>> Reading Voluntary Action (RVA)

Funding News - 22.7.08

The Voluntary Sector Support Unit gives support and advice to voluntary and community organisations working within the Reading Borough area. Our main role is to run the Council’s decision-making process for Core Funding and Community Grants. The deadlines for this financial year have now been set and are as follows

Community Grants:
These are small one off grants of up to £300 to help with start up costs or project related cost including the local Festivals
18 August 2008 - for General Grants, Whitley Arts Festival and Black History Month
10 November 2008 - for General Grants and Holocaust Memorial Day
2 February 2009 - for General Grants
3 March 2009 - for General Grants; Dhoom Dhamaka (Asian Arts Festival); Reading Children's Festival and Reading Carnival

Core Funding Grants
Financial assistance to voluntary and community groups in order to help them run projects and provide services for the benefit of Reading residents.
Friday, 19 September 2008 for groups in the middle of a three year agreement only
Friday, 3 October 2008 for all other groups
For guidelines and more information on Core Funding and Community Grants please visit or website, www.reading.gov.uk/vssu or call Jenny on 0118 939 0374.

2. YOUTH SECTOR DEVELOPMENT FUND: FURTHER £30MILLION INVESTMENT IN THE THIRD SECTOR TO REDUCE YOUTH CRIME
Third Sector organisations that focus on preventing young people from committing crime or becoming involved in anti social behaviour, gun or gang crime, are set to benefit from a second round of bidding for the Youth Sector Development Fund (YSDF) which will make a further £30million available to the Third Sector, announced by Minister for Children and Young People, Beverley Hughes.
The second funding round expects to support around 12 Third Sector organisations, who will each receive funding in the region of £2.5 million from December 2008 – March 2011.The specification for the second bidding round of the YSDF is available to download from http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/ Further information, including information on workshops for organisations considering submitting an application for YSDF funding and support, is also available on this site. Public Enquiries 0870 000 2288, info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
The closing date for receipt of full proposals from youth third sector organisations is 3rd October 2008.




3. OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOLUNTEERING
Opportunities for Volunteering (OFV) is a Department of Health scheme which will distribute £6.7 million this year to 300 local health and social care projects in England. OFV aims to enable local voluntary sector health and social care organisations in England to involve volunteers in their work. Volunteering England (VE) is one of 16 national charities that distribute OFV grants on behalf of the Department of Health. In total VE distributes approximately £1.6 million a year, of which £500,000 is in grants to new projects. http://www.volunteering.org.uk/ofv

4. INNOVATION EXCELLENCE AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT FUND
The Innovation Excellence and Service Development Fund aims to provide three year funding that supports projects with an explicit focus on supporting and driving innovation, excellence and service development in the health and social care field, with a potential national impact. The Innovation Excellence and Service Development Fund replaces the Section 64 General Scheme of Grants.

Application Procedure: Applications follow a two stage process. Outline proposals are submitted at Stage 1 and successful applicants invited to submit a detailed proposal at Stage 2. Information on how to complete an outline proposal can be found in the Information pack for third sector organisations or DH website at www.dh.gov.uk/thirdsectorinvestment Outline proposals must be submitted by Monday 8 September 2008.

5. Healthy Heart Grants
Heart Research UK will be accepting applications in until 31 August for grants to support innovative projects that promote heart health and prevent or reduce the risks of heart disease within specific communities in the UK. Grants can be for up to £10,000 and applications are invited from third sector organisations and researchers. http://www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy_heart_grants.htm

6. TalkTalk Innovation in the Community Awards 2008
TalkTalk Innovation in the Community Awards enables charity and community groups throughout the UK to harness the power of the internet. 30 winners will receive cash grants of £2,000 each to fund technology-related projects to help them make the most of the internet. Closing date is 30 September. http://digbig.com/4xdfs or http://www.talktalk.co.uk