Funding Bulletin

Welcome to the CVS Inverclyde Funding Bulletin for November 2024.

We hope this page provides you up to date information and inspiration to submit applications to support your valuable work across Inverclyde. Please make sure that you follow us on Facebook to keep up to date on deadline information and funds with short lead in time.

If you are working on an application and need some support, please contact us at funding@cvsinverclyde.org.uk to find out about our editing and enhancement service, or sign up for one of our funding events on our website.

Funding Surgery

Looking for funding for a project, or running costs and need some help? 

Then come along to our next in-person funding surgery on Monday 18 November at our office in West College Scotland, Finnart Street, Greenock. 

Anne from the Funding Team will be on hand to answer your queries. 

For those who can’t make it to the above, we will also have a virtual funding surgery on the Tuesday 22 October in the afternoon. These sessions will be held over Zoom. 

Spaces for both surgeries are limited, please email sabrina.sigler@cvsinverclyde.org.uk to book a slot.  


Meet the Funder – The National Lottery Community Fund 

 If your organisation or group is thinking of applying to one of the National Lottery Community Funds (TNLCF) Programmes and need some advice and support, this event could be for you.   

Joao Goncalves is our TNLCF Grants Officer for Inverclyde and will be on hand to discuss your project idea, eligibility, and application process on a 1:1 basis meaning that the advice given is specifically for your organisation or group.  

Limited sessions are available on Monday 18 November 2024. Learn more about the event and book your space on the link below. 

Read more: https://www.cvsinverclyde.org.uk/events/meet-the-funder-the-national-lottery-community-fund-2/ 

The Robertson Trust – Reopening of Small and Large Grants  

The Robertson Trust has reopened their new-look Small Grants offer with increased funding of between £5,000-£20,000 per year, typically for 3 years. This marks an increase from our previous maximum of £15,000 per year. 

Meanwhile, the Large Grants now offer funding of between £20,000-£50,000 per year. This marks a change from the previous minimum of £15,000.   

Financial Security: improving income adequacy, income security, manageable costs, financial safety nets and advice for those most at risk of poverty and trauma. 

  • Work Pathways: improving access to good and fair work that can prevent and reduce poverty through increased pay, hours and career progression.  This also includes employability support, focused on areas or groups with lower employment rates. 
  • Education Pathways: preventing and reducing poverty and trauma through access and engagement in early years, education, training and learning. 
  • Financial Security: improving income adequacy, income security, manageable costs, financial safety nets and advice for those most at risk of poverty and trauma. 

Read more: https://www.therobertsontrust.org.uk/news-and-blogs/small-and-large-grants-now-open/


The Robertson Trust – Transport Grants and Wee Grants: Now Open 

The Roberston Trust has opened their Transport Grants and Wee Grants Programmes.  

Transport Grants offer increased funding for charities of between £5K-20K per year for 1-3 years. By supporting the costs of a vehicle, or transport costs more broadly, the fund aims to help charities deliver their services and remove barriers for people and places affected by poverty and trauma. 

Wee Grants offer funding of up to £5,000 for constituted community groups and charities in Scotland with an annual income of less than £30,000. This marks an increase from the previous maximum of £2,000. These grants aim to support organisations who are focused on building strong communities in places which have higher rates of poverty and trauma, or who are working with certain groups of people who are at a higher risk of experiencing poverty and trauma. 

Read more: https://www.therobertsontrust.org.uk/news-and-blogs/wee-grants-and-transport-grants-now-open/ 


ASDA Foundation Grants – 8 November 2024 

The Asda Foundation supports the small, grassroots groups at the heart of our communities. Three of the foundation’s grants are currently open for applications, including:  

Empowering Local Communities Grant: funding up to £2,000 to enable local community groups to support a broad range of activities helping to transform communities and improve lives. 

Under 18 Better Starts Grant: funding up to £2,000 to enable local community groups to support a broad range of activities that benefit the lives of young people. 

Cost of living Grant: funding of up to £2,000 to enable local community groups to meet the changing needs of their service users. 


Charles Hayward Foundation – Social and Criminal Justice – 8 November 2024 

The overall aims of the funding in the social and criminal justice area are to prevent people entering the criminal justice system and to support those already in the system to move on and rebuild their lives.   

Projects funded include early intervention programmes with young children and their families, tailored preventative work with young people at risk, and holistic support services aimed at reducing re-offending and aiding re-settlement. The Foundation also looks to alleviate the consequences of domestic abuse. 

UK registered charities with an annual income of between £350,000 and £4,000,000 may submit an application. Projects over one to three years are eligible for grants of £15,000 – £25,000 per year. 


Shared Care Scotland – Short Breaks Fund – Better Breaks – 11 November 2024 

Better Breaks is a funding programme of the Short Breaks Fund, operated by Shared Care Scotland on behalf of the National Carers Organisations and the Scottish Government. The purpose of the Short Breaks Fund is to increase the range, availability, and choice of short breaks for unpaid carers and those they care for across Scotland 

£1.2m is available for third sector (voluntary organisations) with short break projects operating in Scotland. The organisation does not have to be a registered charity to apply. However, it must have a constitution that states the organisation’s purposes are solely charitable and that it delivers public benefit in achieving its purpose(s).   

