Grants information for the British charitable and non-profit sector.

This site aims to provide the latest funding information from Central Government, National Lottery, devolved governing bodies, EU and quangos.

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Important Announcement

The editor of the access funds website, Mr Parimal Desai, sadly passed away on 11th February 2008, after being admitted to hospital on 28th January.

We are working to continue the excellent service that Parimal has offered and hope to be able to do this as soon as possible.

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience.

If you have any questions about this, please email us at:

info@access-funds.co.uk

Parimal's partner and family, 20 February 2008.


Latest Funding Initiatives

April 17th - £6 million of funding available to develop volunteering

The Government is providing £6 million of new funding to develop opportunities for volunteering. This includes £4million of funding for new training programmes for volunteers and volunteer managers as well as £2million to create a new access to volunteering fund for disabled people.

April 17th - New £10 million Global Volunteering Programme

The Department for International Development has announced a new £10 million Global Volunteering Programme for 18- to 25-year-olds that will offer young adults from less advantaged backgrounds the opportunity to live, work and learn about life in poorer countries.

April 17th - Futurebuilders extends its services to more organisations from April 2008

Futurebuilders England, the government-backed investment fund for the third sector, is set to expand its services to organisations working across all areas of public service delivery, from April 2008. This will now include sport, recreation and leisure, environmental projects, waste and recycling, legal aid, and the arts.

April 17th - Funding available for disabled people's organisations (London)

Grants of up to £15,000 per year for up to three years are available for small, disabled-led organisations involved in, or who are interested in developing, campaigning and advocacy activities.

April 17th - Big Lottery - new funding for local environmental and community projects

The Big Lottery Fund has announced a new funding round under its People's Millions Initiative to fund projects that transform the local environment or provide opportunities or facilities to allow people to take part and enjoy their local area. The maximum grant will be £50,000 plus VAT. The closing date for applications is 15th May.

April 17th - Funding available for local food projects (England)

£50 million of funding is available for organisations making local food more accessible and more affordable to local communities from the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces – Local Food Programme.

April 17th - Performing arts awards available for young people

Funding is available for performing arts education initiatives aimed at children and young people (aged 0-18) across the UK. Eligible organisations can apply for funding of between £1,000 and £10,000 for educational projects that cover every aspect of the performing arts including opera, dance, music, musical theatre, the spoken word and theatre. The next closing date for applications is the 17th September 2008.

April 17th - Funding available for play spaces in schools

Schools within the UK that wish to improve their play spaces are invited to apply for funding through the Playground Partnerships Initiative 2008. A total of £500,000 is available to fund specific improvements and developments to their play environments. Schools can apply for awards of £1,000, £2,000, £5,000 or £10,000. Closing date for applications 18th July 2008.

April 17th - Funding available for local authorities to improve local play facilities

Funding is available for 15 local authorities to improve local play facilities under the Pathfinders for Play scheme. They will each receive around £2 million capital funding plus significant revenue funding.

April 17th - Grants available for organisations working with young people in London and Scotland

Grants of between £250 and £3,000 are available to charities and organisations that work with young people in Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Brent, Lambeth, Hounslow, Wandsworth, City of Westminster, Dunfermline/Livingston and Uddingston. The Sky Bigger Picture Fund will focus on supporting small organisations that work with young people in the following categories; Building Arts; Healthier Environment; Inspiring Learning and/or Including Everyone.

April 17th - Tesco Charity Trust Community Awards (UK)

Community and voluntary groups whose core work is supporting children's welfare or education, elderly people and people with disabilities have the opportunity to apply for grants of between £1,000 and £5,000. Organisations supporting elderly people and people with disabilities need to apply by the 30th June 2008. Organisations supporting children's welfare and children's educational projects, including special needs schools need to apply by 31st January each year.

April 17th - Groundwork UK Launches £50 Million Community Spaces Fund (England)

The Community Spaces programme will provide grants of between £10,000-£450,000 to community groups wanting to make their neighbourhoods cleaner and greener. Community Spaces will help local people improve and create play areas, community gardens, parks, wildlife areas, ponds, courts and village greens.

April 8th - £10,000 awards available for poverty-fighting groups

Small charities and voluntary groups fighting poverty in their communities are invited to apply for an award of up to £10,000 from the Centre for Social Justice. Deadline 14th April.

April 2nd - Barclays Programme for the elderly

Voluntary organisations providing services for elderly people are invited to apply for small grants through the Age Concern-administered Barclays Programme. Grants of up to £150 are available towards new and expanding services and up to £500 towards the costs of celebrations or outings.
First deadline is the 10th April.

April 2nd - Western Riverside Environmental Fund

Western Riverside Environment Fund (WREF) is inviting applications for community-led projects that promote environmental improvements and sustainable waste management in several London boroughs. Grants are usually offered in the range of £5,000-£25,000

April 2nd - vcashpoint – young people improving their community

v, the youth volunteering charity, is awarding grants of up to £2,500 for projects led by young people to improve their community. The next application deadline is the 25th April 2008.

April 2nd - WREN Communities Challenge 2008

Waste Recycling Environmental Limited (WREN) is providing £2 million of funding to support community regenerational projects that will breathe new life into tired and rundown facilties or provide much needed new amenities. Closing date for applications is the 30th May.

April 2nd - Children Summer Playschemes

Funding is available for summer playschemes for children between the ages of 5-13 years. Preference is given to small local playschemes lasting 4-6 weeks and groups who are planning activities for disadvantaged children. Closing date for applications is the 2nd May 2008.

April 2nd - Endowment Challenge Programme

Potential donors could be offered £3 to support local community groups for each £1 they donate themselves, under government plans to promote local charitable giving. The £50m endowment challenge programme could raise millions for local charities and community projects.


For information on funding initiatives from previous months go to the Archive.