Summer funding opportunity for local voluntary organisations Volunteer Now is currently inviting applications for the Small Grants Programme which is funded by the Department for Social Development. The funding will be available to small, local volunteer-involving organisations to support community activity during the summer period that involves volunteers (based in the 15 Council areas of Antrim, Ards, Armagh, Ballymena, Belfast, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Down, Dungannon & South Tyrone, Fermanagh, Larne, Lisburn, Newry & Mourne, Newtownabbey and North Down).
Who can apply? Applicants for small grants must meet the following eligibility criteria before their application can be considered : Organisations must be independent, established for charitable purposes and properly constituted. Organisations must be able to demonstrate that the project will : * Tackle need or disadvantage and benefit the local community or community of interest * Be made up of at least 40% volunteers not in paid work * Promote diversity and make volunteering more inclusive Grants can only be used for the purposes of costs associated with summer schemes – defined as ‘community activity during the summer period that involves volunteers’. Grants cannot be made to individuals or to statutory or commercial organisations. Grants cannot be made to groups with an annual income in the previous financial year of more than £100,000. Organisations cannot receive more than one grant from the small grants programme per year.
Selection Criteria If there are insufficient resources to fund all eligible applications, the following criteria will be used to decide which projects to fund. Applications will be assessed primarily on the basis of their potential to achieve the following objectives: Overall increase in the number of volunteers Increase in number of volunteers from under-represented groups Promote diversity and make volunteering more inclusive Tackle need or disadvantage, benefit the local community or community of interest.
How much we can fund? Grants of up to £1,000 are available, however it is anticipated that the typical grant will be in the region of £500. 40% of total programme funding will be allocated to those organisations based/providing services in disadvantaged areas i.e. Neighbourhood Renewal Areas.
What can you apply for? The grant can be used for the following : Volunteer expenses and running costs incurred particular to the Summer Scheme (‘community activity during the summer period that involves volunteers’). Equipment that is directly related to the volunteering activities within the Summer Scheme. View full details and complete an online application at : http://grants.volunteernow.co.uk/ If you are unable to complete an online application, please contact the Finance Team on (028) 9081 8324 or (028) 9081 8312.
The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday 20 May 2013.