Funding Opportunities – November

Customer Financial Security Funding For Projects
Applications close Sunday 6th November.
Great Places is committed to investing in our communities and helping our customers to live well. With more of our customers affected by the rising cost of living, our foundation which will focus on direct support for customers, as well as community-based initiatives to help people to take control of their household finances. One strand of the foundation is the Resilience Fund where community groups can bid for between £1000 and £25,000 for projects targeted at helping our customers and their community achieve financial security. If you are interested in applying, please fill in the form on our website. >>

Re3Grow Free Compost
Re3 is offering local community groups the opportunity to apply for free compost bags,
as part of their Community re3Grow Scheme. Our compost is made from recycled garden waste which originates from local residents. Up to 5000 (40L) bags of compost will be offered free of charge to community groups, charities and schools. We welcome expressions of interest
if you can demonstrate that you provide a local benefit and that you will help to communicate the key principles that re3Grow compost demonstrates. Learn more. >>

M&S Community Energy Fund (with Crowdfunding)
Grants are available for not-for-profit organisations in Great Britain who can raise their initial funding through a crowdfunding campaign to support community projects committed to being environmentally conscious through ideas such as installing renewable technology or introducing energy efficiency measures in their endeavour to increase energy independence. For further information please click here.

Tesco Community Grants

Tesco Community Grants is open to charities and community organisations to apply for a grant of up to £1,500. Every three months, three local good causes are selected to be in the blue token customer vote in Tesco stores throughout the UK. MORE INFORMATION

Cost-of-Living Essentials
Application accepted on a rolling basis.
This grant is designed to support local community groups over winter 2022/23 following increases in their rent, utility bill and food costs as a result of the cost of living crisis. There are two options within and groups must be clear from the outset which support option they intend to apply for: A) Increased rent/utility bills; or B) Increased food costs. The max value is £2000. More info. >>

Match Funding For Sustainable Projects
Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
The Mortgage Advice Bureau Foundation has teamed up with Crowdfunder to make £100,000 available for sustainable community projects.
The kind of initiatives we will fund include those focusing on the environment/conservation, health/wellbeing or the prevention/relief of poverty. We may pledge up to 50% of your project target, up to a £5,000 maximum pledge. Before completing your application for match funding, please read the essential criteria. You can start by setting up a crowdfunder, and if eligible you can apply for match funding. Learn more. >>

Community Knowledge Fund
Applications close Monday 7th November.
The Community Knowledge Fund gives grants worth between £10k and £100k to community groups and organisations around the UK. It is an open fund, meaning we’re interested in what matters to you, and keen to hear what ideas you have to use the knowledge in your communities to address these challenges. Learn more. >>

Community Fridge Food Hub Fund
Applications close 7th November. Grants are available to non-profit organisations with an open community fridge to develop additional ‘food hub’ activities
across the UK. More info. >>

Screwfix Foundation
Applications close 10th November.
Grants of up to £5,000 are available to registered charities for projects that fix, repair, maintain and improve properties and community facilities for those in
need across the UK. More info. >>

Small Positive Impact Grants
Applications close on Friday 11th November.
Launched in September 2014, BCBN’s Grant Initiative aims to provide small third-sector grant awards to empower charities and local community projects. This initiative will distribute a one-off grant award of up to £3,000 per charity or to small but credible community projects, which are able to demonstrate their positive impact on the communities they aim to serve. We have in place strict vetting procedures and criteria’s for successful applications. Learn more. >>

Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
Applications close on Monday 14th November.
JRCT is keen to support work that responds to the dual harms of the Covid-19 pandemic and systemic racism. Specifically, they wish to encourage work within or across our existing programme areas that scrutinises the responses and policies of powerful institutions and actors, and which envisions and builds support for transformative social change based on justice, peace and sustainability. Funding priorities include peace/security, power/accountability,
rights/justice and sustainability. Learn more. >>

Comic Relief Community Fund
Applications close on Weds 30th November.
This new fund will provide grants of up to £10,000, supporting project delivery and organisational capacity building, helping organisations flourish. You can apply for up to £1,000 for capacity building or up to £9,000 for project delivery. We will fund applications from grass roots, community led organisations that can demonstrate how people with lived experience of the issues being tackled are involved in the organisation and the project. Applications must sit within one of the four key themes of safe places, children survive/thrive, gender justice and/or mental health matters. Further details. >>

Community Gardens Award

Grants of £500 – £5,000 for the creation of a garden or a similar project (such as an allotment) with horticultural focus for the benefit of the local community.

