Post Office makes access to cash products available faster
‘Payout Now’ – a voucher based product sent by SMS text, email or post to self-isolating customer who can share it with a trusted individual to withdraw cash on their behalf
‘Fast PACE’ – a service that allows a customer to arrange for a trusted individual to collect the cheque from them, cash it at Post Office, and return with the cash.
Customers of UKs banks, building societies, credit unions need access to cash simply and speedily during this national emergency
Information courtesy of Berkshire’s CVS’s – Slough CVS, Volunteer Centre West Berkshire, Wokingham & Bracknell Involve and Reading Voluntary Action.
The Shanly Foundation The Shanly Foundation has set up a Coronavirus Emergency Response Fund of £150,000 to help organisations who are working directly against the Covid-19 pandemic. The Shanly Foundation primarily support community organisations in the counties outside North, West and South London such as scouting and guide groups, and local charities. In light of the Cornavirus pandemic they are now only accepting applications from organisations who are directly involved in the fight against Covid-19, or who are supporting the most vulnerable during it. Read more
England and Wales Cricket Board funding Cricket clubs and leagues can now apply to two funding schemes designed to help them through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Emergency Loan Scheme The England and Wales Cricket Board Emergency Loan Scheme aims to support affiliated cricket cubs during the COVID-19 crisis by providing funding to assist clubs to cover any shortfall in essential day-to-day running and maintenance costs until normal recreational cricket activity can be resume. Return to Cricket Grant Scheme The Return to Cricket Grant Scheme aims to provide cricket clubs and leagues with assistance in exceptional circumstances, where other potential sources of financial support are not available, e.g. constitutionally a loan is not an option or there is a high risk of default in paying back a loan. Read more
Morrisons’ Foundation COVID-19 Homeless Support Fund The Foundation has pledged £500,000 towards the Homeless Support Fund. The fund is designed to support registered charities caring for the homeless during the coronavirus emergency and ensure help gets to those who need it most. Grants up to £10,000 are available to cover three broad areas:
Outreach and support for rough sleepers, including provision of essentials
Support Adoption for Pets They support charities and not-for-profit organisations whose main activity is either the rescue and rehoming of UK pets or the provision of temporary support to ensure pets can remain with their owners. They give grants up to £10,000. They will currently only fund:
Vet bills
Boarding costs
Food
Salaries of (non-furloughed) animal care staff
Utilities and consumables
This is a rolling programme, with complete applications reviewed as quickly as the team is able to. Read more
Schroder Charity Trust Grants up to £5,000 are available for UK charities supporting education, communities, the environment, health, arts and culture, international development, heritage, and the armed forces. The deadline is 30th April 2020. Read more
Alpkit Foundation Grants up to £500 are available for individuals or organisations serving those affected by the Covid 19 emergency. Read more
Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation has launched its Coronavirus Response Fund to support smaller charities during the Covid-19 outbreak. The £100,000 fund will make donations of £250 to £2,000 to charities that are helping UK communities to cope with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Charities can apply for support with running costs, staff and travel costs as well as volunteer expenses. Read more
Tesco Bags of Help Tesco Bags of Help is responding to the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis by setting up a new short-term fund to support local communities. Due to the need to respond quickly to the emergency we have created a streamlined application process and payment process to make it easier to get funds distributed quickly. If your application is successful the fund will provide a single payment award of £500 to organisations who are supporting vulnerable groups. The programme is set up to support organisational need in this time of crisis rather than fund specific projects. Read more
#IWILL FUND Grants of up to £10,000 to help young people support each other during bereavement. Express an interest before 12pm (noon) on 31 July 2020. Read more
The Yapp Charitable Trust – core funding for small charities
The Yapp Charitable Trust has invited small UK charities affected by the impact of Covid-19 to apply for grants of up to £3,000.
Who can apply?
Registered charities who have been established for a minimum of 3 years, with a total annual expenditure of less than £40,000, who are undertaking work that focuses on one of these priority groups:
Elderly people.
Children and young people, aged 5 – 25.
People with physical impairments, learning difficulties or mental health challenges.
Social welfare – people trying to overcome life-limiting problems of a social, rather than medical, origin (such as addiction, relationship difficulties, abuse, offending).
What can you use the money for?
