Date: Tuesday 22 May, 10.00-3.00
Venue: Wheeler Hall, St Mary’s Cathedral, Leeds LS2 8BE

This event will provide a historical context for the Community Development role, consider what it means to work in Community Development today and look at some of the tools and learning opportunities available for developing the skills of today’s workers.

The event is relevant to:

• Present Community Development workers
• Those employing Community Development workers
• Students of Community Development and related subjects
• People who would like to explore a career in Community Development.

Go to the website for more information and a booking form.

Deadline: 14 May (to return booking form).
Website: www.involveyorkshirehumber.org.uk/events/diary/working-in-community-development-today/

The School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) and Lloyds Banking Group have joined forces to launch the Lloyds Banking Group Social Entrepreneurs programme which will support 500 social entrepreneurs across the UK, as they start-up and grow social and community enterprises.

The scheme will see 100 social entrepreneurs each year receive comprehensive support from the SSE, as well as a grant ranging from between £4,000 and £25,000. .

The full press release is here. To register your interest in applying for the awards programme, see contact details below:

Contact: Alexa Kellow
Telephone: 0207 089 9120
Email: lloyds@sse.org.uk

McDonalds have made £75,000 available through their Kickstart grant scheme, supporting community football. Football clubs applying need to be recognised by the FA, and have at least one team at or below junior level  (U18).

They can apply for one-off grants of between £500 to £2500 for things like:
- club facilities, grounds-keeping tools, training courses, pitch hire, mini-vans and washing machines

The scheme will not fund:
- advertising and promotions, fundraisers, kit/team wear, club trips/tours, holiday training camps and club personnel wages/expenses e.g. fuel.

There are three more application rounds this year - the next closes on 30 June. The McApplication form is on the website.

Contact: http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/ukhome/Sport/Football/Investment/small-grant.html

Involve Yorkshire and Humber have published a briefing paper on the changes to governance structures since the Coalition Government came into power.

It’s a concise description of which regional structures have been abolished and which have been created and provides an interesting overview of the changes over the last couple of years. It has a particular focus on structures that may affect the rural voluntary and community sector in Yorkshire and Humber.

You can download the briefing here.

Website: www.involveyorkshirehumber.org.uk/resources/briefings/changes-to-governance-structures-and-arrangements-in-y-h/

Communitybuilders aims to make sustainable investments in community enterprises to build their long term financial viability and increase their ability to deliver significant social impact in their communities. The investments will be at least 80% loan finance, so won’t be suitable for everyone. They are looking at offering different financial products such as feasibility grants for organisations looking to develop their enterprise plans.

Register your interest for when the new funds are available - set for June 2012

Website: http://www.communitybuildersfund.org.uk/apply/register-your-interest/

Involve Yorkshire & Humber has launched a new survey to gauge the confidence of the voluntary and community sector (VCS).

They want to find out what’s really happening in the sector and use the information gathered to brief politicians, key agencies and the media.

This is the tenth successive quarter they have run the survey, it allows them to show and analyse trends, as well as giving an immediate snapshot. You can find out more here.

It takes just a few minutes and you can get in touch with Ruth if you have any queries.

Click here to go to the survey.

Deadline: 25 May
Contact: Ruth Beattie, Invole Yorkshire and Humber
Email: ruth.beattie@involveyorkshirehumber.org.uk
Website: www.surveymonkey.com/s/2SQ7MX3

BBC Children in Need has to be one of the best known funders in the country. It has a very high profile when collecting the money, and the flip side to this is that every year a very large amount – this year £26million and still counting – is available as grants to groups.

It is a very flexible funder in terms of the groups it will fund, how much, and what activities, so if you work with disadvantaged children and young people aged up to 18, check out what they can offer:

Who? Any constituted not for profit group can apply. You don’t have to be a registered charity.

How much? There is a small grant scheme for up to £10,000, and a larger grant scheme where most awards are for below £100,000.

What for? Capital and revenue costs in projects which benefit disadvantaged children. This can be salaries, and overhead costs relating directly to the project. They will fund projects running between one and three years. ‘Disadvantage’ can cover such things as:

• Illness, distress, abuse or neglect
• Any kind of disability
• Behavioural or psychological difficulties
• Living in poverty or situations of deprivation (much of Rotherham, when compared to the UK, will fit this)

You will need to show how your project will change the lives of the children for the better. Where possible you should take into account their views and involve them in decisions that affect them.

So who’s been successful locally? Here are some Rotherham groups currently benefiting from Pudsey’s hard work:

• Base to Beat studio and partners received £78,345 for music and music production workshops and tuition for disadvantaged young people

• Rotherham United Community Sports Trust £75,472 to provide exercise and healthy life-style activities for disadvantaged young people with poor health

• Kelford School Rotherham £10,000 to access a riding stable for disadvantaged young people living in South Yorkshire to use together to develop vocational skills

• Rotherham Advocacy Partnerships £38,289 to support young people with a range of learning disabilities aged 14-18. They will help each young person plan for their future and begin to prepare for adult life and adult services.

To adapt a phrase from another well known funder, THIS COULD BE YOU! If you work with children & young people, this funder is one you should take a good look at.

