We are aware that more and more families are struggling financially. Citizens Advice are also saying that almost half of the people they help are in a negative budget – they have more essential spending going out than coming in.

The government have recently announced measures to help with the cost of living – see their factsheet – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-living-support/cost-of-living-support-factsheet-26-may-2022

Frontline workers in Berkshire can refer low-income families they support for telephone advice on reducing their bills, and help with utility debt by emailing Helen on helen.dean@ccberks.org.uk

If you run a group for families with good numbers of low-income families attending, please contact Helen to arrange an advice session at your group.

A new 3-million-pound Village Halls fund was recently announced to co-inside with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Details need to be finalised before the fund goes live, however, our Community Buildings Advisor, Kate, has completed a list of Q & A’s below that may be
helpful.

Q. Who can apply for the Platinum Jubilee Village Hall Improvement Grant Fund?
A. Groups responsible for village halls in England may be eligible to apply for the Platinum Jubilee Village Hall Grant Fund. Full details of the application process and the eligibility criteria will be published shortly.

Q. What can the Platinum Jubilee Village Hall Improvement Grant Fund be used for?
A. The Platinum Jubilee Village Hall Grant Fund is intended to support the modernisation and restoration of village halls across England. Full details of the application process and the eligibility criteria will be published shortly.
It’s expected that the fund will support capital improvements, such as:
• Extensions and internal reconfigurations
• New roof and roof refurbishment which includes insulation
• Improvements that help to increase energy efficiency
• Refurbishment of toilets and kitchens
• Damp proofing
• Installation of Wi-Fi
• Guttering, repointing, and drainage
• Replacement of external and/or internal doors

Q. When can I apply for the Platinum Jubilee Village Hall Improvement Grant Fund?
A. Further detail of when the Platinum Jubilee Village Hall Grant Fund will be launched will be announced later this year.

Q. How can I apply for the Platinum Jubilee Village Hall Improvement Grant Fund?
A. Groups responsible for village halls in England may be eligible to apply for the Platinum Jubilee Village Hall Grant Fund. Full details of the application process and the eligibility criteria and will be announced later this year.

Q. How will this impact rural communities?
A. This fund will have a positive impact on rural communities, restoring these facilities will ensure that local people can continue to benefit from them well into the future.

Q. Where is the funding available?
A. The fund will be open to applications from village halls based in England

Q. Which halls will benefit?
A. The eligibility criteria and all funding information will be announced shortly.

Q. Why 125 halls?
A. This is an estimated figure based on the number supported through the current fund – it may be dependent on the applications that come in and the final criteria that are agreed.
Full details of the application process and the eligibility criteria for village halls wishing to apply for the fund are yet to be released by the government. In the meantime, our national body Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) is recommending halls complete a short form to register their interest and be kept informed about developments.

Do you know anyone who has gone the extra mile in delivering outstanding quality in your charity or community?

Did you know that anyone can nominate anyone for an honour (except themselves!)?  

Maybe If you work with remarkable colleagues or volunteers who you think deserve to have their exceptional contributions acknowledged, join our session to find out what to do  
People get honours for achievements like making a difference to their community or field of work, long-term voluntary service and for improving life for people less able to help themselves.  

REWARDING ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH THE HONOURS SYSTEM – Wednesday 20 July 1030-1200

Nominate someone for an honour or award: Overview – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

This session will guide you through the honours system including how to nominate a colleague, friend or someone else you know.  It’s a great way to recognise people who’ve really changed things for the better and the Home Office is keen to ensure that our charity partners have the best chance of success with the nominations they submit.  

As well as explaining the internal workings of honours committees and how decisions are made, we will also provide advice on how to demonstrate the outstanding quality of the person you are nominating, with hints and tips based on the experience of the Home Office Honours Team including:

• How to structure the nomination; 
• What you should have in, and what to leave out; 
• Getting to grips with the official citation form

You can only nominate an individual for an honour.  To nominate a volunteer group or team, try the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Aviva Community Fund

Aviva has launched the next round of its Community Fund. Aviva has teamed up with the fundraising platform Crowdfunder to offer funding of up to £50,000 to small charities, schools and community interest groups in the UK with innovative ideas that benefit their community. 

Every three months, £250,000 will be split equally among Aviva’s UK employees to donate to the projects that matter to them most. Aviva wants to support projects that boost the resilience of communities in the face of uncertainty and will be supporting projects in the areas of climate action and financial wellbeing. 

To take part the project must also be raising funds to develop a new approach, product or technology, pilot a new scheme, implement a new initiative, or expand existing services to a new area or beneficiary group. All beneficiaries must be in the UK. Once applications have been submitted, applicants will need to create a fundraising page on Crowdfunder that Aviva employees can browse and donate funds to.  Applicants can also showcase their projects to raise additional public donations.

