Sources of funding and funding advice for local community groups

There are a range of potential funding options for local organisations and groups seeking grants and support for their work in Shepway and beyond. Shepway District Council have put together a list of some of those funding sources, in addition to its own Shepway Community chest scheme, grants from Kent County Councillors and grants from some Town and Parish Councils such as Folkestone Town Council and Sandgate Parish Council.

LOTTERY FUNDING

For a general introduction to all lottery funding see www.lotteryfunding.org.uk

Big Lottery Fund www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Various programmes supporting social and community, environment, health and education projects

Awards for All

Grants of up to £10,000 aimed at local community groups, schools, parish councils etc www.awardsforall.org.uk

Sport England www.sportengland.org.uk

Funding for sports.

Arts Council www.artscouncil.org.uk

Funding for the arts.

Heritage Lottery Fund www.hlf.org.uk

Funding for built and natural heritage projects.

NESTA ( the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts)

Non-departmental public body (NDPB) investing in innovators and working to improve the climate for creativity in the UK.

www.nesta.org.uk

UK Sport www.uksport.gov.uk

Working in partnership to lead sport in the UK to world-class success.

UK Film Council www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk

Aims to stimulate a competitive, successful and vibrant UK film industry and culture, both now and for the future.

FUNDING SEARCH ENGINES, DIRECTORIES AND ADVICE

Action with Communities in Rural Kent (ACRK) www.ruralkent.org.uk

Provides a wide range of advice and support to community organisations in rural Kent and some grant funding (for example Parish Plan grants). 01303 813790

Association of Charitable Foundations www.acf.org.uk

ACF's website features an A-Z of major trust websites including summaries of activities supported and advice on contacting trusts.

Churchcare www.churchcare.co.uk/funding.php

The Church of England's "Churchcare" offers grants and advice on how to manage and fund church fabric projects.

Community Action South East Kent (CASE Kent) www.casekent.org.uk

Charitable organisation working for and on behalf of local voluntary and community organisations covering Shepway. Offers funding advice including use of "Funderfinder" (see above). Phone (01233) 610171

Directory of Social Change www.dsc.org.uk

National charity providing information and training for the voluntary sector including online and hardcopy products relating to for example, trusts, grants for individuals, educational grants, guides to company giving etc. Some products e.g. "The Directory of Grant-making Trusts" are available in Reference Libraries.

Funder Finder www.funderfinder.co.uk

UK charity providing some free/some charged services/products and specialising in UK charitable trusts and foundations.

Funding Buddies www.fundingbuddiesinkent.org.uk

Managed by ACRK Funding Buddies provide free advice and support to community groups looking for funding

Phone (01303) 813790 or email nigel.turley@ruralkent.org.uk

Funding Central www.fundingcentral.org.uk/default.aspx

A free site for the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, providing access to funding and finance opportunities, plus tools and resources supporting organisations to develop sustainable income strategies.

Inside Track martyn.riley@kent.gov.uk

Free monthly digest of funding opportunities produced by Kent Count Council's External Funding Unit e-mailed to users in pdf. format.

See also www.kent.gov.uk/publications/council-and-democracy/ex-funding-factsheets.htm

Kent Community Foundation www.kentcf.org.uk

KCF is a charitable foundation set up to encourage philanthropy for the benefit of the people of Kent. KCF manages a number of grant funds including the "Grass Roots" scheme for small groups.

Kent Downs and Marshes Leader www.kentruralnetwork.org.uk/leader

This rural funding programme runs from 2009 to 2013, covers most of rural Shepway and offers grants of up to £50,000 to businesses and community groups for a wide range of projects. For more information contact Richard Hall & Huw Jarvis on 01622 221389.

Knowhow Non-Profit www.knowhownonprofit.org

An internet based knowledge sharing network, allowing people across the UK to share their expertise and experience of managing and working in the voluntary and community sector and the wider non-profit sector.

Lottery Funding www.lotteryfunding.org.uk/england/information-eng/further-info.htm

This site has a useful funding directory.

Open 4 Community www.open4community.info/kent

A free search engine provided by Kent County Council allowing searches on trusts, lottery and government programmes.