Tips for Writing A Funding Bid

1. Tips for Writing A Funding Bid October 2013 Voluntary Centre Services – Vanessa Maunders Lincolnshire Sports Partnership – Clare Gilman-Abel

2. Tip 1 – Find the right fund Where to learn about Funders: • Local Press Releases • National News alerts • Internet search – www.fundingcentral.org.uk • Database Resources –Lincolnshire Funding Portal: www.open4community.info/lincolnshire/ • Local agencies can help you e.g. Voluntary Centre Services!

3. Grant Funders LINCOLNSHIRE: • Lincolnshire Community foundation – oversee numerous funding strands: Thonock Trust, Evan Cornish, Comic Relief http://lincolnshirecf.co.uk/grants • IGAS ENERGY Community Fund – Certain areas of Lincolnshire close to the company’s operational facilities: (Welton, Gainsborough, Corringham, Glentworth, Scampton, Nettleham, Stainton, Cold Hanworth). Covers many project areas including local heritage, environmental schemes, community transport initiatives etc; www.igascommunityfund.co.uk

4. Grant Funders LINCOLNSHIRE: • The Police & Crime Commissioner Community and Volunteer Fund - Recognising that communities themselves have a role to play in preventing crime and making the places where we live and work safe. The voluntary and community sector, communities and individuals can all be involved in delivering positive change that will benefit us all. The Commissioner also believes that some of the most important work that makes a difference on the ground to people’s lives can be provided by volunteers and local people. Small amounts of money can go a long way and make a real difference. • This Fund has been specifically set up to assist small local, community based groups in reducing crime and anti-social behaviour and supporting the victims of crime.  In particular, to support as many smaller projects as possible, projects which are aimed at younger and older members of the community and which are supporting victims, witnesses and vulnerable people. • In 2013-14 an amount of £30,000 has been set aside for the Fund. • Applications are invited from community groups, voluntary and community organisations for a minimum of £250 up to a maximum of £1,000.  • All grants will be required to provide evidence upon completion of the activity. Activity should be completed during the current financial year and any grant which is unspent by 31 March 2014 will become repayable. • Grants can be used for materials, projects or activities.  http://www.lincolnshire-pcc.gov.uk/Get-Involved/Community-and-Volunteer-Fund.aspx

5. Grant Funders NATIONAL: • Big Lottery www.biglotteryfund.org.uk • Awards for All (£300 -£10,000): For activities that will benefit the community, including: • putting on an event, activity or performance • buying new equipment or materials  • running training courses  • setting up a pilot project or starting up a new group  • carrying out special repairs or conservation work  • paying expenses for volunteers, costs for sessional workers or professional fees but won’t pay salaries! • transport costs.

6. Grant Funders NATIONAL: • Big Lottery www.biglotteryfund.org.uk • Reaching Communities (£10,000-£500,000): • Reaching Communities has two strands: • Revenue and small capital – funding from £10,000 to £500,000 for revenue projects and/or smaller capital projects up to £50,000.  • Buildings – funding of between £100,000 and £500,000 for large capital projects. (Reaching Communities buildings will only support buildings or sites based in the most deprived ‘Lower Super Output Areas’ (LSOAs) in England.)

7. Grant Funders FUNDING SPORT PROJECTS NATIONAL: • Sport England http://www.sportengland.org • Small Grants – £300 to £10,000 grants to get more people playing sport • Inspired Facilities – Funding to refurbish, upgrade or develop sports facilities from £20K-£50K although statutory organisations can apply for up to £150K (with match funding)

8. Grant Funders FUNDING SPORT PROJECTS NATIONAL: • Sport England http://www.sportengland.org • Get Equipped – Grants from £300 to £10,000 to provide specialist equipment to deliver sport to disabled people • Inclusive Sport –  £10,001 or more grants scheme to get more disabled people playing sport regularly • Community Sport Activation Fund - Projects could be for up to three years and grants will range from £50,000 - £250,000 with partnership funding required to deliver support to sports development in targetted areas /groups.

9. Grant Funders NATIONAL: • Heritage lottery www.hlf.org.uk offer a range of different grant programmes with grants from£3,000 to over £5million.

10. Grant Funders NATIONAL: • BBC Children in Needwww.bbc.co.uk/pudsey This will fund constituted, not for profit organisationsworking to combat/alleviate disadvantage for children aged 18 & under in UK. Applications can be for activities, equipment, salaries, volunteers’ expenses, travel costs etc. • Small Grants – one year grant up to £10,000 Deadlines 1st April, 1st June, 1st September, 1st December, 1st February Decisions are received in 8-9 weeks of application deadline • Main Grant – grants over £10,000 a year for up to 3 years. Deadlines 15th May, 15th September & 15th January This is a 2 Stage process – an initial application followed by a Full Application. If the initial application is successful youwill be asked to submit a full application within one month. Funding decisions will take approximately 4 months from the initial application deadline.

