Rural businesses across the country are set to benefit from a guaranteed £35 million in government funding to create new jobs, boost tourism, and unlock growth in rural areas.
The government’s Growth Programme provides grants for rural start-ups and businesses to purchase state-of-art equipment and machinery to grow their business or open up opportunities for tourism. The scheme has already granted £99 million to 546 local businesses across England, creating 3,771 new jobs in rural areas.
Farming Minister George Eustice said “Our dedicated fund for rural businesses has created more than 3,700 jobs and supported a diverse group of businesses, tourism operations and start-ups to unlock their full potential. This next round of funding will help more businesses to grow and local areas to prosper – and I would urge any rural enterprise to look into what this scheme could do for them. I would also encourage farmers to consider how they might use this funding to branch out and diversify their businesses, making the most of emerging trends and tastes and looking ahead to new opportunities.”
For this funding round of the Growth programme, the threshold for minimum grants has come down from £35,000 to £20,000, meaning that more small or micro-businesses can be eligible for a grant for their projects.
Paul Caldwell, Chief Executive of the Rural Payments Agency added, “The Growth programme provides funding to the 98% of the rural economy in England that isn’t directly engaged in farming. From heritage railways to creameries and vineyards, small and micro-businesses have benefitted from the investment available under the Growth programme in recent years. We are looking to support applications from businesses with ambitious plans to grow their business and provide wider benefits to their local community. I would urge all interested applicants to submit their expressions of interest as soon as possible to ensure they have plenty of time to complete a full application if their project is assessed to be eligible.”
If you’re a business in a rural area of Berkshire and has the potential to create new jobs, increase business turnover, and improve productivity, then click here for more information and complete the Express of Interest Form.
If the Rural Payments Agency considers the project to be eligible, the applicant will then be invited to submit a full application. The deadline for all Expressions of Interest is Sunday 16 February 2020.
Would you know what to do if your child was ill or had an accident?
Parents and carers in Wokingham have the opportunity to book on this informative and interactive two hour workshop, facilitated by local charity Connecting Communities in Berkshire, supported by the Wokingham BC Adult Community Learning team.
Babies and children cannot be wrapped in cotton wool but you can have the skills to help them if they need it. In just 2 hours, learn what to do in the vital minutes whilst you are waiting for the emergency services to arrive.
The Tutor is Rachel and she is a qualified first aid teacher from Ladybird First Aid. Places MUST be booked.
Dates & Venue
Saturday 15th February, 9.30 – 11.30am at Finchampstead Childrens Centre. Places MUST be booked and paid for (Cost £12 per person incl VAT): https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/84868480911
These necessary skills could save your baby or child’s life.
The class covers baby and child first aid from birth to puberty (+/- 11 years old) and includes the following:
Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Choking Recovery Position Burns and Scalds Meningitis Febrile Convulsions Bumps & Head Injuries plus lots more… All attendees of the 2 hour class receive a certificate of attendance. Babes in arms (under 1) are welcome on classes.
The Trust was established to encourage and assist the provision of leisure activities for the disabled.
The Trustees will consider grant applications related to the provision of leisure activities for the disabled but favour particularly applications whereby the potential beneficiaries meet one or all of the following criteria:
The potential beneficiaries are physically disabled wheelchair users
Improved access for wheelchair users is proposed
A sporting or leisure activity involving disabled wheelchair users is proposed
Applications meeting the above criteria will be considered from charitable organisations. Applications on behalf of individuals will only be accepted through a charitable organisation or equivalent recognised body All applications should be submitted together with appropriate financial information.
BBC Children in Need has made changes to the main grants programme to make it quicker, simpler and clearer.
Not-for-profit organisations that work with disadvantaged children and young people aged 18 and under in the UK can apply. Organisations must have been active for at least three years and have an income under £2million.
Grants over £10,000 per year are available to support projects for up to three years. Capital or building projects are not eligible for funding.
Funding to support local voluntary and community organisations undertaking small scale projects which will benefit local communities within the area covered by the YORhub Frameworks. For more information please click here.
Climate Action Fund Deadline: 18th December, 2019 Grants are available for community-led partnerships in the UK to make changes in their community that they believe will have the biggest impact on climate change.
Greggs Foundation Community Grants – open until 23 February 2020
Not-for-profit organisations developing local community projects are being offered the opportunity to apply for a grant of up to £2000.
Who should apply?
