Funding Opportunities in January 2020: New year, new funding!

Satellite Club Funding

Are you enthusiastic about getting Berkshire teenagers more active? Start up, work in partnership or need more funds for a satellite club? Roller Skating, Friday Night Football, Inclusive Ice Skating, Wheelchair Rugby, Dance and Angling are only some of the activities that a satellite club might offer.

What are the grants for?
Satellite Clubs are part of a programme funded by Sport England to support community sports clubs and other non-sporting community organisations to deliver physical activity sessions to young people.
Community Satellite Clubs provide regular opportunities for inactive young people (aged between 14-19) to access physical activity that is enjoyable, appealing and convenient based on their individual needs.

School Satellite Clubs provide regular opportunities for inactive young people (aged 11-19) and are delivered in partnership with at least one school HE/FE provider. All sessions must be delivered in non-curriculum time.

Who is the target audience ?
Those people that don’t necessarily have the same opportunities as others or who have difficulties in accessing opportunities.

These audiences include:
• Low socio-economic groups
• Women and girls
• Ethnic minority groups
• People living with a disability.

What does the grant support?
Funding can be used to help set up satellite clubs. This can include equipment, facility hire and coaching costs. Or it can be used to support an existing club.

Where possible the programme prefers to support those in highlighted areas of deprivation to make sure the population are receiving the same opportunities as those in other areas. Please call Berkshire Active (01628 472 851) if you would like more information on these specific areas.

How to apply
• Application forms can be downloaded by clicking the link below.
• Completed forms should be sent to chelsea.piggott@getberkshireactive.org
• Application process closes: Wednesday 29th January
• Successful applicants notified: Week commencing 6th February
• Delivery must start by: Week commencing 9th March

Click Here for the Guidance & to Make an Application

The Open Fund for Organisations
The Open Fund for Organisations supports new music projects led by promoters, talent development organisations, venues, festivals, curators and large performance groups.
See https://prsfoundation.com/funding-support/funding-for-organisations/the-open-fund-for-organisations/ for more details. Deadlines for current round: 12th February 2020

British Ecological Society
British Ecological Society Grants to promote ecological science
Outreach Grants available to individuals and organisations such as schools, museums, libraries and community groups to promote ecological science to a wide audience. Funding of upto £2000 available.
See https://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/funding/outreach-grants/ for details and to apply. Deadline for this round: 20th March 2020

Ouseley Trust: Church Choral Music Grants
Churches, choral foundations, choir schools and others which promote a high standard of Church choral music have until the 28th February 2020 to apply for funding from the Ouseley trust. Funding categories cover: courses, endowments, fees for individual choristers at choir schools, the purchase of liturgical music and other innovative projects.
See http://www.ouseleytrust.org.uk/about.html for details. Deadline 28th February 2020.

Berkshire Community Foundation Funding – Give a Child a Chance

Grants are made to individual children and groups which work with children up to and including the age of 18 (and up to the age of 25 for those with learning and/or physical disabilities). The appeal aims to help children in general but especially targets children:
• With physical or learning disabilities
• With psychological and behavioural disorders
• Deprived of a normal life e.g. fostered or in hospital or
• Suffering from financial hardship
Grants of up to £1,000 are available.
Deadline: 9.00am, Tuesday 28 January 2020

Find out more about Give a Child a Chance

Berkshire Carers Service Fund

Berkshire Carers Service Fund will allocate awards aiming to benefit carers to charities or community groups working in Berkshire.

For the purposes of the Fund, the definition of a carer is: someone of any age who provides unpaid support to family or friends who would not be otherwise able to manage without this help. This could be caring for a relative, partner, child or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health issues. The Fund is particularly interested in allocating grants which will help organisations develop and set up new sustainable services for carers and/or regular events for carers. Groups working with the ‘cared for’, aiming to set up services for their related carers are encouraged to apply.

