VCSA Newsletter Week of 22nd May 2023

VCSA logo

Newsletter for the Week of 22nd May 2023


News


WMSAR in action during flooding

WMSAR in action during flooding

VCSA Member Feature: West Mercia Search and Rescue - Saving Lives in Shropshire

A child with learning difficulties missing from school

An 85-year-old dementia sufferer walked out of the home

 A potential suicide with a lonely cry for help left in a parked car

Did you know that when someone goes missing in Shropshire, it is a voluntary organisation that will search for them?

It is the mission of West Mercia Search and Rescue (WMSAR) to search for, locate and rescue vulnerable adults and children. They are a completely volunteer charity with trained team members, vehicles, boats and equipment ready to respond from their Bridgnorth and Kidderminster bases.

Team members take between 4-6 months to qualify as a Search Technician. Training in First Aid, Navigation, Search Skills, Radio Communications, Crime Scene Awareness and Basic Water Safety, this is the first step on the ladder to a whole series of specialist functions. Later qualifications might lead to using Quad Bikes, Drones, Power Boats, Search Planning and Management and Swift Water and Flood Rescue.

And like other voluntary sector organisation in Shropshire, WMSAR is top class at what they do.Their work has been recognized by the High Sheriff of Shropshire’s Award for “great and valuable services to the community and the appreciation of the people of Shropshire for activity enhancing the life of the community”

This was followed with the award of the Shropshire Community Foundation Award as “Outstanding Community Group/Organisation” as well as an Armed Forces Covenant Silver Award.

Last year, the organisation received the highest honour available to a registered charity in the UK – the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, and 31 members of the team received the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal.

WMSAR's operational area covers 1.2 million people in 3 counties that have the River Severn at their heart. It is a sign of our times that more and more of their call-outs are tasking to find people who are at risk in, on or near water. They are frequently called out to people last seen near the river on busy “party nights”.

But it’s not just water based. They respond to the West Mercia Police covering emergency incidents, searches and rescues throughout Shropshire but also in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, as well as supporting neighbouring teams as required.  Lowland Rescue is called out by the emergency services when a vulnerable person, whose safety is at much higher risk than normal, is in dire need of specialist help.

What's more, WMSAR offer a free, on-line, water safety course called Home and Dry.  

Check out the WMSAR website for more information about what they do and how you can get involved.

WMSAR logo and QAVS logo

grantseeker using the platform

New Free Platform for Grantseekers to Review Funders

GrantAdvisor UK - the platform designed to facilitate an open dialogue between grantseekers and grantmakers - rolled out as a permanent service last week, following a successful pilot period. 

Incubated by CAST, in partnership with Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, the free service invites reviews of any UK grantmaker, from any UK grantseeker. These reviews are published anonymously, and funders are alerted to each review - and encouraged to respond. 

CAST is calling on grantseekers to leave a review on the GrantAdvisor UK platform. Grantseekers can review any UK funder (even if it is not yet listed), for any period over the past ten years, and all feedback is completely anonymous. The review process is simple and takes around five minutes on average - though reviewers can leave more information and detail if they wish. 

CAST is also asking UK funders to add their organisation to the GrantAdvisor UK site, in order to gather insights that will help refine their systems in line with applicants’ needs. The information gathered can be used to effect real change - as Sophie Woodward of Paul Hamlyn Foundation explains: 

“The GrantAdvisor UK pilot flagged two consistent themes: that we’re not always easy to reach by phone, and our application forms take too long to complete. We’re working on improving both of these in order to be a more responsive and inclusive funder.”

GrantAdvisor UK is free to access for everyone. Find out more on theGrantAdvisor UK website.


person taking their temperature

Study: VCSE Sector Sick Leave Rises 30% in the Past Year

Employees of third sector organisation take more sick days than many other sectors, a new report has found.

Charites rank 13 out of 18 in a new report compiled by Access PeopleHR, an HR specialist.