The funding is available to projects run by amateur gardeners within community groups or Community Interest Companies (CICs).

The project should aim to bring a community together by creating a space people can share, by the acquisition and sharing of gardening knowledge and skills and by inspiring a love of gardening. Deadline is 31st January 2023. Read more

British Airways – BA Better World Community Fund

At British Airways we’re committed to playing our part in creating a better, more sustainable and inclusive future for all. Our community fund supports organisations and projects that align with all the elements of BA Better World including community engagement, diversity, wellbeing, waste reduction, tackling climate change, promoting nature and biodiversity and engaging our colleagues in positive action in the communities we serve.
We want to empower communities to become more sustainable and therefore will also support projects with innovative ideas that improve social mobility, provide opportunities for education and employability in disadvantaged communities.


British Airway’s BA Better World Community Fund provides 50% of your project target matched funding contributions up to £50,000 to UK registered charity or social enterprise for innovate projects that demonstrate an ability to create positive impact across several categories:
• Environment
• Diversity, inclusion and wellbeing
• Education and employability
• Thriving communities
• Crisis support
• Colleague engagement
Funding will be pledged onto your Crowdfunder project page once the following pledge conditions have been met:
• 25% of your project target
• At least 25 unique supporters
Organisations will then need to go on to reach 100% of their target through crowdfunding to secure the funding from the BA Better World Community Fund. For more details.

Ocado Foundation for Good

The Ocado Foundation is the charitable arm of Ocado Group, working for good in the community. We focus our efforts in three core areas, skills for the future, natural resources and responsible sourcing.
We like to support the many rather than the few, welcoming opportunities from charities, CICs and community projects. Funding of up to £1000 is available.

Our Corporate Responsibility mission is to change the way the world shops for good; to harness the unlimited potential of technology for people and the planet. Our strategy for moving towards a sustainable future is called Ocado Unlimited.
Within this, we have three pillars. Each pillar identifies the areas where we have a significant impact, a great opportunity to make a difference and an ability to use our expertise for greater environmental and societal change.
Programme Objectives
• Skills for the Future: Improve Basic Life Skills
• Skills for the Future: Improve Skills for Future Learning
• Natural Resources: Reduce our Impact on the Planet
• Responsible Sourcing: Support Ethical Products & Supply Chains
More information can be found here.

Delamere Foundation

Delamere Dairy Ltd has been instrumental in the concept and thinking behind the Delamere Dairy Foundation and is proud of the association and the support it can provide. Delamere Dairy’s sustainable approach to business, its ethics, values and vision inspired the concept of the Corporate Foundation, driven by a desire to ‘do the right thing’, now and in the long term, by giving back to the communities in which it operates.


Though financially supported by Delamere Dairy Ltd and affiliated by name, the Delamere Dairy Foundation, established in October 2020, is a self-governing, independent registered charity with a clear purpose of giving back to local and wider communities through the provision of discretionary grants and other financial assistance.


The Foundation is run by independent trustees and grant panel members who consider applications for funding in line with the Foundation’s objects as set out in its Constitution and with the charitable support of Delamere Dairy. Applications are welcome from charities and organisations whose purpose fits with the objects of the Delamere Dairy Foundation for the benefit of the public, namely
• The advancement of agriculture and of environmental protection
• The advancement in life of young people by developing their capabilities so that they may mature as contributory members of society
• The relief of financial hardship
• The advancement of education
• The relief of sickness
A minimum of £250 up to £5000. Charities and organisations may apply once per calendar year. For further details here.