They only make grants for ongoing core funding, which they define as costs associated with regular activities or services that have been ongoing for at least a year. They cannot not fund new projects, extra services or additional delivery costs. This includes creating a paid post for work that is currently undertaken on a voluntary basis or rent for premises that are currently cost free.
BCF Vital for Berkshire Coronavirus Funding – applications open
Berkshire Community Foundation (BCF) have launched their Vital for Berkshire Coronavirus Funding to support groups in Berkshire who are working with those most affected by the impact of coronavirus. You can find more information on the BCF website. The funding is open for applications from 31 March 2020.
It has also changed the funding requirements for individuals and organisations currently in receipt of funding. Its statement reads:
“We will offer individuals and organisations working in the cultural sector new financial support during this crisis, totalling £160m. We have re-purposed all our investment strands to be able to offer this support. These emergency funding streams will be open to applications very soon.”
It will make £90m available to its National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs). “We hope organisations will use this funding to reboot their creative work, but we also understand it may be required to alleviate financial pressures on NPOs,” the funder said. It is making £50m available to organisations that are not in receipt of regular funding from the Arts Council. Organisations who have applied to National Lottery Project Grants are still able to apply for this support. ACE will be making £20m available to individuals.
Persimmon Community Champions Support Organisations Working with the over 70’s
Each of the Persimmons 31 businesses and head office are giving up to £2000 each every month.From 1st April for the foreseeable future, donations will focus on organisations that support the over-70s – a vulnerable group in our society that need support at this time. Persimmon has a Thames Valley office with an operating area which covers Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire and West Sussex. Persimmon has current developments at Winnersh, Bracknell and Thatcham and has built retirement homes in Wokingham and Maidenhead. How to apply? If you are a charity or community group working with older people you can apply. How to apply? Click below to apply and complete the online form. Tell Persimmon – why your group or charity, which works with or supports the over-70s, deserves a donation. – how much you want them to donate. – the name and location of the initiative so that they can ensure the right business receives your request. Click Here To Apply
Co-op Community Dividend Fund Deadline: 24th April, 2020 Grants are available to support local causes and make a positive difference across the central region of England.
Souter Charitable Trust Deadline: 24th April, 2020 Grants are available to registered charities for projects engaged in the relief of human suffering in the UK or overseas, particularly those with a Christian emphasis and ethos.
A B Charitable Trust Deadline: 26th April, 2020 Grants are available for small to medium-sized charities registered and working in the UK that defend human rights and promote respect for vulnerable individuals in the UK.
AHF Transforming Places Through Heritage Programme – Project Development Grants Deadline: 27th April, 2020 Grants are available for charities and social enterprises in England to help fund development costs of projects that will create alternative uses for redundant or underused, community-owned historic buildings in town centres.
Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) – Project Development Grants Deadline: 27th April, 2020 Grants are available for not-for-profit organisations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to cover some of the costs of developing and coordinating a building project and taking it towards the start of work on site.
Awards for Young Musicians Deadline: 27th April, 2020 Grants are available for the UK’s most talented young instrumentalists in any genre, aged five to 17 years of age who, because of financial need, may be prevented from fulfilling their creative potential.
Sylvia Adams Charitable Trust – Early Years’ Preventative Work Deadline: 28th April, 2020 Grants are available for registered charities to support work that will improve the life chances of some of the most disadvantaged children (aged 0-3 years) in England and Wales by investing in early intervention and preventative work.
Regulator Ofgem has written to all energy suppliers, saying it expects them to “take proactive measures to support prepayment meter customers, including customers in vulnerable circumstances.” Also, the Government is working with suppliers and the Citizens Advice charity to develop guidelines for energy companies, covering topping up prepayment meters, as well as options for those who could struggle to pay their bills if income reduces.
Here’s a link to a great article by Money Saving Expert that explains the help available, and gives phone numbers and details for suppliers:
They stated ‘Providers told us they will look at issues related to coronavirus on a case-by-case basis, but many told us they’d consider pushing back bill due dates, offer alternative payment arrangements and remove debt charges for late payment. So if you are having issues, make sure you contact your supplier as soon as possible.’
CCB and VCWB are pleased to be able to bring you two bite size funding webinars that you can access from the comfort of your own desk. Please find details below to register please click on the relevant link, if you would like to attend both you will need to complete a registration form for both.
Thursday 30th April, 11am – 11.45am. Hints and Tip to Improve Funding Bids
Please join us online for this bite size Funding webinar and for the opportunity to learn some useful hints and tips to improve your future funding bids. This sessions is support by Adult Community Learning West Berkshire.