The average organisation in the sector reported 166 days lost to sick leave in 2022 – an increase of 30% in the past year.

This compares sharply to first on the list, the recruitment sector, where just 13 sick leave days is reported by each business.

Charles Butterworth, managing director of Access People said:

"[I]t may be that people are experiencing more burnout and long-term sickness following the pandemic, resulting in new highs of sickness rates...."

This story is excerpted from TFN - read the full story here.

Read the full report here.


ICS logo

Planning "Paused" On Shrewsbury Health and Wellbeing Hub

The Programme Team for the Shrewsbury Health and Wellbeing Hub have announced that "NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin has reluctantly taken the decision to pause all further work and expenditure at this point" on the hub.

The team cite a pause from the national team on the six proposed national pilot programmes, of which this was one, as the reason for their decision to take a "medium to long term" pause on their work in Shrewsbury.

The announcement from the Programme Team was made in a letter to stakeholders last week. Download and read the full letter here.

The NHS plans a briefing session soon for those with questions about this development, and the VCSA will keep you updated on the date for this when it becomes available.


Interested in having your organisation's stories of success featured in our newsletter, website or social media? We want to hear from you! Contact: VCSAssembly@shropshire.gov.uk

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Have Your Say: Current VCSE Engagement Opportunities


Health Needs Assessment for Shrewsbury: Shropshire Councils Public Health Community Wellbeing Outreach Team is collecting the views and wishes of all Shropshire residents regarding their current and future health and wellbeing needs. They feel it’s very important to make sure community voice is heard when decisions are made about where funding is allocated across Shropshire. Right now, they are surveying Shrewsbury residents only. Please help spread the word about this research. Closing date TBD


Healthwatch Shropshire - Complaints About Health and Social Care: Healthwatch Shropshire wants to know about people’s experience of making complaints about their NHS or social care services, not only if people achieved the outcome they sought through the complaint but also their experience of making the complaint, did they feel supported, did they have the information they needed, how they were treated and if they felt listened to. Closing date TBD


Healthwatch Shropshire - Diabetes Service Changes: To address the rising prevalence of diabetes in our community STW Integrated Care System wants to transform diabetic care pathways with a vision of improving the lives and treatment outcomes for patients affected by diabetes or those at risk of developing it. In order to do this, they would like to hear from people with diabetes or those who have been identified as being at risk of developing diabetes (pre-diabetic) about their experiences of diabetic care and support. They will then share the responses with the NHS and Public Health to help inform the transformation programme and ensure the patient voice is at the centre of developments. Closing date TBD


National Volunteering Survey: The third quarterly VCSE Sector Barometer is now live. Completing this independent survey, produced by experts at Pro Bono Economics and Nottingham Trent University's National VCSE Data and Insights Observatory, is hugely important. By taking part, you will help inform government, media, and many others, of the pressures that charities, community groups and voluntary organisations are facing across areas such as income, people, demand and impact. Please take it and pass it on. Closing 30th May


Health and Care Workforce Health and Wellbeing Survey: The ICS is conducting a survey of its workforce to determine what to offer for their health and wellbeing needs in the future. Please note, this survey is also for VCSE sector staff and volunteers working in health and care fields. Closing 31st May


The Shropshire Council Strengthening Families team want to support families in Shropshire and improve their services where needed. They  are asking all parents, whether in a relationship or not, their thoughts on the language and approaches that practitioners might use to support local families. Please share this survey with your service users where appropriate. Closing 9th June


School Aged Children Stakeholder Survey: Shropshire Council public health team is seeking the views of all services and organisations that support children aged 5-16 years old, including children with SEND. Closing 13th June


The Shropshire Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan: (LCWIP or ‘Cycling and Walking Plan’ for short) is the council's long-term plan, aimed at dramatically improving the safety, comfort and attractiveness of walking and cycling in the county.​ The purpose of this plan is to set out a prioritised list of schemes for delivery over the next ten years that will improve walking and cycling infrastructure for Shropshire residents, workers and visitors alike. Closing 16th June