Gemma Stothard is the Regional Officer for Children in Need. She says “In Rotherham, BBC Children in Need already funds music sessions for young people in Herringthorpe, befriending support for Asian young women, advocacy services for teens and sports and recreation activities at an after school club. Requests from organisations can include sessional workers, salaries, equipment, venue hire and capital expenditure. We’re keen to help more groups access our funds.”

Gemma has very kindly offered to attend a ‘Meet the Funder’ event organised by SYFAB in Rotherham shortly, so come along and hear about the scheme and how to apply. Space is limited, so please book a place:

Details:

Monday 14 May, from 10.30 – 1.00 at Voluntary Action Rotherham, Coke Hill, Rotherham S63 2HX

Contact: SYFAB
Telephone: 0114 249 4343
Email: advice@syfab.org.uk

The Santander Foundation is the latest guise of a funder that has been very active over the years, bringing together donations made via the Abbey, Alliance and Leicester, and Bradford and Bingley businesses. In the last few years it has grown considerably, in 2010 making 1,848 grants which totalled over £4million. They have been keen to promote their work in South Yorkshire, and have attended several events to talk to local groups. They will fund registered charities, Friendly Societies, some Industrial and Provident Societies, and credit unions. They now have an upper limit of £10,000 for grants.The Foundation are interested in two areas of work:

Education and training: to help disadvantaged people improve their confidence in a skill, or their understanding of a subject. This does not have to be formal training or lead to a qualification (although these activities are eligible too) but could be part of lifelong learning.
Examples of possible activities include independent living skills, anger management, improving self-esteem, reminiscence projects for older people, art and craft sessions or IT classes.

Financial capability: help disadvantaged people understand how to manage their money. It could include budgeting skills as well as managing the financial challenges that arise from being a carer, unemployment, break up of relationships, disability or ill-health.
Examples of possible activities include costs of running a credit union, delivering financial advice and helping people to understand their benefit entitlement - any project helping people to make informed choices about their finances might meet this priority.

A local charity based in Rotherham has secured a donation relating to this priority to provide financial advice and training to local residents with learning disabilities.
Speakup Self Advocacy aims to support people with learning disabilities to lead independent, inclusive and well supported lives. The donation will fund a trainer for a new project called ‘Budgeting for my life’ which will focus on giving people the necessary skills to budget and manage their money independently on a daily basis. The project has been a tremendous success so far with 55 people enjoying learning how to manage their money.
Anne Ferguson, Principal Officer at Speakup Self Advocacy said: “We are extremely grateful to the Santander Foundation for the donation, which has enabled us to set up this training course. We have also developed a shopping game which is working extremely well at getting the message across.”

Would you like to know more? Alan Eagle, the Foundation Manager, is coming to South Yorkshire shortly to attend ‘Meet the Funder’ sessions, so here is an opportunity to hear first hand about his scheme:

Rotherham: Monday 14 May, 10.30 - 1.00 at Voluntary Action Rotherham, Coke Hill, S60 2HX (with Children in Need)
Sheffield: Tuesday 15 May, 10.30 - 1.00 at The Quaker Meeting House, St James St. Sheffield S1 2EW (with the Key Fund)

Please book for the Rotherham event - places are limited.

Contact: SYFAB
Telephone 0114 249 4343
Email: advice@syfab.org.uk

Community First funding has opened for applications in Shiregreen and Brightside ward for grants up to £2,500. These are the local priorities for the funding:

• Improved public spaces
• Community support for all age groups, and people getting on together
• More things for children and young people to do to raise aspirations
• Getting people out of poverty and ready for work
• Reducing health inequalities.

The programme is especially interested in new groups with new activities in parts of Shiregreen, Wincobank and Brightside to complement or extend existing activities.

You can download the application form from the website.

Deadline: noon on 25 May
Email: shiregreenandbrightside@hotmail.co.uk
Website: www.shiregreenandbrightside.com

The Sheffield Funding Forum is back and we have invited two funders for you with very different funding opportunities…

Date: Tuesday 15 May 2012
Venue: Sheffield Central Quaker Meeting House, 10 St James Street, Sheffield, S1 2EW
Time: 10:30am – 1:00pm

Alan Eagle will be speaking from the The Santander Foundation. The Santander Foundation, formerly the Abbey Charitable Trust, makes grants up to £10,000 to disadvantaged people through two priorities:

• Education and training – any activity through which people gain something whether skills and knowledge or confidence and self esteem

• Financial capability – things like costs of running a credit union, projects delivering financial advice and helping people to understand their benefit entitlement.

Registered charities, Friendly Societies, Industrial and Provident Societies registered under charitable not membership rules (an exception to this are credit unions - who the Foundation can fund) are eligible to apply for funding from the Santander Foundation.

Asha Karbhari will be speaking from The Key Fund. The Key Fund supports social enterprise activities that further regeneration in deprived and disadvantaged communities in Yorkshire and the Humber. They give financial (grant and loan packages) and enterprise development support.

There will be an opportunity for you to ask questions to the funders.

The first presentation starts at 11:00. Free tea and coffee is provided from 10:30am. Please note, people are not supposed to take their drinks into the prayer room where the presentations are held.

There is no need to book, just turn up on the day.

You can see the Sheffield Funding Forum flyer here: sheffield-funding-forum-flyer-may-2012

Contact: South Yorkshire Funding Advice Bureau
Telephone: 0114 249 4343
Email: advice@syfab.org.uk