Grants of up to £5,000 are available.
Deadline: 9.00am, Tuesday 28 January 2020

Find out more about Berkshire Carers Service Fund

Disadvantage in Slough Fund

Berkshire Community Foundation manages a fund which aims to support community groups addressing issues of disadvantage impacting on residents of all ages living within Slough.

Grants are available of up to £7,000.
Deadline: 9.00am, Tuesday 28 January 2020

Find out more about the Disadvantage in Slough Fund

Vital for Berkshire Essential Resources Fund

‘Vital for Berkshire’ aims to increase support for people across Berkshire who are struggling to cope with a range of issues preventing them from having a safe home, good health and secure employment.

BCF recently asked grant applicants for their feedback on their funding experience with BCF. From the findings from the survey, a huge number of groups reported that they find it difficult to fund essential resources/core costs. So, for this funding round, BCF managed funds will be allocated in grants of up to £10,000 towards running costs for groups working to address the above needs.

Grants available of up to £10,000.
Deadline: 9.00am, Tuesday 28 January 2020

Find out more about Vital for Berkshire Essential Resources Fund

BCF Funds for The Elderly

BCF manages a number of funds which aim to support projects tackling issues of isolation, disability and/or disadvantage affecting the elderly.

Grants awarded will aim to improve health and well-being, improve access to facilities, advice and training, and to overcome problems such as illness, injury, disability, bereavement or financial difficulty.

Grants are available of up to £5,000.
Deadline: 9.00am, Tuesday 28 January 2020

Find out more about BCF Funds for The Elderly

Masonic Charity – Later Life

This grant programme is open to charities who are working to reduce loneliness and isolation in later life. Charities with incomes of under £500,000 can apply for a small grant of between £500 and £15,000 over 1-3 years. These grants are unrestricted.

Charities with incomes of over £500,000 can seek a large grant for up to 3 years. They range upwards from £10,000, averaging from £20,000 to £80,000. Large grants must be used to fund a specific project.

Deadline is 17 February 2020.

Find out more about Masonic Charity – Later Life

Masonic Charity – Early Years Opportunities

This programme is open to charities that help disadvantaged children and young people overcome the barriers they face to achieve the best possible start in life.

Charities with incomes of under £500,000 can apply for a small grant of between £500 and £15,000 over 1-3 years. These grants are unrestricted.

Charities with incomes of over £500,000 can seek a large grant for up to 3 years. Grants are between £10,000 and £150,000, however the average grant ranges from £20,000 to £80,000. Large grants must be used to fund a specific project.

Deadline is 17 February 2020.

Find out more about Masonic Charity – Early Years Opportunities

Co-op Community Dividend Fund
Deadline: 31st January, 2020
Grants are available to support local causes and make a positive difference across the central region of England

NFU Mutual Charitable Trust
Grants are available to large charitable groups and organisations in the UK for projects that further the objectives of the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust, particularly those that educate young people in rural areas and relieve of poverty in rural areas.

With thanks to Slough CVS, Wokingham & Bracknall InVOLve and Volunteer Centre West Berkshire fod funding news content.


Village Halls Week: CCB has always been at the forefront of helping village halls in Berkshire

It’s Village Halls Week (20 – 26 January 2020) and as part of the weeks events we thought we’d have a little look through the archives and found this interesting article from a 2002 Autumn edition of our old Community magazine. Proving that CCB has always been at the forefront of helping Village Halls to stay up-to-date with changing needs and legislation. Read on for a bit of history and information that is still useful in 2020….

Improving the access to village halls for disabled people can often be achieved at little or no extra cost, wrote Wendy Dacey in 2002.

At an information evening held in Theale in July 2002 members of village hall management committees heard Professor Keith Bright from the Department of Inclusive Environments at Reading University, talk about how village halls can be made more accessible for disbaled people. His talk highlighted not only difficulties of access but the problems encountered by the partially sighted, people with dyslexia and those with hearing difficulties. Frequently only simple remedies are required, often a little or no extra cost.

