The Purpose of the Fund

The overall aim of the programme is to support and strengthen small Community Organisations operating in the rural areas, market and coastal towns of the South West Region. The focus will be on activities that enable people from diverse backgrounds to become engaged in their neighbourhoods and communities and to support those organisations that are bringing about real change to the lives of the people who live in those communities.

Where and who should projects be aimed at?

Priority will be given to:
• small community organisations that are addressing the needs of people in their communities by engaging people in community activity either as volunteers or as people benefiting from the funded activities
• charitable organisations with running costs under £15,000 although organisations with larger running costs that can demonstrate a small amount of funding will make a real difference will be considered if they meet the rest of the criteria.

Rural Communities, Market and Coastal Towns
The Foundation considers rural communities to have the following characteristics:

- Sparse population
- Limited local services
- Poor transport links
- Difficult access to services and information because of
- geographical dispersement
- Less likely to attract any major funding streams

The Foundation considers market and coastal towns to be those places, which are not large urban conurbations. The Foundation does not currently support applications from Bristol, Plymouth, Gloucester, Swindon and Exeter unless the applicant can demonstrate that the project will assist and/or support people from rural areas and/or coastal and market towns.

The Foundation also wishes to prioritise organisations supporting a diverse range of people such as:

• disabled people including people with learning disabilities
• people with mental health problems
• frail older people
• people who are unemployed or on low incomes
• carers of people with additional needs
• young people who are affected by ‘disadvantage’ in any way
• people threatened or affected by domestic violence
• people from the Black and Minority Ethnic Community
• lesbian, gay and bisexual people
• people from Gypsy and Traveller Communities
• people who are from any other marginalised group

Eligibility

The Foundation will NOT consider applications from the following:
Organisations:

• whose prime focus is sports or arts ( unless these are aimed at working with people who are within one of the Foundation’s priority areas for funding)
• which do not have charitable purposes
• where there is not a clear local management presence or management committee
• submitting applications compiled by professional fundraisers without significant and clear involvement of the organisation applying for funding
• who themselves are grant or fundraising bodies making bodies
• who are constituted as ‘friends of’
• The Foundation is unlikely to support applications from Community Interest Companies CIC as many are not clearly charitable

Projects:

• for capital building and major refurbishment works
• for retrospective funding ( money already spent)
• to pay off debts incurred
• not operating in the South West region
• supporting sponsored events including expeditions
• for research, including medical research
• for general large appeals
• the Foundation can support faith groups but not activities that promote and/or advance religion
• for animal welfare
• substituting monies or services provided by the statutory sector and/or projects closely associated with the provision of statutory services
• substituting monies or grants that have previously been provided through Capacity Builders Funding .
• for Party political promotion and campaigning
• for fees of professional fundraisers
• for educational bursaries
• contributing towards the salaries of full time or part time permanent staff (sessional fees are acceptable)
• trips abroad
• unitemised part funding towards larger projects where it is not clear what difference funding from the Foundation will make
• funding for large capital items which do not directly benefit users of the service

Equal Opportunities
The Foundation is committed to the principles of equality of opportunity and expects applicants to demonstrate their commitment to equality of opportunity.

Free Reserves
Priority will be given to applicants with less than 12 months running costs in free reserves. If you have a higher level than this you will be asked to demonstrate clear reasons for this

Referee
Your referee should be someone who knows your work well and who is willing to discuss your application with us. They must not be a member of your group, or related to a member.