it must meet at least one of the following objectives: provide help to community groups which are supporting vulnerable people during the Covid-19 outbreak; bring the community closer together through facilities for sport, recreation and other leisure-time activities; support young people to prepare for employment; offer environmental improvement and/or heritage conservation; improve awareness of environmental issues; and encourage and/or protect wildlife. Deadline is 22nd March.

Read more - EM Airport Community Fund

Funding to support disadvantaged and vulnerable children (South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire)

Hallam FM is making grants of up to £3,000 available to individuals, groups or children’s charities that support local young people across South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire who are vulnerable, disadvantaged, living with an illness or disability, or who simply need additional support. The radio station provides funding through the Cash for Kids grant scheme to buy specialist equipment, to support projects or services that provide essential care and support for children up to the age of 18. Examples could include tablets or laptops, clothing and beds music lessons, therapy, respite-breaks, summer camps, and assistance dogs. Applications for larger amounts will be considered. The deadline for applications is the 7th March 2021.

Read more - Hallam FM grants

Online Funding Fair (Bedfordshire)

CVS Bedfordshire is working in partnership to bring you an online Funding Fair where you can hear the latest news from local and national funders and get details on how to apply;

• Bedfordshire local funders day: Tuesday 23 March
• National funders: Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 March.

A full list of the funders and booking links for the sessions can be found here. Each different funder will have a session, using Zoom, to explain what funding they have and also how their application process works. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions. You will need to book separately for each session you wish to attend. You can attend as many or as few as you would like to.

Free Training (Warwickshire)

Warwickshire CAVA offer a range of free training courses for organisations within their area.

Read more - Warwickshire CAVA

Free Income Diversification webinar (W. Mids)

In Sandwell Council for Voluntary Organisation’s virtual ‘Diversifying Your Income Webinar’ they will explore some of the different approaches to attracting funding into an organisation to help move forward. The free webinar will take place via a Zoom Conference Call on Thursday 11th March 2021, 10am – 12pm. This virtual webinar is aimed at those community, voluntary and social enterprise organisations, seeking to strengthen and increase their sustainability by exploring different approaches to fundraising and attracting investment.

Read more - SCVO webinar

Mental Health First Aid training opportunity for male residents and workers (Rugby)

Do you live or work in Rugby? Are you interested in becoming a Mental Health First Aider? Springfield Mind are now accepting applications for 3 course options taking place in either March, April or May from people who live or work in the Rugby Borough.The courses are fully funded by the Rugby Health Board to build mental resilience in the community. Email [email protected] or call 01789 298615 for more information.

Free access to online care farming sessions (Dudley, Black Country and W. Mids)

Camphill Village Trust ran daily interactive Zoom sessions for its community members throughout 2020. With the closure of day services and not being able to access other activities, the Zoom sessions proved to be extremely successful over the last lockdown. Due to its popularity, the charity is opening Opportunity TV to everyone, whether or not you are part  of  the Trust community. Camphill Village Trust has decided to share it with social care colleagues across Dudley, The Black Country and West Midlands. The virtual interactive sessions run Monday to Thursday, 10 am and 3 pm. Fridays 10 am and 2 pm. To find out how you can join Opportunity TV, click here. Watch recordings from previous sessions on the website here. Please direct your questions or feedback to Phil Gibson, Project Manager, on 07824 463798.

Enjoy free funding support (Suffolk)

Community Action Suffolk can offer VSCE organisations in Suffolk free support in developing their funding strategies and applications. Online Funding Surgeries are available Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays and take place on Zoom for up to one hour.

Read more - CAS Funding support

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

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

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

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South - News & Opportunities

Support for London based organisations

Are you based in London? We just wanted to make sure you were aware of the support available through Social Farms & Garden's London Project Officer, Amber Alferoff. For more information of what's happening in your area check out out London web page.

Read more - SF&G London page

Gatwick Airport Community Trust (South East)

The Gatwick Airport Community Trust has re-opened for applications. The Trust funds schemes and projects that are targeted towards the development of young people, the arts, sporting facilities, environmental improvement and conservation, improvements to community facilities, volunteering, the elderly and the disabled. Grants of £1,000 to £5,000 are normally available to a wide range of organisations including Charities, schools, sports clubs. Projects supported will be operating within the area directly affected by operations at Gatwick Airport i.e.. parts of East and West Sussex, Surrey and Kent. Deadline is 21st May.

Read more - GA Community Trust

Healthy Communities Together (Plymouth)

POP & Plymouth's Local Care Partnership is one of six partnerships selected for Healthy Communities Together. Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund and development support from The King's Fund they will be able to explore the best ways of increasing social connections and combating isolation to improve health and wellbeing. they aim to give a voice and encourage leadership in Plymouth's most disadvantaged communities, to gain deeper understanding of their issues and build a platform for better collaboration and innovation. They are inviting people to express an interest in supporting the project. If you would like to be involved, please email [email protected].