Sara Hanson, Volunteer Sector Support Officer at Volunteer Centre West Berkshire is presenting. VCWB provides free impartial information advice and guidance about volunteering in West Berkshire. Sara is an experienced bid writer, evaluatior and trainer. Sara will be covering general useful hints and tips to consider when preparing funding forms and applications. There will be the opportunity to ask questions and the training session will also on touch on where to find other funding resources.
Thursday 7th May, 11am – 11.45am. Funding for Community Buildings
This funding webinar run by Kate Meads, Community Buildings Advisor at CCB, will cover funding opportunities available to Community Buildings and Village Halls This session with cover; • UPDATE on Government support for Village Halls, Community Buildings and Small Community Businesses (Covid 19) • Funding opportunities for Community Buildings & Village Halls • Community owned businesses • Playing fields • Q & A’s All you need to access this webinar is access to the internet and a computer/laptop or tablet. To attend please book your place by completing this booking form: https://ccberks.wufoo.com/forms/bitesize-funding-webinar-community-buildings/
A new £350,000 fund to support communities affected by the coronavirus pandemic is now open for applications.
Due to the significant impact on communities from the coronavirus outbreak, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has repurposed its annual Resilient Communities Fund to offer grants of up to £3,000 for projects that will specifically support community members in vulnerable situations.
Applications are being encouraged for projects that will provide extra help to those who are self-isolating or social shielding, such as the elderly or those with underlying health conditions. Examples include a social delivery service, online advice centres or a befriending scheme.
The fund is open to community councils, parish councils and town councils in SSEN’s network areas in the north of Scotland and central southern England. The initial funding round will close on 30 April, with additional rounds to open based on demand. Grant awards will be issued in early May to ensure timely release of funding to community groups.
In the event the fund is oversubscribed, the panel will give priority to applications which support communities that are particularly remote or isolated, contain high levels of vulnerability or low levels of resilience.
Colin Nicol, SSEN’s Managing Director, hopes the fund will make a difference as communities rally together to support those most in need:
“In keeping the power flowing, safely and reliably, SSEN will play an integral role in the communities we serve during the coronavirus pandemic. As a responsible business, we believe this role also extends to supporting communities in their own response to the crisis.
“Following positive consultation with stakeholders and independent community fund panel members, we are delighted to relaunch our Resilient Communities Fund to help fund community resilience projects that will help those most in need.
“It’s encouraging to see communities pulling together at this time and we are pleased to play a small part in that response. I’d call on all local community council, parish and town council representatives to apply for a grant where they think we can help.”
Kerry Jardine, Scottish Government’s Resilient Communities Policy Manager and Resilient Communities Fund panel member, added:
“The SSEN Resilient Communities Fund provides a significant resource for communities to enhance their resilience to the challenges that are important to them.
“Groups throughout Scotland are currently focussing their energy on supporting their communities through the risk and restrictions that Covid-19 is presenting. We are seeing communities all over Scotland come together to develop their resilience to these challenges.
“This fund can be used to support community groups in their immediate activities and thinking ahead to their community recovering and building on their resilience to future challenges.”
Paul Bright, CEO of Citizens Advice Hampshire and Resilient Communities Fund panel member, said:
“Our service is experiencing an unprecedented surge in enquiries, many from people self-isolating or concerned as they have underlying health issues. They need help with debt, housing and financial worries. This fund will allow communities across south central England to help look after the most vulnerable. I am delighted and impressed that SSEN has extended their commitment to social responsibility and have raised the bar in offering to develop such a quick response.”
Since its launch in 2015, SSEN’s Resilient Communities Fund has provided over £2.4 million to 362 local community projects to build resilience and protect those most vulnerable. The criteria for this year’s fund was changed following consultation with SSEN stakeholder groups, who strongly supported opening the fund early and targeting coronavirus response.
For more information on this year’s Resilient Communities Fund or to apply, please visit ssen.co.uk/resiliencefund.
To check who your network operator is and to see if your community, parish or town council is eligible for SSEN funding, visit ssen.co.uk/whoismynetworkoperator.
For more information on how SSEN is protecting its customers, colleagues and network during the coronavirus pandemic, please visit ssen.co.uk/covid19response/.
Connecting Communities in Berkshire 