11. Tip 2 – Know what the funder wants Researching Grant Funders • Know their approach, priorities & processes (Funders can be very individual) E.g. Some funders only fund groups which: • Are constituted as a charity Or • Are registered as a charity Or • Can provide audited accounts for a specified number of years

12. Tip 3 – Know the Grant Cycle • THE GRANT CYCLE: • The main stages for a typical grant application are: • Prepare • Apply • Receive • Deliver

13. Tip 4 – Know Your Group • Application Questions • Know your group & its needs • Activity:Complete Fundraising for beginners hand-out; Your Group • The Project • Difference your project will make • How will you measure success?

14. Your Organisation • Outline your Mission Statement – know your group’s aims & objectives; • Compile some background information about your group, its work, especially some success stories, its history and plans for the future. Details: Photographs, Newspaper cuttings etc

15. Does your organisation fit with the funder? • The following quote from the BBC Children in Need Grant Guidelines states clearly what is expected: “A thoughtful and honest application always stands out from the crowd! Tell us clearly what the problem is and how your project will do something about it. Give us the relevant facts and figures, please don’t use jargon and be vague. You don’t need to promise the moon, just tell us what you can realistically achieve.”

16. Tip 5 – Know the Application Process • What are the timescales? Do they fit your project? • Check funders guidelines / criteria – Does you project meet it? • Speak to staff from funding organisation • Check what other projects they have recently funded – look at their accounts or on their website • Be concise and logical in your application • Be persuasive, enthusiastic and honest

17. Group Activity • Assessing potential funders for a project:

18. Tip 6 - PLANNING Planning = Being prepared • Know your projects/ activities & full costs • Get quotes! • Remember to have a contingency budget! • Have a project plan • Make sure group or organisation has a set of rules or constitution • Other relevant policies/procedures • Ensure group has a bank account in group’s name and at least 2 signatories • Annual audited or signed accounts

19. Tip 7 - Evidence The Need • Consultation – Ask: “What can you do better” • Feedback can be gathered informally at a coffee morning; • formally by survey/ questionnaire; • anecdotally. If consulted 5 years ago check still relevant.

20. Evidence The Need • Analysis of Need - State: • What the area is like e.g. Rural; • What services are available OR lacking; Statistics – Use statistics and research. • Census figures; • Neighbourhood website; • Lincolnshire Research Observatory. www.research-lincs.org.uk

21. Evidence The Need • Strategies : • Local authority – community strategies – key priorities Does your project meet one of these? If so state it!

22. Evidence The Need • Evaluation: • Do a pilot project or hold a taster day if possible; • You can then state it was successful and the number of attendees, and the feedback was of wanting more.

23. Tip 8 – Put in a well written application Generally application take one of two forms: • By Letter • By Application Form

24. The Letter • Target a named person where possible; • Try to limit to no more than 2 sides A4 paper; • Be specific about: • Project need e.g. Outline any research done; • Project costs • Who other funders may be • Keep it simple and enthusiastic; • Include any requested (or promised) enclosures

25. The application Form • Before starting to fill in application form, READ all accompanying information; • Read the form through before you start to answer the questions; • Photocopy the blank form, so you can draft as many copies as you need; • Get someone else to check the draft application before you complete the original; • Keep it plain and simple – use bullet points to make answers easier to understand; • Facts and figures are better than vague statements; • Always fill in all the questions that apply to you; DON’T leave any box completely blank.

26. The application Form • Avoid jargon; • Use short sentences and simple words; • Be concise (avoid waffle); • Use active rather than passive verbs; • Give specific examples, not generalisations; • Attractive presentation – Headings and bullet points; check spellings; choose an appropriate font size e.g. Arial or Times New Roman, no smaller than font size 12; • Emphasise the project’s benefit to people; • Keep a copy of the application

27. Tip 9 Avoid the pitfalls of failure Why applications fail: • Eligibility • Funder’s criteria • Bid to benefit organisation, not people • Costings • Timescales • Form filling • Match funding

28. Tip 10 – Ask for Help! • You are not a lone soldier; ask people like ourselves for help. We can: • Advise on appropriate funders; • Read through your draft application; • Point you in the direction of others who can help.

29. And finally..... Our details for further advice: • Vanessa Maunders • Outreach Project Officer for Community & Voluntary Groups • Voluntary Centre Services • The Guildhall, Marshall’s Yard • Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 2NA • Tel: 01427 613470                                             • www.voluntarycentreservices.org.uk • vanessa@voluntarycentreservices.org.uk

30. And finally..... Our details for further advice: • Clare Gilman-Abel • Funding Officer • Lincolnshire Sports Partnership • Unit 9, Allenby Business Village • Crofton Road • Lincoln • 01522 585580 • www.lincolnshiresports.com • Clare.gilman-abel@lincolnshiresports.co.uk