>> Reading Voluntary Action (RVA)

Funding News - 23.9.08

1.COMMUNITY SPACES- Groundwork UK

AIM/TYPE OF PROJECTS:Improvements to local neighbourhoods by creating or improving green/open spaces eg ponds, gardens, play areas, village greens, nature reserves. Projects must be in a 2 mile radius of a residential area and open to the public ‘most of the time’.

WHO CAN APPLY: Not for profit community groups: people living in one particular area/ focused on a neighbourhood -common interests, background, nationality etc.
Small and medium grants: applicants don’t have to be constituted at stage 1, but must be constituted to proceed to stage 2. Large and flagship grants: applicants MUST be constituted at stage 1.

GRANT SIZES: Small: £10,000 - £25,000
Medium: £25,001 - £49,999
4 Large grants (£50,000-£100,000) and 1 Flagship (100,001-£450,000) in each region

CAPITAL/REVENUE LIMITS: 75% capital and 25% revenue

MATCH FUNDING: No match funding needed for small, medium or large grants.Flagship grants: at least £50,000 and no more than £450,000 from other sources.Match funding can be from other sources of lottery funding, but NOT from other Changing Spaces programmes

APPLICATION PROCESS: Stage 1: decision in 10 weeks
Stage 2: Decision in 12 weeks.

DEADLINES:Small and medium grants deadline January 2011.Large grants deadline: 9 January 2009. Flagship grants deadline: 30 January 2009

CONTACTS:Email: info@community-spaces.org.uk. Web:www.community-spaces.org.uk/
Changing Spaces advice line: 0845 3 671 671

2.LOCAL FOOD - RSWT(Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts)

AIM/TYPES OF PROJECTS:Food related projects to make locally grown food more accessible and affordable to local communities. Eg growing, processing, marketing and distributing local food; composting and raising awareness of the benefits.

WHO CAN APPLY: Not for profit community groups and organisations, schools, health bodies, parish/ town councils.

GRANT SIZES: Small Grants: £2,000 - £10,000
Main Grants: £10,001 - £300,000
Beacon Grants: £300,001 - £500,000

CAPITAL/REVENUE LIMITS: Capital: up to 80%.Revenue: min of 20%.Beacon: no capital limit

MATCH FUNDING: £2,000-£20,000: no match needed
£20,001-£100,000: 10% match (50% cash)
£100,001-£300,000: 20% match (50% cash)
>£300,001: 30% (50% cash)

APPLICATION PROCESS: 2 stages.
Small grants: stage 2 decision in 6 wks.
Main grants: stage 2 decision in 20 wks.

DEADLINES: Small grants: stage 1 deadline end Aug 2012.
Main grants: stage 1 deadline end May 2011.
Beacon grant stage 1 deadline: end June 2008.

CONTACTS:Tim Belcher, Southern Regional Co-ordinator
Email:localfood@rswt.org
Web: www.localfoodgrants.org
Changing Spaces advice line: 0845 3 671 671

3. ACCESS TO NATURE - Natural England

AIM/TYPE OF PROJECTS:Projects that encourage more people to understand, appreciate and enjoy the outdoors. Aim to reach people who currently have little or no contact with nature eg community awareness and active participation, education, learning and volunteering.

WHO CAN APPLY: VCS (Charitable incorporated organisations, Friendly Societies, Industrial and Provident Societies,
Charitable Trusts) and the public sector (local authorities, schools etc).

GRANT SIZES:£50,000-£500,000.5 grants for Flagship projects of over £500,000 (projects must have national significance).

CAPITAL/REVENUE LIMITS:No capital or revenue limits

MATCH FUNDING: £50,000-£125,000: 10% match (max grant £100,000. £125,001-£715,000: 20% match (min 10% cash. Max grant £500,000. >£715,001: 30% match (min 10% cash)

APPLICATION PROCESS:Stage 1: Online Outline application. Invitation to Stage 2 in 20 working days.Stage 2: Full application decision in 120 working days.

DEADLINES:Regional and national application deadline
June 2010.Flagship projects: 2 stage 1 deadlines, 11 July and 17October 2008.

CONTACTS: Heather Whetter (Tu/W/ Th): 0118 939 2657. heather.whetter@naturalengland.org.uk or Olivia Breffit 0118 939 2426. olivia.breffit@naturalengland.org.uk
Web:www.naturalengland.org.uk/accesstonature
Changing Spaces advice line: 0845 3 671 671

4.COMMUNITY SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PROGRAMME- BRE(Building Research Establishment)

AIM/TYPES OF PROJECTS: Installation of renewable energy sources (eg wind turbines and solar panels) and energy saving measures (eg roof and cavity wall insulation).
Feasibility studies to determine best renewable energy source.

WHO CAN APPLY: Not for profit community based organisations, schools, parish councils.

GRANT SIZES:Project Development Grants: Up to
£5,000/75% of project cost.Capital Grants: Up to £50,000/50% of project cost.

CAPITAL/REVENUE LIMITS: No specific limits, but very restricted as to what the grant can be used for.

MATCH FUNDING: See grant sizes.Match funding from other Changing Spaces programmes is not allowed, but any other Lottery funding is acceptable.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Project Development Grants: decision in 30 working days. Capital grants: quarterly decisions
DEADLINES: Quarterly deadlines. Final deadline 29 Oct 2010 (tbc). 2008 deadlines: 16 May, 15 August and 7 November.

CONTACTS: Email:info@communitysustainable.org.uk
Web: www.communitysustainable.org.uk
Changing Spaces advice line: 0845 3 671 671

5.ECOMINDS- Mind
AIM/TYPES OF PROJECTS: Projects that encourage people with experience of mental distress to get involved in environmental projects, eg improving open spaces and wildlife habitats, designing public art and recycling.

WHO CAN APPLY: Community groups and voluntary organisations

GRANT SIZES:Small: up to £20,000.Medium: £20,001-£60,000
Large: £60,001-£150,000.Flagship: £150,001-£250,000

CAPITAL/RVENUE LIMITS:No capital or revenue limits

MATCH FUNDING: No match funding required.

APPLICATION PROCESS:One stage application.

DEADLINES:No specific deadlines (money distributed until funds have been spent).

CONTACTS: Web: www.ecominds.org.uk
Changing Spaces advice line: 0845 3 671 671