The Cycling and Walking plan covers the following towns (click below for the survey link):

Other ways to get involved:

  • Two online webinars covering the proposals for each of the seven towns (6pm on 18 and 25 May details TBC)
  • Workshops with schools to get the opinions of children and young people (w/c 19 June, details TBC)

Shropshire Electoral Boundary Review: The Local Government Boundary Commission for England has published draft recommendations for new divisions, division boundaries, and division names for Shropshire. If you represent a local organisation or community group in Shropshire, please pass this message on to your members or anyone you think who might be interested in the review. Closing 10th July

  • Website with information on the review and proposals
  • Link to feedback form to provide views on the proposals
  • Poster for sharing with communities

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals are in the process of a huge Hospital Transformation Project (HTP) and there are 4 focus groups, into which they would like voluntary and community sector input.

The focus groups are:

  • Urgent & Emergency Care & medicine Focus Group – 7 quarterly meetings between 25th May 2023 & 30th January 2025.
  • Clinical Support Services Focus Group – 4 – Six monthly meetings between September 2023 and March 2025
  • Women’s & Children’s Focus Group – 8 quarterly meetings between June 2023 & March 2025.
  • Planned Care Focus Group – 9 quarterly meetings – March 2023 to March 2025.

They are also happy to provide a speaker to discuss these transformation projects should your group or organisation wish to avail themselves of this offer. For more information about a speaker or one or more of the focus groups, please email Mike Crawshaw, Social Inclusion Facilitator.


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Events and Training Opportunities


image of assembly attendees in 2022

VCSA Annual Assembly

5th July 9:30-12:30

Shrewsbury Town Football Club

This year's assembly theme will be promoting mental health and wellbeing for voluntary sector staff and volunteers. We will have speakers and a workshop that fit this theme. Our agenda will also cover a review of the work the VCSA has done this year to further the sector's priorities.

Full agenda will be available soon!

Tea, coffee and biscuits will be served, and tables for putting out materials will be available. Time will be set aside specifically for networking with other VCSE organisations, so please feel free to bring your organisational flyers and materials. Please email Sarah Hampson at vcsassembly@shropshire.gov.uk if you plan to bring banners or other materials bigger than leaftlets for a table, just so that we can be prepared to accommodate you.

If you will need transportation from the Shrewsbury bus or train station to the football ground, please email Sarah Hampson at vcsassembly@shropshire.gov.uk as soon as possible as we are making arrangements for a shuttle.

Register free here


Climate change adaptation flyer

Find out more information and register here.


volunteer

Introducing New Volunteer Training Suite from Helpforce

24th May 10:00am - 11:00am Online Webinar

Those volunteering across health and care, in acute Trusts, local authorities and voluntary sector organisations have thousands of contacts every day with individuals and are ideally placed to support health and wellbeing. The training covers key themes that are important at a ‘place level’ such as health inequalities and making every contact count.

This webinar covers the new training that is available from Helpforce for health and care volunteers.

Learn more and register free here.


Protect UK logo

Protect UK Workshop for the Voluntary Sector

Free online workshop

Wed, 24 May 2023 12:00 - 13:00 BST

An insight into protective security information, awareness products and platforms

Following the launch of the National Counter Terrorism Policing’s ‘Protect UK’ platform and App, Protect UK are pleased to be able to host a virtual awareness session for those in the voluntary sector.
The session will be solely on the ‘Protect UK’ product and how you, as an organisation, can access it. It is intended to last approximately 1 hour.

Register free here


older people talking at a table

The VCSA Older People's Sounding Board to Host Big Conversation

The VCSA Older People's Sounding Board will host its first in-person meeting since the pandemic as a chance for older people in Shropshire to get involved in the NHS's Big Conversation.

The event will be hosted on Thursday 25th May 2023 at 1.00pm-3.00pm at Shrewsbury Baptist Church, Central, Claremont Street, Shrewsbury, SY1 1QG.