Organisations led by people adversely impacted by racism are particularly welcomed to apply. Community events must take place between 10th September, October and up to 15th November 2024. 


Quaker Housing Trust – Main Grants and Loans Programme – 13 November 2024 

The Quaker Housing Trust was formed in 1967 to provide a practical response to Quakers’ concern about providing adequate and appropriate homes to those in need. 

Funding is available in the form of loans and grants to small, registered charities who provide homes that meet the eligibility criteria. 

Currently two separate funding programmes are offered:  

Best practice grants for early in the development of a project to ensure the project reaches the highest possible standards. Grants of up to £6,000 are available. 

‍The Main Grants and Loans Programme to fund projects which are well progressed in terms of planning. Maximum grants made are £20,000. 


Women’s Fund for Scotland 18 November 2024 

The Women’s Fund for Scotland (WFS) aims to promote systemic change in Scotland to empower women, and to help overcome the multiple disadvantages and discriminatory practices that females experience throughout their lives.  

The fund has £100,000 in total available to distribute in grants of up to £5,000 to projects across Scotland that support women’s development, self-sufficiency and social and economic equality.  

The WFS makes grants across six key investment themes: 

  • Building skills and confidence 
  • Improving health and well-being 
  • Growing social connections 
  • Moving on from abuse 
  • Developing leadership and innovation 
  • Combatting poverty and building financial resilience 

Creative Scotland – Strengthening Youth Music – 19 November 2024 

The purpose of the Strengthening Youth Music fund is to improve the youth music sector infrastructure and the services that organisers offer to strengthen the youth music sector in Scotland for the benefit of children and young people. 

The fund is for organisations and individuals based in Scotland or those who are working to develop the youth music sector in Scotland for the benefit of children and young people of Scotland.  

Applicants can apply to the Strengthening Youth Music Fund for between £1,000–£20,000, for up to 12 months of activity 


FCC Scottish Action Fund – 20 November 2024 

The FCC Scottish Action Fund provides grants of between £2,000 and £40,000 to not-for-profit organisations for the following types of projects eligible under Scottish Landfill Communities Fund (SLCF). 

Land Reclamation (Object A): The reclamation, remediation, restoration or other operation on land to facilitate economic, social or environmental use. 

Community Recycling (Object B): Community based recycling, re-use and waste prevention projects. 

Public Amenities and Parks (Object C): To provide, maintain or improve a public park or other public amenity. 

Biodiversity (Object D): The conservation or promotion of biological diversity through the provision, conservation, restoration or enhancement of a natural habitat or the maintenance or recovery of a species in its natural habitat. 

Historic Buildings (Object E): The maintenance, repair or restoration of a building, other structure or a site of archaeological interest which is a place of religious worship, or a site of historic or architectural or archaeological interest and is open to the public. 


Safe Deposits Scotland Charitable Trust – 21 November 2024 

The SafeDeposits Scotland Charitable Trust is a grant giving charity designed to promote education, training and best practice in Scotland’s private rented sector. 

Grants are available to charities with projects that will: 

  1.  Advance education, particularly in relation to (a) best practice in the management of private rented housing and (b) legal rights and obligations which are of particular relevance to those who are involved in the provision or management of private rented housing or who hold tenancies within the private rented sector.  
  1. Advance conflict resolution through promoting the use of alternative dispute resolution processes for the more efficient resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants within the private rented housing sector. 

Essentia Foundation – 25 November 2024 

The Essentia Foundations provides financial support to charities and community groups to help achieve the following objectives: 

  • Improved health and social welfare of children and young people up to the age of 25 years old. 
  • Increased opportunities for training, enhancing learning, upskilling, and developing career opportunities, and supporting young people up to the age of 25 years old to move towards employment. 

This is a 12-month, small grants funding round with grants of up to £3,000.00 are available. This fund is only open to organisations with an annual income of under £250,000. 


Corra Foundation – The Way Forward for Families Partnership – 28 November 2024 

The Way Forward for Families Partnership is focused on improving the lives and outcomes for children, young people and families in Scotland who are affected by drugs and alcohol. 

Applications are invited from partnerships – with a third sector organisation as the lead applicant and one or more partners, one of which must be a public sector body. 

To apply for this fund your organisations should:  

  • Be a constituted third sector organisation 
  • Currently be delivering services for children, young people and families affected by drugs and alcohol 
  • Have endorsement from a relevant public sector partner 
  • Be able to demonstrate at least 50% matched funding in each funding year 
  • Have formal partnership arrangements with public sector partner for delivery of the project 

Partnerships can apply for funding of up to £250,000 over three years and must be match funded by a public sector partner. 


Allander Youth Activities Charitable Trust – 30 November 2024 

The Allander Youth Activities Charitable Trust provides grants in support of activities which advance the education and training of young people by providing financial support at a local level, to charitable voluntary organisations such as Scout Groups or equivalent organisations.  

Grants awarded generally depend on the number of people under the age of 18 taking part and the nature and length of the activity. Activities that include the participation of all or most of the members of your group are preferred. Typically, a grant could range from £10 to £200 per head.  