Deadline for applications is 12 July 2022

Read more

Woodward Charitable Trust

Grants up to £3,000 (but mostly below £1,000) for core funding for smaller registered charities with an income below £200,000. They support work with isolated children and young people, disadvantaged families, and prisoners and ex-offenders in the UK.Deadline for applications is noon on 29 July 2022

Read more

Thames Valley Community Fund

The Community Fund (previously known as the Police Property Act Fund) is intended to support voluntary and community groups that help to prevent crime and keep communities safe. Community Fund are pleased to share details of when the next round is due to open for applications (subject to change):

Launch of Community Fund applications: Monday 22 August
Close of Community Fund applications: Monday 12 September (12 noon)
Announcement of successful applicants: Friday 30 September

Please click here for more information: https://www.thamesvalley-pcc.gov.uk/get-involved/community-fund/

Great Western Railway Community Fund
Grants are available for small and medium not-for-profit projects that have a community benefit or address an area of social need across the GWR network and can be completed within one year.
Application deadline: 27 June 2022.

Please click here for more information: https://www.gwr.com/about-gwr/what-you-can-expect/community/community-investment

Funding to Combat Loneliness Among Older People and Adults with Disabilities Across Great Britain

Grants are available for small groups and charities across England, Scotland, and Wales to support older people and adults with physical, learning, and mental disabilities to get active, connect with people, and engage with their local community. Please click here for more information: https://www.bhcfoundation.org.uk/

Asda Foundation – U18 Better Starts Grant

Not-for-profit organisations working to benefit children and young people under 18 years of age can apply for funding of £500 – £1,500 for a range of activities in the summer that address the following:

• Provision of essential items eg, food, hygiene products.
• Encourage physical activity.
• Improve mental health.
• Celebrations within communities eg, summer holiday events.

Application support and guidance are available from Asda Community Champions based in local Asda superstores.

Deadline for applications is 19 August 2022

Read more

The Barrack Charitable Trust
The purpose for which the trust is established  are as for the advancement of the arts, heritage and culture, the provision of recreational facilities, or the organisation of recreational facilities, with the object
of improving the conditions of life for the persons for whom the facilities are primarily intended, and, the relief of those in need by reason of age, ill-health and disability. All applicants must complete the Trust’s Application Form and return it, signed and dated. Grants range in size from £500-£5,000. Applications
will be accepted via post, but the preference would be to receive them by email to trust@barrack.org. Next deadline is at the end of October. Click here to learn more.

The February Foundation
We makes grants to a range of charities and charitable activities in accordance with its grant making policy which is set out in our annual report and accounts. The Foundation supports project or core or capital costs. Our median award is £5,000. We are happy to part-fund projects. We support capital as well as core costs. Re-applications can be for the continuation of previously-funded projects. It normally takes a maximum 12-weeks from application to applicants being informed of the trustees’ decision. There are no application deadlines as trustees normally make grant decisions on a monthly basis. Click here to learn more.

The Volant Charitable Trust Covid-19 Response Fund – deadline on 31 July 2022

The Volant Trust accepts applications from charities in the UK and internationally that demonstrate a strong focus on alleviating social deprivation and helping vulnerable groups who have been particularly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Applications for medical equipment and the production or distribution of PPE will also be considered. They cannot cover costs already incurred or activities which have already taken place.

Who can apply?

Registered charities, community interest companies, community organisations and social enterprises.

What can the grant be used for?

They specifically provide funding towards project and administrative core costs. Although for the Covid-19 response fund, applications can be submitted for projects which include PPE or other essential medical equipment with awards made at the sole discretion of the Trustees. They will not generally fund capital expenditure.

Is there a deadline? Applications are open now and run until 31^st July 2022, with decisions to be made by  October 2022. Click here to learn more

The Wakenham Trust
 We have been established since 1975, and in 2020 we are still supporting many of the same sorts of micro-scale community projects we helped back then, though we have added education (in its broadest sense) to our list of priorities. Our core goal is to help small groups of people who are getting together to make a difference in their communities. On the whole, we don’t support big or established charities. We are especially interested in helping groups that are starting up and need a little seed money to help them get going.

We are privately funded, so we can take risks (and support unpopular causes) in ways that big charities and government bodies find hard to do.   We are entirely run by volunteers, so our costs are low.

We usually make VERY SMALL grants to VERY SMALL projects because they often find it hard to appeal to larger and more formal funding bodies.

We recognise the vital role that Parish Churches, Mosques, synagogues and similar bodies can play as community hubs, and we sometimes can help with their work in the wider community (though NOT with building appeals, and not with evangelising or religious instruction).  Click here for more details.

Newly Reopened: Music for All – Community Project Funding

Are you working in groups and educational organisations within your community? We support projects and initiatives bringing music to communities. We have opened Round #3 of funding for the year that consists of seven categories for you to apply in. To read more click here.