Leisure Related Funding Opportunities
The following information relates to current funding opportunities that are linked to community development through sport and physical activity, and leisure & recreation in general. They are listed in order of closing date (earliest first).
It is not intended to be an exhaustive directory of funding providers, but a guide on current opportunities that the District Council is aware of and feels may be of benefit to the North Shropshire community. For a list of the main leisure related funding providers and contacts for general funding advice and support, please click here.
This information is checked and updated by Leisure on a monthly basis, however please be aware that closing dates for some of the funding streams detailed may fall between these times. Please check carefully with the provider before proceeding with a funding application.
Current Funding Schemes
Parks for People
Parks for People is the first joint programme from the Big Lottery Fund and Heritage Lottery Fund. The aim is to bring real improvements to local environments and quality of life, making a lasting impact on the lives of local people and the places where they live.
Grants will range from £250,000 to £5 million. Stage one decisions are made in competitive batches twice a year - the closing dates are 31st March and 30th September. These green spaces will usually be owned and managed by the local authority, but to be considered for funding applications must actively involve and meet the needs of local community.
Contact the Heritage Lottery Fund for further information.
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog%20parks%20people
Awards for All
The Shropshire Community Sports Network is seeking to work with local authorities throughout Shropshire to support local community groups or Parish Councils through Awards For All bids.
Through this scheme, grants of £300 - £10,000 are available for arts, sport, heritage and community based activities and projects that promote education, the environment and health in the local community.
For further details on funding criteria and the application process please visit the website at www.awardsforall.org.uk.
Community Amateur Sports Club Scheme (CASC)
Introduced by the Government in 2002, the CASC scheme provides support to eligible sports clubs by giving them a range of tax reliefs similar to those enjoyed by charities, but without the regulatory responsibilities that are imposed upon charities. Benefits include the ability to claim Gift Aid on any donations made to the club, rate relief at 80% and conditional exemption from Corporation Tax and Capital Gains Tax.
As at March 2007, 4267 sports clubs were registered with the scheme and it is estimated that £18.5 million has been saved since the scheme's introduction. This money has gone back into grassroots sports and been spent on everything from facilities to kit. A further 40,000 clubs across the country may be eligible for registration with possible further savings of up to £60 million a year.
For more up-to-date general information and guidance on how to apply for scheme registration please visit the CASC website at http://www.cascinfo.co.uk/.
myplace
A Department for Children, Schools and Families fund for large-scale projects that aim to deliver 'world class youth facilities, driven by the participation of young people and their views and needs'.
All projects will need to demonstrate cross-sector partnership working and will need to satisfy the four outcomes of the scheme.
The minimum grant available is £1million, with a maximum of £5million.
For more information and advice on application, visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_myplace
Changing Spaces
Changing Spaces is an environmental programme focusing on three priority areas - community spaces, local community enterprise and access to the natural environment. It will invest around £200 million in environmental projects around England. The programme is being delivered in partnership with other organisations who are either delivering a large strategic portfolio or an England wide open grants programme on our behalf.
If you have a project that you think fits under one of the following programmes visit the websites listed below.
Local Food programme (run by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts) - This programme opened to applications on 17th March 2008. Its funds a range of organisations who want to deliver a variety of food related projects to make locally grown food more accessible and affordable to local communities.
For more information visit
http://www.localfoodgrants.org/
Community Spaces programme (run by Groundwork UK) - This programme opened to applications on 19th March 2008. It funds community groups who want to improve local green spaces such as play areas, community gardens, parks, wildlife areas and village greens. For more information visit
http://www.community-spaces.org.uk/
Community Sustainable Energy programme (run by Building Research Establishment) - this programme opened to applications on the 7th April 2008. It will pay for community-based organisations to install renewable energy technologies (such as wind and solar panels) and energy saving measures (such as roof and cavity wall insulation). For more information visit
www.communitysustainable.org.uk
Access to Nature programme (run by Natural England) - this programme is due to launch in spring 2008. It will fund a range of organisations who want to encourage people from all backgrounds to learn more about and enjoy the natural environment. For more information visit
www.naturalengland.org.uk/accesstonature
Ecominds programme (run by Mind) - this programme is due to launch in spring or summer 2008. It will fund a range of groups who want to encourage people with experience of mental distress to get involved in environmental projects, such as improving open spaces and wildlife habitats, designing public art and recycling. For more information visit
If your project is about improving a public space you may find it helpful to read CABE Space's guide for community groups called 'it's our space'. This guide provides information on how to plan, design, construct and use a public space project. To download a copy visit:
Young People's Fund 2: National Grants
Up to £38 million will fund projects of national significance that involve young people in developing, running and reviewing policies and services and help deliver the five 'Every Child Matters' outcomes.
Grants of up to £5 million are available (with an average grant size of £1 million) for projects that work with young people across England. Only voluntary and community sector organisations may apply.
The Participation Work Consortium leading this work. For more information visit:
Kellogg's -Active Living Fund
This fund awards grants of up to £1000 to fund projects and activities that lead directly to people taking part in sustained physical activity. The aim is to help remove the 'barriers' which stop people being active. The Fund is open to applications from charities and other voluntary and community organisations. Schools can apply, but the fund will only consider contributing towards extra-curricular activities that promote sustained physical activity. - Details www.kelloggs.co.uk or louise@communityfoundation.co.uk
Age Concern Grants
There are three types of grants available to voluntary organisations. These are:
1. Bright Ideas Grant Programme - These are one-off grants of up to £2,000 for new or expanding local projects providing services for the direct benefit of older people. Examples include new activities at day centres and lunch clubs, home repair and maintenance services, respite for carers, health and fitness programmes and visiting schemes.
Applications may be made at any time, and grants are allocated every month.
2. Barclays Programme - small grants to clubs Any club for older people may apply for a one-off grant of up to £150 for new equipment or activities. Such things as tea urns, crockery, games and bingo equipment and craft materials can be bought with one of these grants.
Applications may be made at any time, and grants are allocated every month.
3. Opportunities for volunteering scheme - Age Concern England is an agent for this Department of Health scheme. Grants are available for new projects which involve volunteers in providing services of benefit to older people in the fields of health and social care. Many grants are used to employ a volunteer organiser, to develop services for ethnic minority groups, or to fund activities such as Home from Hospital or befriending schemes. The maximum grant is £20,000 per annum and no project may be funded for more than 3 years. Applications must be received by the end of July for funding in the following financial year.
To request further details of any of these grants, please contact them or look at their website: The Grants Unit, Age Concern England, Astral House, 1268 London Road, London SW16 4ER Tel. 020 8765 7738 Fax. 020 8679 9154 Website: www.ageconcern.org.uk/AgeConcern/D3D304B2955648A4B12F31A7D2F6DD2D.asp
UnLtd Sport Relief Awards
UnLtd , the charity which supports social entrepreneurs provides grants of between £250 and £5,000 to young people to bring community cohesion and understanding through sport and being active. The Funding which is provided through the UnLtd Sport Relief Awards is open to 11-21 year olds, who are prepared to go the extra mile and use their passion for sport to bring respect and understanding to their communities by setting up their own projects. Examples of the types of projects that could be supported include engaging young people from different backgrounds by organising an indoor cricket mini-world cup; reducing violence in local areas by getting young people to channel their energies into football rather than fighting; or skateboarding competitions for kids that will reduce tensions in the local area. Applications can be submitted at any time....
http://www.unltd.org.uk/template.php?ID=110&PageName=sportrelief