Deadline: 31st January 2023

As always thanks to Berkshire’s brilliant CVS’s for the information contained in this article – Slough CVS, Wokingham & Bracknell InVOLve, Reading Voluntary Action & West Berkshire Volunteer Centre.


How inclusive is West Berkshire?

The Building Communities Together team want to make sure that West Berkshire is as inclusive as possible. To find out how people feel, they are asking everyone that lives and works in West Berkshire to let us know whether they feel that they’re included and treated fairly.

It’s only by hearing from people about their personal experiences that we can make the changes needed to move us forward towards equity and inclusivity, so please take our survey knowing this is a confidential, safe space to share your thoughts and experiences.

The survey takes around 10-15 minutes to complete and will help us identify priorities for the future through a new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Framework. Access the survey and more information about why we are doing this work here: www.westberks.gov.uk/EDIsurvey2022

The survey will be open for responses until midnight on Sunday the 27th of November 2022.


Support from Age UK Berkshire available to West Berkshire residents

Age UK Berkshire have some funding to be given to West Berkshire residents over the winter period. It is specifically for those age 65+, resident in West Berkshire and to support those most in need.

The criteria as set out from the local authority is

  • Can support with essentials including energy, water and food.
  • Can be used for the provision of essentials linked to energy and water (such as soaps/ toiletries, warm clothing, blankets, boiler service/ repair and purchases of equipment including fridges, freezers, ovens etc.
  • Can also be used for support with wider essentials such as other bills including broadband or phone bills, clothing and essential transport related costs e.g. repairing a car, buying a bicycle or paying for fuel.
  • If you would like assistance please contact Age UK Berkshire 0118 959 4242, info@ageukberkshire.org.uk, https://www.ageuk.org.uk/berkshire

The nominations are now open for the 2022 West Berkshire Learner Achievements Awards!

The awards celebrate the success of post 19 adult learning and training in West Berkshire covering a wide range of learning including apprenticeships, professional, academic and vocational courses and learning programmes to support families, communities and health and wellbeing.

Nominations can be made here.

Please note the awards are open to adults over the age of 19 years who are currently, or have previously been, engaged in learning since September 2021 and live, work or volunteer in West Berkshire.

All winners will receive a cash prize, a certificate and are invited to the awards ceremony at Shaw House, Newbury on Friday, 11 November.

The Learner Achievement Awards are organised by West Berkshire Council on behalf of the West Berkshire Community Learning Partnership and sponsored by Newbury College, West Berkshire Training Consortium, and the Newbury Community Resource Centre.

Nominations close at 5pm on Friday, 28 October. If you would like more information please go to the website or contact the Community Learning service on aclteam@westberks.gov.uk / telephone 01635 519060


Training opportunity for practitioners and volunteers in Slough Borough

Online Energy & Water Bills Training Webinar for Practitioners & Volunteers in Slough Borough

This session will provide training, advice, and useful information to practitioners & volunteers that work with low income and vulnerable families, to help families to reduce the cost of their energy and water bills, and deal with utility debt.

Learners will know and understand the definition of fuel poverty, and how to advise and support the clients they work with to save money on their bills through a variety of ways.

This includes:

  • Discounts available to those on low incomes – Warm Home Discount, Thames Water Discounts
  • Financial help from government for energy bills
  • Hardship funds from suppliers and Slough Borough Council
  • Reducing costs by reducing energy usage
  • Dealing with utility debt, and trust funds for grants for debt
  • The Priority Services Register for those with health conditions/vulnerability
  • Funding for insulation and boiler improvements for low-income households
  • Comparing costs and switching to get the best deal
  • Useful sources of information

“This training was fantastic. I had no idea so much was available to assist people who face challenges fuelling their homes, and how to access grants and organisations. Thank you! Infinitely useful and so important.” Hannah, Support Worker at Alana House, Domestic Abuse Charity

“Full of useful information, really helpful for the work we do” Family Support Worker, Slough Early Help Team

To attend, just register for the training using the link below: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEsfu-rqzsqG9EpHnJcTCIH_-TrzkS4_WJA

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.