Refreshments will be provided.

The Big Health and Wellbeing Conversation aims to understand local views on what is affecting their health and wellbeing, and what things would make the biggest difference to improve experiences of local health and care services. The feedback gathered at these events will help NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin develop its plans for the future.

Heather Osborne, Chief Executive of Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin said:

“It is really important that the views of older people across Shropshire and Telford are fed into this Big Conversation, as this will help shape NHS service for the future. We want to make sure this reflects what older people want and need so please come and make your views known.”


You belong

Neurodiversity and Entrepreneurship:

Exploring Neurodiversity and Entrepreneurship, for employers and entrepreneurs

25th May 12-2pm

University Centre Shrewsbury

An informal session to explore the links between neurodiversity and entrepreneurship, led by Emily of and Vicki Ayton of BizEd Projects CIC.

Who is this session for? Entrepreneurs, leaders, organisations and enterprises who want to:

  • Learn about neurodiversity.
  • Better understand the needs of neurodivergent employees.
  • Enable neurodivergent talent in the workplace.
  • Consider ways of making the workplace more inclusive.
  • Connect, share and discuss with others.

Register free here


getting on board logo

How to Diversify your Board

25th May 12:00 Online - FREE

This free one-hour session, with award-winning trainer Sophia Moreau, will give you an introduction into how to diversify your charity board. It will be a whistle stop tour of all the things you need to do - with our free best practice guide available to you to help you every step of the way. This session will get you to think differently about how you approach your recruitment to try and attract diverse trustees.

Register via Eventbrite


health and care forum logo

VCSA Health and Social Care Forum

Are you a community or voluntary organisation working on health and care? Join us for our next meeting of the Shropshire Health and Social Care Forum 6th June from 9:30-11:30am at Community Resource in Shrewsbury.

Attending the meeting will be Marianne Grant the ICS/VCS Engagement and Partnership lead. She will be discussing how this role supports the voluntary sector including a discussion with forum members on thoughts about how the role can help the sector.

Also attending will be Naomi Roche the Personalised Care Programme Manager from the Partnerships Team of Public Health.  As we are one of 7 ICBs nationally to host a Creative Health Associate to work across our region, Naomi will be speaking about the work of the associate and her own role in creative health followed by discussion with forum members on what we are already doing or could do to support the creative agenda.  See National Centre for Creative Health for more details on the creative health associates programme.

Full agenda here.

Please RSVP by the 2nd of June to Sue Chalk, Head of Service (Wellbeing and Care) at Community Resource.


KAVS logo

King’s Award for Voluntary Service Briefing Sessions

The King's Award for Voluntary Service celebrates the outstanding work of local volunteer groups across the UK. Groups do not have to be a registered charity and any voluntary

organisation with three or more volunteers can be nominated. The award is the equivalent to an MBE and the highest award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, giving Royal recognition to the work they do.

The Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire has been delighted to see so many voluntary groups in the county being awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service and would like to support even more organisations across Shropshire win this award which following the Accession of King Charles III, has now become The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

To help and encourage voluntary organisations understand the award and the nomination process the Shropshire Lieutenancy will be holding one more briefing session:

Tuesday 13th June 2023 at 7pm - 8pm

Via Zoom

What the recipients say:

Joe Lockley, Director of Bright Star Boxing Academy said,

“Winning this award is absolutely amazing for all of the staff and volunteers at Bright Star, it’s great to see the impact we’re having is recognised nationally. ”

For further information and/or to book a place please email: shelley.davies@shropshire.gov.uk

Information can also be found on the KAVS website.


VCS Breakfast Meeting 20th June

Register free here


interview image

Free Motivational Interviewing Training

20th June 09:15 – 16:00 Online

Free opportunity for VCSE organisations to participate in this training offered through the ICS.

If you spend your life explaining what your service users should, could, must or need to do then this is the course for you. Motivational interviewing is a style of communication that uses a guiding/reflective style to engage with people, clarify their strengths and aspirations, and utilise their own motivations for change, and promote independence of decision making.

