Noticeboard
CRN funding update
23 October 2007
From the Community Recycling Network:
Capacitybuilders National Support Services
The National Support Services are a key element of the continuing ChangeUp investment programme supported by the Office of the Third Sector at the Cabinet Office. The programme represents the result of significant review and consultation regarding how best to achieve Capacitybuilders' strategic aim to improve the quality and effectiveness of support for the third sector. It is against these criteria that Capacitybuilders has developed nine priority themes or workstreams for the national support programme. They are areas where there are significant current gaps, potential for improved services and growth in demand is likely. The nine national support workstreams are:
Campaigning and Advocacy c. £600,000 p.a. Collaboration c. £600,000 p.a. Equalities and Diversity c. £400,000 p.a. Income Generation c. £600,000 p.a. Leadership and Governance c. £600,000 p.a. Marketing and Communications c. £400,000 p.a Modernising Volunteering c. £400,000 p.a. Performance Management c. £600,000 p.a. Responding to Social Change c. £400,000 p.a.
Capacitybuilders are holding three briefing sessions for organisations interested in submitting proposals: London 10:30 am Monday 8 October Leeds 10:30 am Wednesday 10 October Birmingham 10:30 am Wednesday 17 October.
To register an interest in attending one of these events please email gill.balding@conferencesolutions.uk.com The first stage of the application process involves completing an Expression of Interest form, which must be completed electronically using the standard form available from the Capacitybuilders website at http://www.capacitybuilders.org.uk/ Completed Expressions of Interest must sent by email to info@capacitybuilders.org.uk by 5pm on Wednesday, 7 November. The advisory and assessment team will make recommendations on 15 November and preferred bidders chosen by the end of November. Connecting Communities Plus Next Application Deadline: 8 January 2008
Connecting Communities Plus is a grants programme designed to support practical action to help achieve the goals set out in Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society, the government's strategy to increase race equality and improve community cohesion. The programme facilitates tailored initiatives to meet the specific needs of disadvantaged communities, rather than treating all BME communities in the same way. Connecting Communities Plus Community Grants are aimed at locally run and managed voluntary and community organisations with an income of less than £50,000 per year, run by volunteers or with one full time or two part time paid staff. www.governmentfunding.org.uk/VCSSearch.aspx?WCI=htmSchemeView&WCU=DSCODE=DSCLIVEGF,SCHEMEID=12-S83,SEARCH=DS=DSCLIVEGF
Big Lottery grants funding available through RSWT and Groundwork Two environmental charities have each been selected by the Big Lottery Fund to distribute £50m to community groups. The money will be awarded as part of the Changing Spaces programme, aimed at improving England's local environment. The £50m figure is the largest the BLF has distributed through award partners. RSWT will use the money to encourage communities to grow their own food by managing land, developing understanding of sustainable farming and encouraging community enterprises such as farmers' markets. Groundwork UK will concentrate on improving community spaces by supporting groups to create or regenerate areas such as parks, ponds, community gardens and village greens. Community Spaces will give people the tools to make those improvements happen and, crucially, to make them last. Sir Clive Booth, chairman of the BLF, described the RSWT and Groundwork UK as experts in their fields. They are in the best positions to manage these schemes, he said. Further information: Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888 Out of hours contact: 07867 500 572 Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102 030 Textphone: 0845 6021 659 Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website at www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
* Only Connect - NCVO Sustainable Funding ProjectOnly Connect is a bursary scheme which enables Voluntary and Community organisations to explore their ideas for generating income by trading goods and services in a fun and practical way. Only Connect is a visit scheme sponsored by Triodos Bank which enables Voluntary and Community Organisations to explore their ideas for generating income by trading goods and services in a fun and practical way.
If you have any idea for trading but are unsure of how to go about it, this scheme offers you the opportunity to learn from an organisation who have gone down this track.
They will pay up to £100 travel expenses for employees or volunteers of your organisation to visit another who are already trading goods or services. They will also give you £150 to pay your host organisation a consultancy fee for their time. You will obtain first hand advice and information from your hosts. Unlike many courses or training days, you are in control of what you learn from your day. It is your opportunity to make as much of as you wish.