He explained, for example, that painting contrasting colours between the walls and the fittings in the toilet area can be helpful. Some paint companies can advise on the best colour combinations. Other simple ideas include light switch covers that contract with the wall colour, visbility panels in doors, levers instead of screw taps and notices which are either pictograms or written in upper and lower case.

Professor Bright, together with the delegates then carried out an audit of Theale hall which committee members would be able to do in their own halls, Wendy Dacey, CCB’s Village Halls Adviser, spoke about the funding opportunites available and emphasised the need to minute any decisions taken for future reference.

A number of people commented on how useful they had found the event and the benefits they would be able to bring to their own halls.

QUESTION: Do you remember attending this training event? Did you go away and make any improvements to your village hall following it? if yes we’d LOVE to hear your story. Please get in touch with Kate.Meads@ccberks.org.uk or Gemma.Pearce@ccberks.org.uk to share you story with us.


Village Halls Week; Spotlight on Thatcham Parish Hall

Thatcham Parish Hall – Berkshire

The idea of a village hall was instigated in 1903 by Miss A.L Henry, third daughter of John Henry of Colthrop Mill, and plans were made to erect a venue to accommodate 200 people at concerts and other entertainments. Within a few years some £350 had been raised. The Parish Hall was built by Mr. W. Child of Thatcham and was opened on 10th April 1907 by Mrs Benyon, wife of the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire. The Parish Hall was built in 1907 for the people of Thatcham and has been in regular use ever since by many groups for meetings, entertainment, parties and sports.

In 2019, the Parish Hall faced the prospect of closure as long standing Trustees needed to retire and new Trustees proved difficult to find. Financial pressures also increased with the loss of the local pre-school who were a regular hirer of the hall. The CCB’S Community Buildings Advisor was called in to support the Trustees. Suggestions were made about developing an online presence and promoting the hall using banners overlooking the local supermarket Car park. The Parish Hall held an open public meeting to discuss the option to close the charity and sell the building. This revived local interest in the precious community asset and local people came forward to help support the promotion and running of the Hall. The Parish Hall still serves the community today!

HIRE RATES FOR CASUAL HIRE (discounts available for regular hires)
Library (including Kitchen) £8.00 p/hr
Hall (including Kitchen) £15.00 p/hr
All Rooms £20.00 p/hr

Booking contact

Tel;      07342 274526                                    

Email;   epanting2006@yahoo.co.uk                                       

Facebook; Friends of Thatcham Parish Hall


Big Energy Saving Week 2020

It’s Big Energy Saving Week starts on Monday 20 January 2020. It’s an opportunity for organisations like CCB to give local people skills and knowledge to save money and find further help and advice on their energy bills and usage.

Tip 1 of the week is:

You could save around £36 a year by
✔ using a bowl when washing-up
✔ cutting your washing machine use by one cycle a week
Big Energy Saving Week 2020 6
✔only filling the kettle with the water you need
Learn more about how to use your power to make a BIG difference here: BESW20 bit.ly/2EoXzBL

On Wednesday 22nd Janaury our Energy Expert Helen Dean will be the Lambourn parent and toddler group at the Royal British Legion from 9am to 11am, run by Hungerford Children’s Centre. There’s also a health visitor clinic and baby weigh-in happening at the same time so if you’re going to be there do stop and have a chat with Helen and see how she can help you save money oin Big Energy Saving Week #BESW20


Recruitment: Development Officer at the Five a Day project

Five a Day Market are recruiting a Development Officer to manage the Five a Day project 

Five A Day Market Garden is a not for profit community gardening project.  The project runs from a two acre garden, which is situated in the beautiful and tranquil hamlet of Englefield, approximately seven miles west of Reading, Berkshire.

This is an exciting opportunity to work with volunteers, enjoy the fruits and vegetables of the Five a Day garden, and develop new ideas to help more people of all ages discover and enjoy Five a Day. Download the  Development Officer JD and apply before 27th January 2020.