Voluntary Action North Somerset

The Sutton Trust funds projects that provide educational opportunities for young people from non-privileged backgrounds. The trust is particularly interested in innovative projects and pilot schemes that have the potential to benefit large numbers, and in new research. The Sutton Trust will fund projects across the UK, in any area where there is need, including rural and inner city areas.

The Sutton Trust tends to fund projects in a formal education setting, working primarily with organisations such as schools, universities, community groups, charities and research bodies.

For further information visit: http://www.suttontrust.com/funding.asp

The Morris Charitable Trust favours projects that support the deprived, sick and aged in the community, supporting the advancement of education within the community for public benefit, and to those assisting most children’s charities. Grants are available from £150 and, for a major project, up to £35,000, at the discretion of the Trustees. For further information visit: http://www.morrischaritabletrust.com

email: info@morrischaritabletrust.com or call: (020) 7288 6200.

Awards For All, a part of the National Lottery, aims to fund small projects which involve people in their community, bringing them together to enjoy arts, sport, heritage, charitable and other community activities.

Publicity materials, venue hire, computers, research costs, transport costs, volunteers’ expenses, updating equipment for health and safety reasons, refurbishment, training, sessional staff, fees to hire equipment, and educational toys and games.

Projects must involve local people. Applicants will be told within eight weeks whether or not they have been successful. Funding is not provided to costs already incurred in 12-month period. Groups are expected to contribute something towards the project costs. This may be in cash or ‘in-kind’ (eg time, materials, premises, transport).

Not-for-profit group, parish or town council, school or health bodies can apply for grants of £300 - £10,000. Applications can be made at any time.

For further information contact Awards for All.

Telephone: 0845 6002040.

www.awardsforall.org.uk

The Friends Provident Foundation makes grants of up to £200,000 to not-for profit organisations for projects that address financial exclusion within disadvantaged communities. The funding is distributed through the Financial Inclusion Programme 2007 - 2009.

The Foundation will consider applications for work that will make a strategic contribution to the overall outcome of financial inclusion in the UK. The Foundation will consider requests for capital or revenue funding, core funds or project costs. The Foundation is willing to consider applications from any type of legally independent organisation, but can only support work that is legally charitable. Actions previously supported through the Foundation include making money management advice available to young people via mobile phones and interactive digital TV; and a research project to look at the difficulties that people with a learning disability are having in gaining access to banking services. The next closing date for applications is the 24th October 2008.

http://www.friendsprovident.co.uk

Crisis, the national Homeless Charity has announced that the Changing Lives Programme will be re-opening for applications from the 22nd September 2008 until 31st October 2008. The Crisis Changing Lives programme provides financial awards of up to £2,000 to solitary people who are homeless or settling into a home and looking for support so that they may achieve their vocational goals. The Awards can be used for course fees, equipment or materials for courses, tools, materials and equipment to get back to work, or to set up a business. Applications can not be made by the homeless person, but rather by the support organisation providing ongoing help. This could be a key worker, someone providing guidance concerning training or employment, a housing support officer or someone like a mental health worker.

http://www.crisis.org.uk/page.builder/appforms_rounddates.html

Third Sector organisations that focus on preventing young people from committing crime or becoming involved in anti social behaviour, gun or gang crime will have the opportunity to apply for funding through the second round of the Youth Sector Development Fund (YSDF). A total of £30 million will be available for projects that prevent youth crime and re-offending as well as projects that target some of society’s most vulnerable young people, helping them face difficult issues such as substance misuse, teenage pregnancy and not being in education, employment or training.

As well as financial help, the Youth Sector Development Fund ensures that each organisation receives tailored business advice and support to help them secure a healthy future.

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.

Friday 3rd October 2008 is the deadline to submit proposals to DCSF.

http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/resources-and-practice/TP00046/

Voluntary Action North Somerset are pleased to announce the launch of a new two year programme of activities designed to further enhance the support we currently give to the voluntary  and community sector.  The programme is called In-Step and is funded by Capacity Builders.

In-Step is designed to make life easier for voluntary and community groups.  It will do this by working alongside them to help them realise their full potential, removing barriers that are impeding progress and arranging opportunities to share ideas and learning with similar groups.

The programme is aimed at those who have a leadership or managerial role within their organisation, so you could be a Chair (or other board or committee member), or perhaps you are a CEO, Director or Manager.  Your title is not important, only the desire to look for new ways of achieving even better results for you and your group.

The extent of your participation is down to you.  You may be seeking specific training opportunities, or you may just wish to be kept up to date with news and events that are of interest, or you may just be looking for the opportunity to network and meet new people.  Whatever your needs, please let us know.

If you would like your group, or a part of its membership to take part in the programme, or you would like just to have an introductory chat, then please contact Justin Parsons on 01934 410196, or by email - see vans-email-addresses Or write to us at VANS, The Badger Centre, 3-6 Wadham Street, Weston-s-Mare, BS23 1JY.

Pam Lacy has joined Voluntary Action North Somerset as CEO, replacing Linda Shaw, who left in April.

Pam said   “I am thrilled to have been appointed as the new Chief Executive of Voluntary Action North Somerset.  I have worked in the Third Sector since 1995 in a variety of roles, all based in the South West.

I am really looking forward to working alongside the VANS Board of Trustees, volunteers and staff as we continue to build on all that has been achieved so far in North Somerset.

It is going to be a very busy time for us over the next few months but I am confident that we will continue to give excellent support and help to the Voluntary and Community Sector in North Somerset and work in partnership with our colleagues in the statutory sector.”

The board of trustees expressed their appreciation of Linda’s hard work, commitment and support for VANS during her tenure as manager and director.

The TravelSmart programme offers free travel information and support to people who wish to find out more about walking, cycling and using public transport more often. TravelSmart is delivered by Sustrans and partners Socialdata with support from North Somerset Council and other partners.

TravelSmart is looking for:

• Field office team leader, up to £15,000 pa, 37.5 hours per week from 1 September to 31October
  Ref: NCN549, closing date for applications is Friday 18 July.
• a team of part time staff to carry out the following roles
  - Delivery £6.00 p/h
  - Packing £6.00 p/h office based
  - Data entry £6.50 p/h office based
  - Cycling and Walking advisors (£15/£10 per visits respectively)

Contact Lyn Collins for an information pack on 0117 9268893
or email jobs@sustrans.org.uk quoting Ref:NCN5491

Grants of up to £1,000 are available in the latest round of the Help Yourselves! Awards Scheme. The programme, provided by Save the Children in partnership with British Gas, supports community-based projects that can make a real difference to young people’s lives, particularly those who live in poverty.

The latest funding round in Phase Three of the Awards has been launched, with an application deadline of 11 July. Upcoming rounds to be held later in 2008 are expected to offer larger grants of £5,000 and £10,000 to communities suffering from severe poverty.

The scheme is open to all UK-based, fully constituted voluntary and community groups. Applications can come either from a young person linked to an organisation, or from an organisation that works with children and young people. Statutory organisations can also apply, providing they do not already receive funding to carry out the proposed activity.
Eligible projects must have a positive impact on the circumstances and experiences of young people and fulfil the following criteria:

• Improve the life chances for young people.
• Are led by young people at all stages, including planning and delivery.
• Benefit the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in society.

Grants will usually be paid upfront in a single instalment. For more information about the programme, and to download application forms, visit the Help Yourselves! Award Scheme website at www.helpyourselves.org.uk