B&Q 'You Can Do It' Awards

The latest round of the B&Q ‘You Can Do It’ Awards was launched recently. The awards aim to help local communities create inclusive and sustainable projects for example, giving new life to a community centre, local sports club facilities or community garden.

Under the scheme, community groups and charitable organisations can apply for one of 20 awards worth £5,000 of B&Q products. The closing date for applications is 30 March 2007. In addition, each local B&Q store has a ‘limited’ budget to provide grants of between £50 and £500 to community groups under its Better Neighbour Grant Scheme.

See www.diy.com for further information.

HELP Awards

Save the Children and British Gas have announced the next funding round of the Here to HELP Awards.

Up to £1,000 is available for projects by young people that help make their communities healthier, more engaging, safer places to be.

The next deadline for completed applications is Friday 23 March 2007. Projects are expected to take place between June and September 2007.

See www.helpyourselves.org.uk for further information.

Allan Lane Foundation

The Allan Lane Foundation provides grants of between £500 and £15,000 to small voluntary organisations, where the work benefits groups of people who face hostility in UK society. The Foundation wishes to fund work which will make a lasting difference to people's lives; is aimed at reducing isolation, stigma and discrimination; and encourages or enables unpopular groups to share in the life of the whole community. There are no closing deadlines.

See www.allenlane.org.uk/priorities for further information.

Coalfields Regeneration Trust

CRT grant funding has fallen off the radar a bit due to limited resources and geographical targeting, where only the most deprived areas, using the Scottish Indices of Multiple Deprivation, are eligible. In East Lothian’s case this means 3 small ‘data zones,’ two in Prestonpans West and one in Tranent/Macmerry, are eligible for support. Whilst limited in scope CRT remains a potential funding source in these areas.

There are two grants, a Main Grants programme for projects from £10,000 to £100,000 and the Bridging the Gap small grants programme which can fund up to £10,000. In special cases the Bridging the Gap may be accessible for projects in the wider ex coalfields area as well. So if a special case can be made by the applicant, then projects in Musselburgh, Prestonpans, Tranent, Macmerry, Wallyford, Whitecraig, Ormiston and Pencaitland could be funded.

However, you should check with Jackie McCreadie, Bridging the Gap Co-ordinator on 01259 272127 first.

See www.coalfields-regen.org.uk for further information.

Funding for Veterans Day Events

During 2007, the Ministry of Defence will make available funding to support communities across the UK to organise a Veterans Day event. In particular, they want to support events linked to the 25th anniversary of the Falklands conflict.

Grants of up to £10,000 are available and the closing date for applications is 31st March 2007. In addition, primary schools can win up to £2,000 to relive those days when the Falkland Islands dominated the world's news, to look back at living history, to engage with the local community, and to create the front page of your own local newspaper about the events of the time.

See www.veteransagency.mod.uk for further information.

Paul Hamlyn Foundation

The Paul Hamlyn Foundation has created a new social justice programme to operate alongside its Arts, and Education & Learning programmes. The Open Grants Scheme will fund the development, implementation and dissemination of new ideas to help the integration of marginalised young people, up to the age of 30, in times of transition.

There is no minimum or maximum grant size and projects can be offered for up to six years. There is no deadline for applications.

See www.phf.org.uk for further information.

Esmee Fairbairn Foundation

The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation is one of the largest independent grantmaking foundations in the UK with aims to improve the quality of life for people and communities in the UK.

The grants programme covers four areas:

• Arts & Heritage
• Education
• Environment
• Social Change: Enterprise and Independence

In the past the majority of grants have been up to £100,000 (although the Foundation has also made larger grants).

Applications need to be for charitable purposes and can be made at any time.

See www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk for further information.

Lloyds TSB Foundation Grants Programme (Scotland)

The next deadline for grant applications to the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland is the 19th March 2007.

The Foundation is focused on improving the quality of life and creating equality of information for people in Scotland with particular focus on:

• social & community needs
• education & training
• and scientific, medical & social research

See www.fundingthefuture.org.uk for further information.