They are interested in projects that improve resilience within the community. This can include sessional activities/respite support, equipment for sessional activities, trips and residential breaks. They are also interested in new approaches and innovative ideas as well as sustainable approaches to supporting your community. They do not fund running costs or continuation of existing and ongoing work. Further details can be found by clicking here.
Masonic Charitable Foundation – Hospice Grants
Widening Access Grants of up to £35,000 are available to support projects running over a period of 18 months. The grants will seek to address inequality and widen access to hospice care for people experiencing homelessness (or who are vulnerably housed) and people with learning disabilities. Deadline: 27 January 2020. See link for guidance and how to apply: hospiceuk.org/grants/masonic-charitable-foundation
The Nineveh Charitable Trust: Countryside & Environment Schools and not for profit organisations can apply for funding for projects and activities that promote a better understanding of the environment and countryside, whilst facilitating improved access, education and research. Grants are normally less than £5000 per year for 1 to 3 years. To apply see www.ninevehtrust.org.uk to apply.
The Wakeham Trust Support for small volunteer organisations that meet the needs or benefit the community. The trust helps projects that are too new to get support through established funding channels, or which are threatened by national or local policy changes. It generally provides an initial £125 to £2,500 where it can make a real difference. Organisations be registered charities or work with or be supported by a charity who would initially provide a holding account. thewakehamtrust.org
Leeds Building Society Charitable Foundation
Grants of between £250 and £1,000 are available for registered charities to support community based projects that relieve suffering, hardship or poverty. They are usually for items of capital expenditure which will directly help those in need.
National Garden Scheme – Community Gardens Award Deadline: 31st December, 2019 Grants are available to amateur gardeners from community groups in England and Wales to create a garden or similar project with horticultural focus for the benefit of their local community.
GEM Road Safety Charity Grants Deadline: 31st December, 2019 Grants are available to support road safety projects which help to improve the safety of all road users throughout the UK through research, education, engineering or enforcement.
Pocket Parks 2019/2020 Deadline: 31st December, 2019 One-off grants are available for community-led organisations working in partnership with their local authority to create new pocket parks or bringing existing green spaces up to a safe, usable and inviting standard.
War Memorials Grant Scheme Funds are offered to support for care and preservation of free-standing memorials to a high standard, and to prevent their decay. Individuals or organisations, including councils can apply for grants to a maximum of £30,000 for up to 75% of eligible costs. Deadline: Apply by 31st March 2020.http://www.warmemorials.org/grants/
Funding for Community Sports Facilities (England) Sports clubs, local authorities, schools and community organisations can apply for grants of between £1,000 and £150,000 to enhance local sports and recreational facilities. Funds can be used to enhance traditional sports facilities as well as outdoor spaces like canal towpaths, woodlands and open spaces; etc that can be used as part of an active lifestyle For details, guidance and to apply see https://www.sportengland.org/funding/community-asset-fund/. Apply anytime.
Daytrippers Foundation – Day Trip Grant Grants are available for schools, children’s hospices, support groups, charities and not-for-profit organisations to support recreational and educational day trips for groups of children and young people (aged 5-25 years) who have disabilities and life-limiting conditions, see https://www.daytrippers.org.uk/day-trip-grant/for details. Open to applications which must be submitted at least 2 weeks before the date of your trip. Funds given on a first come basis.
Information courtesy of Wokingham & Bracknell Involve, Slough CVS, West Berkshire Volunteer Centre and Reading Voluntary Action. Thank you!
Involve Wokingham has secured some short term funding to trial an expansion of the Community Navigation scheme. Community Navigation is all about signposting. They can provide information to people (professionals and the public) about services, charities, groups etc. that may have information, advice, activities that can help them.
The Winter Pressures pilot is a short term project that will attempt to take Community Navigation a step further. Taking a more proactive approach, this pilot aims to keep Wokingham Borough residents safe and well over winter in their own homes. We can undertake Community Navigation and go further with a range of areas, such as heating, food, health issues and social isolation and link the client up to relevant help and support, encouraging them to be as independent as possible.
Winter can be a challenging time and we hope that by providing regular phone and face to face support, we can help reduce the stress on other statutory services.
If you know someone or are working with someone who would benefit from an additional helping hand over the winter period or to find out more about the Winter Pressures Pilot please contact: Hannah Ellis: 01344 304404 or hannah.ellis@involve.community (08:30—16:30 – Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri
Connecting Communities in Berkshire 