Read more - Healthy Communities Together

Fidelity UK Foundation Community Development Fund (Surrey)

The Fidelity UK Foundation Surrey Community Development Fund is looking to support organisations benefiting those most disadvantaged in society (especially children and young people) and is open to considering organisations active in the field of health and environmental conservation. Grants are between £5k and £15k. The focus is on looking to strengthen organisations’ impact, effectiveness and/or sustainability.  This could include investment in leadership, strategic planning, technology (not hardware), fundraising, financial management or impact measurement. . Apply at any time.

Read more - CF Surrey

Society of Merchant Venturers Charity (South West)

Registered charities and organisations with a charitable purpose within the greater Bristol area can apply for grants of between £500 and £5,000 through the Society of Merchant Venturers Charity. The Charity will consider applications from organisations addressing the following needs within the greater Bristol area (defined as the former County of Avon):

• Social Needs – care of the elderly, homelessness, poverty or the prevention of crime
• Youth – to support training (outside educational establishments), assist character development and increase employment prospects and to assist the disadvantaged
• Education – directly involved with primary, secondary and tertiary education. Priority will be given to the SMV family of schools; and in support of other greater Bristol educational activities and initiatives.
• Social Enterprise – to promote and support social enterprise
• Health Care
• Culture and the Arts
• Environment
• Bristol – projects, preferably those associated with the Society’s spheres of interest and achievement which will benefit Bristol and its economic development.

The charity meets four times a year, typically in January, April, July and October, to consider applications for funding and the next closing date for applications is 5pm on the 16th March 2021.

Read more - Society of Merchant Venturers

Bristol Impact Fund

The Bristol Impact Fund will open for applications for medium and large grants this month. The fund’s purpose is ‘to build city resilience by growing the power of communities experiencing the greatest inequality.’ Details about funding priorities and intended impacts for the next round of applications are outlined on the Voscur website.

Booking is now open for Voscur's programme of free support, which includes training courses, briefings, peer learning workshops and one-to-one support surgeries. These sessions will cover governance, bid writing, safeguarding, monitoring and evaluation, collaboration, diversity and inclusion and developing community-led projects.

Bristol City Council is offering online sessions to find out more about the fund and the application process on Friday 5 March (11am-12pm), Monday 8 March (2-3pm) and Tuesday 16 March (11am-12pm). They’re also running three workshops about asset-based community development on Wednesday 10 March (11am-1pm), Wednesday 17 March (3-5pm) and Monday 29 March (11am-1pm).

Voscur is also gathering details from organisations interested in updates about the fund and potential collaborative bids.There is additional background information about the fund on the Voscur website. Further support resources will be added in due course. Do get in touch with them if you’d like to discuss support for your application.

Support for groups working in the Bexley Borough

Does your community or voluntary group need help to:

• Re-invent or adapt how they work in lockdown,
• Prove the difference they are making,
• Get funding,
• Or something else?

Impact in Action is here to help groups that work in the Bexley borough (that’s Belvedere, Erith, Sidcup or all the parts in between!) with FREE help. Whether that is 1-2-1 support, training or resources on our website, they can help in a way that suits your group. Now is the perfect time to be in touch as they launch another batch of bitesize training sessions. Thanks to funding from the City of London Corporation’s charity, City Bridge Trust they have funding to help groups, but it won’t last forever, so contact them today. Contact Karen Jefferys on 01322 315391 or email [email protected].

The City Bridge Trust (London)

Grants are available to support young people with mental health needs; young disabled people; those in care and moving into adulthood. Applications are open to a wide range of registered organisations e.g. charities; CIC; CIO. Grants have no min or max but a grant in any one year must be no more than 50% of total income. Online application process; allow at least 4 months for a decision. Apply at any time.

Read more - The City Bridge Trust

Funding for third sector organisations adversely affected by Covid-19 (Buckinghamshire)

The deadline for The Rothschild Foundation’s Covid-19 Support Fund has been extended and is open for applications until end of April 2021. The Fund has already awarded approximately £0.6m in grants to 21 local organisations which provide a range of services to communities across Buckinghamshire.

Read more - The Rothschild Foundation

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

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

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Other News & Resources

Good Practice Toolkit for volunteers working with older people and those with dementia

Introducing the Good Practice Toolkit offering support and advice around volunteering for and with older people and people with dementia. This toolkit was created by Volunteering Matters project, Network Point Newcastle, commissioned by Newcastle City Council. The toolkit shares good practice and provides practical examples.  By following the steps in this toolkit, trusting your knowledge and skills, practices and processes, we hope that you can think differently and creatively about how you engage more older people and people with dementia in volunteering.