Download the course flyer for more information, including how to book!

You can also visit the Eventbrite site to learn more and book there.


carers week logo

Carers Week 5-18 June 2023

Carers Week is an annual event to raise awareness of caring. The theme this year is ‘Recognising and supporting carers in the community.’

Carers week is our opportunity to say thank you to all unpaid and family carers in Shropshire.  

Shropshire Carers Support Team are excited to share this year’s programmes for both face to face and virtual activities with you.  Please click HERE for face to face activities and HERE for virtual activities. Like last year, they have extended the programme over a two-week period (5 – 18 June 2023) to try and reach as many carers as possible. There is a blended mix of face to face and virtual options – whether you want to come along to the activities or join them from home they hope you will find something for you and look forward to meeting you.

The High Sherriff will be joining Carers at Shrewsbury Art Gallery and Museum on Friday 9 June for ‘Sounds Great! An introduction to 'music-care'’– see the programme for further details on this and all of the other activities. To book please email shropshire.carers@shropshire.gov.uk or Telephone 01743 341995.


SIP logo

Free and Low Cost Training for Voluntary Sector Organisations Through SIP

The Shropshire Infrastructure Partnership (SIP) hosts a number of free or low-cost (£15pp) training courses for voluntary and community sector organisations in Shropshire. 

Click on the links below to check them out and sign up today! Upcoming courses in May and June include:

It is also highly recommended that you follow SIP on Evenbrite to get notified when new courses are added!


Qube logo

Mental Health Courses for VCS Organisations

Remember to check out the list of mental health training courses offered through the Shropshire in Partnership Mental Health Project.

Courses for VCS organisations include:

Suicide First Aid

Resilience and Stress Management

and Managing Stress and Burnout.

Sign up here


shropshire partners in care logo

First Aid and Safeguarding Adults Training

Shropshire Partners in Care is a not-for-profit organisation supporting over 250 independent adult social care providers across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. Established in 2003, they exist to represent, upskill and champion our local adult social care providers and their staff. They offer quality and reasonably priced First Aid training at their offices in Annscroft, Shrewsbury, primarily to Members, but also to non-Members such as schools and community groups. All First Aid Training is nationally accredited by The First Aid Industry Body (FAIB). Safeguarding Adults Awareness training is aimed at all staff and volunteers working in social care, health, housing, charities and other areas of the independent sector.

In May 2023 they have spaces available on the following courses: 

Course Title

Course Date

Venue

Price per Person

 
 

1 Day Emergency First Aid in Ludlow, Market Drayton or Telford

23rd May

Festival Drayton Centre, Market Drayton

£88

1 Day Emergency First Aid

24th May

Annscroft Office

£77

Choking Guidance Training

25th May

Annscroft Office

£11

1 Day Emergency First Aid

25th May

Annscroft Office

£77

 

Should you be interested in booking a place on any of these courses, please contact Non-Member Bookings on 01743 860011 or email info@spic.co.uk.


flyer for youth conference
ssyn logo

Adults Up For Change Invited to Youth Conference

South Shropshire Youth Network is a peer network for anyone working with young people aged 8-25 years old – or wanting to work with young people. Each year they organise a youth conference to amplify the local youth voice.

For the second year running, young people are involved in organising the conference from scratch. The aim is for young participants to meet local decision makers, councillors and campaigners in a relaxed atmosphere. So that young people have their say in what happens where they live.

Are you interested in hearing from young people and willing to take some action, however big or small?

Then you’re invited too!

Organisations that want to present themselves can book a space at the conference, but only if it’s not just for an information stall. They have to have a little activity going on, and are expected to join in the workshops and conversations.

For more information & to book your free ticket including lunch via Eventbrite

Any questions or if you know of any young people you’d like to bring? Contact Infrastructure Support Officer Marinke Fontein, on marinke.ssyf@outlook.com and check out the SSYF website.


armed forces day

Register free on Eventbrite


Looking for Local Health-Related Events and Information?