7Stars Foundation – Social Impact – 1 December 2024 

Grants from the 7Stars Foundation are targeted to further the potential and opportunity of children and young people who are surviving abuse, at risk of or experiencing homelessness, caring for a loved one, and challenged by addiction (either personally or through a member of their family). 

The Social Impact Fund offers grants of up to £1,500 to charities across the year, aligned to awareness days and weeks. These include, Race Equality Week, Children’s Mental Health Week, Young Carers Action Day, PRIDE month, Human Rights Day and more.  

A maximum of three charities will be shortlisted for each award, with the7stars agency team voting on which charity will be awarded. 


The Baily Thomas Charitable Fund – 1 December 2024 

The Baily Thomas Charitable Fund helps those affected by learning disability and those conducting research into it.  

The Fund operates two general grant funding streams, a General Grant Programme for appeals of £9,000 and above, and a Small Grant Programme for appeals below £9,000.  

Applications for General Grants will only be considered from voluntary organisations which are registered charities or are associated with a registered charity. 


AHF – Project Viability Grant  

Project Viability Grants (PVG) are to fund studies to look at potential uses for a building and at its current condition, and usually produce a Viability Report to a standard template.  

Successful completion of this will be used to judge whether applicants can then apply for the AHF’s Project Development Grant funding and can be used to secure further funding elsewhere. This grant is administered on a monthly rolling basis with a maximum offer of £10,000 and average offer of £6,000. 

This grant programme is supported by funding from Historic Environment Scotland. 


BBC Children in Need – Core Costs 

BBC Children in Need believes they every child should have the chance to thrive and be the best they can be. 

The Core Costs Funding Stream is for charities and not-for-profit organisations to support essential organisational and administrative spending.  

Applicants to this programme can apply for grants for up to three years, with quicker decisions for grants of £15,000 or less per year. 


BBC Children in Need – Project Costs 

BBC Children in Need believes they every child should have the chance to thrive and be the best they can be. 

The Project Costs Funding Stream is for charities and not-for-profit organisations to support the aims and delivery of a specific piece of work. This work will usually be time-limited and based on a defined set of activities. 

Applicants to this programme can apply for grants for up to three years, with quicker decisions for grants of £15,000 or less per year. 


The Casey Trust  

The Casey Trust funds registered British charities who works exclusively with children (with a cut-off age of 18) and wherever possible where the direct benefit to children should be easily observed. 

Currently the Trust is particularly looking to support children’s projects connected with the arts, mental health and child refugees in the UK.  


National Lottery Heritage Grant 

The National Lottery Heritage Grant funds projects that connect people and community to the national, regional and local heritage of the UK. 

Four investment principles guide all grant decision making under their 10-year strategy, Heritage 2033: 

  • Saving heritage 
  • Protecting the environment 
  • Inclusion, access and participation 
  • Organisational sustainability 

Not-for-profit organisations, partnerships and private owners of heritage assets can apply for grants of between £10,000 and £250,000. 


Creative Scotland – Open Funding  

Open Funding is one of Creative Scotland’s key funding routes, supporting the wide range of activity initiated by organisations, artists, writers, producers and other creative practitioners in Scotland. 

Separate strands are available for organisations and individuals, so they are not in competition with each other for funds.  

The Open Fund for Individuals is intended to support periods of research, development and/or delivery of creative activity, such as specific projects and productions for up to 24 months. You can apply for between £500 and £50,000. 

The Open Fund for Organisations supports constituted organisations to deliver a wide range of creative activity. This includes funding for: 

  • A specific one-off project or production or 
  • A period of creative research and development or 
  • A longer-term programme of work. 

Eligible organisations can apply for funding between £1,000 and £100,000 for projects or programmes lasting up to 18 months. 


Scotland’s Heat Network Fund 

Scotland’s Heat Network Fund aims to stimulate and accelerate the delivery of heat networks that supply affordable, reliable and clean heat across Scotland through capital co-funding.  

It also aims to support:  

  • The delivery of emissions reductions and fuel poverty targets   
  • A secure supply chain across Scotland and help people to transition to new sustainable jobs as part of a just transition   
  • The delivery of heating systems that utilise Scotland’s renewable energy sources   
  • The delivery of heat networks that enable flexible and stable operation of our energy networks. 

Applicants can include, community groups, registered charities, social enterprises and more. 


FareShare – Getting Food 

FareShare saves food from going to waste by redistributing surplus food from some of the UK’s top food companies to nearly 8,500 charities and community groups. If your organisation uses food to support people, then you can sign up to receive food too. 

Two options are on offer for getting food – a paid for service with a FareShare Community Food Membership or the opportunity to collect free surplus food from local supermarkets and restaurants through FareShare Go. 


Culture and Business Scotland Fund 

Culture and Business Scotland funds investments to non-profit organisations delivering cultural activity in Scotland which have attracted a business to sponsor a project or aspect of their work, either in the form of cash or in-kind sponsorship. 

Registered charities, SCIO’s, community interest companies, and companies limited by guarantee are all eligible to apply.  

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