International Social Prescribing Day - 18th March

Social Prescribing Day is an event aiming to foster an attitudinal change, to shift the power to the people and local communities, to forge cross-sectoral collaboration, to promote co-design and co-creation, and to ensure social prescribing continues to grow as a grassroots movement. Check out the Social Prescribing network website below for more information and how you can get involved.

Read more - Social Prescribing Network

Need support with developing your social enterprise?

Inspire2Enterprise works with individuals and organisations across the UK to start, run, finance and grow social enterprises. They offer a variety of remote and 1-2-1 support options that can be tailored to your needs. Since 2011 they have supported over 2500 clients to achieve their goals, from discussing basic ideas right through to helping them source funding to become successful sustainable businesses.

Read more - Inspire2Enterprise

Free event on Setting up Not For Profits

The Small Charities Coalition are running an event on 18th March designed to help ensure you set up your social enterprise correctly. The session will also be repeated monthly until July, so plenty of chance to catch the session.

Read more - Setting-Up-Your Not-For-Profit Right!

TV Channel for People With Dementia

The charity My Life Films has asked us to make you aware of a new dementia-friendly TV service they have launched, and the offer of free access to the service for a 3 month period. The video-on-demand dementia friendly TV channel streams content specifically curated for the cognitive needs of the viewer. There’s a variety of content including animal and nature programmes, gardens, feel-good programmes, lots of quizzes, archive news, popular TV shows from 1960s & 1970s and more. This can be used by people with dementia anywhere in the UK either in care homes or private residences.This is a not for profit service and launched by charity My Life Films who specialise in using filmmaking to improve the lives of people affected by dementia and they are offering this service free for three months and then a £4 per month.subscription.

Read more - My Life TV

Guidance for those supporting adults with ASD/learning difficulties

The Social Care institute for Excellence (SCIE) has published guidance for families and professionals supporting autistic adults and adults with learning disabilities during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.

Read more - SCIE guidance

The Social Procurement Festival

The Social Procurement Festival on 11th March is an event where buyers from both the public & private sector will learn and share best practice for social enterprise procurement and social value activities. Networking at the event will enable social enterprise suppliers and buyers to engage with each other and to create impact. The SSE (School for Social Entrepreneurs) has negotiated their newsletter readers a whopping 30% off the price of a ticket using the code SSE21 at checkout.

Read more - Social Procurement Festival

NHS England Safeguarding app

The NHS Safeguarding app has been developed to act as a comprehensive resource for healthcare professionals, carers and citizens. It provides 24-hour, mobile access on up to date legislation and guidance across the safeguarding life course. The app also provides information on how to report a safeguarding concern and even has a directory of safeguarding contacts for every local authority in England, searchable by region. It is accessed by over 300 users daily and has had over 100,000 downloads. It can be accessed via Apple iOS, Google Play or it can be downloaded by visiting your device’s appropriate app store and searching for ‘NHS Safeguarding’. If you have any questions or amendments that need to be noted on the NHS Safeguarding App please the Safeguarding Team: [email protected].

Advice and Guidance on Governance

If you are seeking guidance on governance and best practice in setting up your organisation, the NCVO has a wide range of useful resources available.

Read more - NCVO

How to get the money you need for your charity

Read NCVO's step-by-step guidance on how to apply for funding and explore their practical tips to get you started.

Read more - NCVO guide to funding

Vaccines for people with learning disabilities and/or autism

A short film and media clips have been produced by NHS England/Improvement to help people with learning disabilities and/or autism understand more about vaccines, how they are made, and why you should get them. Watch the film here.

Webinar Checklist

Charity Digital has produced a really useful checklist of things to consider when planning and running a webinar. The checklist covers the planning process, promotion, the event itself as well as how to follow-up with attendees after the event.

Read more - Webinar checklist

Financial management in 2021; Tips for social enterprises.

The School of Social Entrepreneurs has published an article that provides social enterprises with expert guidance on how to manage finances during a crisis. The article covers cashflow, planning, and details what help and support is currently available in the form of loans and grants.

Read more - Tips for financial management

Free Legal Support for your project (Semble members only)

Would some free legal support help your project out of a pickle or give more power to your policy work? The law firm Reed Smith is offering pro bono support to non-profits in the environment sector and Semble have bagged some of their precious time for their network (it's free to join). They can help you out with all sorts of issues including contracts, privacy policies, property disputes, taxes, data protection, policy research and much much more.

Read more - Free legal support

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;

• Understanding the steps to doing safeguarding well
• Templates and tools to help create safeguarding policies
• Safeguarding for Trustees
• What to do if you are worried.

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 is one more date available: 17 March.

Read more - VCSE Winning Central Government contracts

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

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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]