Looking for health-related events and meetings local to your area? The VCSA recommends subscribing to the Community Connectors newsletter for all of the latest local event information, including classes, clubs and social groups that are related to health and wellbeing. You can subscribe by emailing l.woolcock@qube-oca.org.uk

Download the Community Connectors Leaflet for more information on what they are and how you can get involved in social prescribing in Shropshire.


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Job / Volunteer Opportunities


MHS logo

Shropshire Mental Health Support Vacancies:

Shropshire Mental Health Support are currently recruiting for the following roles:

  • Deputy Manager – 37 hours
  • Office Administrator – 35 hours
  • Referral Co-ordinator – 35 hours
  • Outreach Support Workers – 2 x 30 hr posts
  • Sanctuary Support Workers – Various hours, night and late shifts

If you would like to join an award-winning charity and work in a fantastic team please call Heather on 01743 368647 for further details or email - manager@shropshiremhs.com


volunteer needed

Designs in Mind in Oswestry are looking for people to donate one morning or afternoon a week to help in their new ground-floor shop as a retail volunteer. Full training will be provided to all volunteers. Volunteers will be helping us to raise funds through selling items made in their studio by their members, whilst also promoting positive mental health on the high street.

For more information please call 01691 655140 or email Lauren@designsinmind.co.uk


4 All Foundation logo

Trustee Needed: The 4 All Foundation

The 4 All Foundation are looking for a Treasurer to lead on the financial governance, working with the Chair to deliver the charity objectives and strategy.

The Trustee Board meets quarterly, either online or face to face. The board works closely with the Senior Management Team. 4 All Foundation is a charitable organisation delivering local and accessible opportunities throughout our communities in Shropshire.

The Foundation's vision is to help our communities develop and achieve through foundation programmes. Through the power of their community programmes, the 4 All Foundation provides practical and educational opportunities that aims to motivate and inspire individuals within our communities.

The foundation is specifically seeking someone who can take on a Treasurer role, reviewing financial and budget information as provided by the Senior Management Team

This role is subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references. For further information, please email info@4allfoundation.co.uk


Do you have a job or volunteer opportunity you would like us to promote? Please send your information to VCSAssembly@shropshire.gov.uk and we will include it in our next newsletter!

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Grant and Funding News



Barrow Cadbury Trust Open for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Grants

The Connect Fund is administered by the Barrow Cadbury Trust, in partnership with Access - the Foundation for Social Investment. The idea behind the fund is to facilitate the development of a strong, sustainable, collaborative community of social investment providers that work together to build a better market.

With the lifetime of the Fund extended to May 2024, there is an opportunity to apply to a stream of funding within the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strand focused on direct support to implement procedural and system changes.

Under this strand, The Connect Fund will provide one-off grants to social investors and fund managers in England that are looking to implement changes to their existing processes or systems to increase their accessibility to those often excluded from investment.

Projects funded should achieve one or more of the following outcomes:

  • More open, diverse and transparent access to social investment.
  • Investment flows particularly to organisations led by under-represented groups.
  • Action taken to address the barriers faced by organisations led by under-served groups in accessing social investment.
  • Greater board and investment committee diversity, ensuring a diverse range of voices is included at every stage of the social investment journey from fund design and application to decision making and delivery.

Applications from frontline charities or social enterprises involved in direct service delivery will not be accepted.

The deadline to apply is 30 June 2023. For more information and to apply, visit the Barrow Cadbury Trust website.


Wolfson Foundation’s Round Two of Funding for Places Opens for Applications (UK)

Through its main grants programme, the Wolfson Foundation, one of the UK’s largest funding charities, awards capital grants to support excellence in the fields of education, science and medicine, health and disability, heritage, humanities and the arts. The funding can be used for buildings (new build or refurbishments) and equipment.

The minimum grant is £15,000. There are no maximum grant amounts. The size of the grants varies greatly across different programme areas. Match funding is required for projects where the total project cost is above £50,000 and should be in place at the point of submission of a Stage 2 application.

Applications are accepted from organisations and educational establishments in the UK which are registered charities, or which have charitable status:

  • Charities working with disability.
  • Charities working in mental health.
  • Charities working with older people.
  • Historic buildings and landscapes.
  • Hospices and palliative care organisations.
  • Libraries and archives.
  • Museums and galleries.
  • Performing arts organisations.
  • Public engagement with science organisations.
  • Secondary schools and sixth form colleges. (The deadline for Stage 1 applications is 10 June 2023
  • Special needs schools and colleges. (The deadline for Stage 1 applications is 10 June 2023).
  • Universities and research institutions.

There are two funding rounds per year and the Foundation operates a two-stage application process. 

The deadlines for Stage 1 applications are generally 5 January (funding decision in June) and 1 July (funding decision in December) each year.

The secondary schools and sixth form colleges scheme has a slightly different schedule.

The Round 2 deadline for stage one applications for:

  • Secondary schools, sixth form colleges, special needs schools and college is 10 June 2023.
  • All other organisations is 1 July 2023.

Visit the Wolfson Foundation's Funding for Places page for more information and to apply.


Hinrichsen Foundation Accepting Applications to Promote Music Across the UK

The Hinrichsen Foundation is offering grants to charities and other organisations across the United Kingdom to support the performance of contemporary music, which may include the commissioning of new work, non-commercial recording, or even publication.

 There are two levels of funding available:

  • One-off small grants typically between £500 and £2,500 (for new applicants and former beneficiaries).
  • Larger projects or concert series generally £2,000 and over.

The Trustees will occasionally provide funds for research projects not being conducted under the aegis of an academic institution. Multi-year partnerships may also be considered.

The next deadline for applications is 5 June 2023. For more information and to apply, visit The Hinrichsen Foundation website.


Pilgrim Trust’s Young Women’s Mental Health Grant Programme

Opens for 2023

Now in its third year, the Pilgrim Trust’s five-year, £5 million Young Women’s Mental Health Grant Programme is open to applications from UK registered charities with an annual income of between £100,000 and £1 million, have been operating for at least three years and whose work or project is located in the North East or North West of England, Yorkshire and Humber or Northern Ireland.

The grants are for organisations that increase young women’s access to high quality, age and gender specific mental health services.

Grants of £60,000 to £90,000 spread across three years are available to support project delivery costs and core costs (eg, salaries or general running costs). It is expected that between 10 to 12 projects will be supported.

To apply for funding, charities must first book a telephone conversation with the Trust’s Grants Manager to discuss their potential application. An application form will only be sent after this conversation has taken place.

The ‘book a conversation’ form is now available until 7 July 2023. Applications cannot be made without having this conversation. For more information and to apply, visit the Pilgrim's Trust website.


UK Community Ownership Fund - Updated Prospectus Published for Application Round Three

The £150 million Community Ownership Fund aims to support charities and community groups across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to take ownership of assets which are at risk of being lost to the community.

The fund forms part of a package of UK wide levelling-up interventions, helping to support recovery, build opportunity and empower communities to improve their local places.

Ahead of the opening of the third round of applications, the Fund has published an updated prospectus to support potential applicants in making a submission.

To be eligible, the applicant must be an incorporated organisation which is set up to deliver charitable purpose, social purpose or public benefit. Eligible organisation types include:

  • Charitable incorporated organisation (CIO).
  • Scottish charitable incorporated organisation (SCIO).
  • Co-operatives including Community Benefit Societies.
  • Community Interest Company (CIC).
  • Not-for-profit company limited by guarantee.
  • Parish, town or community council.

Proposals will need to prove the value of the asset to local people and that the asset can run sustainably for the long-term benefit of the community. Projects could include (but are not limited to):

  • Community centres.
  • Cinemas and theatres.
  • Galleries.
  • Museums.
  • Music venues.
  • Parks.
  • Post office buildings.
  • Pubs.
  • Shops.
  • Sporting and leisure facilities.

The Fund is designed to contribute up to 80% of the total capital required for a project. Applicants can apply for a blend of capital and revenue funding:

  • Capital funding to take ownership (including the acquisition of the building; refurbishment costs alongside a sale or a transfer). Up to £250,000 match-funded capital will be available for all eligible asset types. Exceptionally bidders will be able to make the case for up to £1 million match-funding.
  • Revenue funding to support the running costs of the project, ie for legal fees, general costs including utilities, staffing costs, or costs associated with professional services or other specialist support. This does not need to be matched.
  • Revenue funding request cannot be more than 20% of the capital funding request or £50,000, whichever is smaller. This is also applied to all assets applying for up to £1 million capital funding.

Organisations can make an Expression of Interest at any time. If they are successful, they will be invited to submit a full application, which they do not have to do immediately; however, they must submit their EOI at least three weeks before the closure of the bidding window in which they want to apply to allow time to receive feedback and then to submit their application.

Round 3 Window 1 of applications will open on 31 May 2023 and close at 11.59am on 12 July 2023. For full information check out the Prospectus on Gov.UK


National Lottery Community Fund Offering Support for Windrush 75 Applications

Though it is now too late to apply for funding in time for Windrush Day itself, groups are still encouraged to apply for grants to commemorate Windrush throughout the year.

As some may wish to carry out their Windrush celebrations during Black History Month in October 2023, NLCF has provided a blog detailing how best to strengthen this kind of application which can be found on its website.

Windrush proposals must comply with the standard NLCF Awards for All guidelines. This means applications will be accepted from voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) groups, schools and statutory bodies in England with a focus on those with a smaller annual income.

Grants of between £300 and £10,000 are available for up to one year for projects that:

  • Involve people and communities from the start.
  • Build on people's strengths.
  • Are connected in their community.

On the 12th and 26th of June, the NLCF is delivering online application clinics to support organisations applying for Windrush 75 funding. Check these out and register free here.

Groups must apply at least 12 weeks before the project is due to commence.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.


New Deadlines for Archives Revealed – Scoping Grants

Groups will soon be able to apply to the next round of Scoping Grants from the National Archives and Pilgrim Trust, designed to transform access to archives for a wide range of users and enable more people to engage with the UK’s rich documentary heritage.

Grants of up to £3,000 are available to public sector bodies and registered charities and other not-for-profit organisations across the UK.

Organisations must:

  • Make their collections accessible to people outside their organisation.
  • Have access to professional archive expertise.
  • Have owned or deposited collections – providing they can provide a commitment from the depositor that the collection will not be withdrawn from public access or sold within ten years of the project end date.

Activities will be supported for one or more of the following:

  • A collection that has the potential to be of public benefit.
  • The ability to ensure free public access to the collection in the future; either directly or via collaboration with another organisation.
  • If applicants are unsure of the most effective way to target resources to realise the potential impact of the collection.
  • To develop a plan to move towards a cataloguing project or would like to scope the potential of the collection for a cataloguing project.

A Scoping Grant will fund an external consultant to conduct a collection assessment report that will enable successful applicants to use to strategically plan next steps and to advocate internally and externally to gain support for a project.

Round 17 will open on 14 June 2023 and close on 12 July 2023. For more information visit the Pilgrim Trust website.


community fund grants

Community Fund Grants

Community Resource administers a number of grants schemes through the Shropshire Community Fund to support groups to improve their community and the lives of local people.

Check them out here!


Don't forget to check out the VCSA's latest funding roundup, which is now available to view on our website, or you can click here to download a copy now.

Don't forget to check out our list of grants with rolling deadlines as well!

Don't see something on this list that should be here? Please contact us and let us know.

 

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To share your news with Shropshire Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly members and our partners email: VCSAssembly@shropshire.gov.uk