VOLUNTARY SECTOR LIAISON AND DEVELOPMENT

Our local voluntary and community sector includes large and small organisations; from locally based national charities, voluntary organisations and community groups, to local clubs

This section will give you information about how the Council is working with the sector and how you and your organisation can benefit.

Looking for funding for your work or project?  Click on Search For Funding through our Website on the lefthand side of this page and use the links to free search facilities.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

CELEBRATE LONDON 2012 WITH SMALL GRANTS TO INSPIRE YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKE UP SPORT:   This grant scheme has now closed and successful applicants will be advised by the end of January.

HEROES RETURN:   Heroes Return 2, will provide funding for veterans, spouses, widows and carers to make trips throughout 2011 back to places across the world where they served.  They can also receive funding to take part in an official commemoration in the uk.  The Heroes Return 2 Hotline Number is   0845 00 00 121.

CHIP Fund (Community Housing Investment Partnership Fund) is jointly managed by Greenfields Community Housing and Braintree District Council.  It Includes the Community Investment Fund (see below) and also provides grants over £25,000 in key priority areas.  For further information Click here

Braintree District Community Investment Fund  Jointly managed by Greenfields and Braintree District Council with grants available from £5,001 to £25,000.  For further information or to discuss a potential application contact Essex Community Foundation on 01245 356018 or www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk

Community Fund  Voluntary and community groups working in Braintree District can apply for grants of up to £5,000 per project.  This Fund will support anything from new play equipment to improving a local wildlife area.  Further information is available from Essex Community Foundation on 01245 356018 or visit their website: www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk

Greenfields Fast Access Fund  Up to £100 of funding available if you need the money quickly.  Contact pam.richardsoN@greenfieldssch.org.uk  or tel 01376 535400

Big Society Fund (Essex County Council) Grants must be spent by 31st March 2013 and are available to 'create, procure or develop new community assests', 'enhance exsting community assets' or 'create or sustain initiatives or services tha strengthen th commuity that exists in towns and villages.  Further information from www.essex.gov.uk/bigsocietyfund

Essex Community Foundation has grants available for charities, voluntary and community groups in Essex.  Grants of up to £10,000 can be applied for.   Although funding is available for a wide variety of projects the following  Funds will only fund organisations in Braintree District:

Marion Ruth Courtauld Educational Fund - for organisations that would like to provide educational, training and development opportunities for young people.

William Julien Courtauld Medical Fund - for organisations requiring medical equipment for training purposes

More information on Marion Ruth Courtauld Fund, William Julien Courtauld Medical Fund, Grassroots Grants and all other grants available from Essex Community Foundation can be found on http://www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk/ or  call their grants team on 01245 356018 who will be happy to answer any queries in advance of an application being submitted.

Changes to Awards For All (small lottery grants)  From 1st April 2009 there have been some significant changes to this scheme.  Awards for All is now the Big Lottery Fund's small grants scheme for community projects.  Click on  www.awardsforall.org.uk  for guidelines and application form.  There are now separate small grants schemes for Sports, Arts and Heritage.  The Awards For All weblink above will provide links to all these small grants programmes.  Go to  www.awardsforall.org.uk  scroll down and then click on 'Other Small Lottery Grants.

Reaching Communities - launched by The Big Lottery at the end of 2006.  Voluntary and community groups, Town & Parish Councils and statutory organisations can apply.     Grants range from £10,001 to £500,000 .      You need to submit a 2 page outline proposal and will hear within 15 days whether you can submit a second stage application for consideration.  Click on www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/programmes/reachingcommunities for further details, guidelines and application form 

Community Events

Click here for help and information to plan your community event

If you are organising a small sponsored or sports event taking place on the highway, roads or in a public place click here for  event-safety-guide

Training

Seminars giving updates on lottery funding, training days and presentations by individual funders are held from time to time. Information will appear in the press and on this website

Voluntary and community organisations can access a wide range of training at affordable prices at Essex venues. This is provided by Voluntary Sector Training and further details are available from their website: http://www.voluntarysectortraining.org.uk/ 

Local Compact

This Council is a signatory to Braintree District Local Compact which is an agreement between the District's voluntary and statutory organisations. Its aim is to strengthen the working relationship between the voluntary and statutory sectors by helping to clarify expectations and obligations on both sides.

Five Local Compact Codes of Practice have now been developed covering Volunteering, Funding, Consultation & Policy Appraisal, Community Groups and Black & Minority Ethnic Groups. Braintree District Voluntary Support Agency are leading the development of the local Compact. If you are not already a signatory or have any queries about the Local Compact and how it works for you contact:  Angela Verghese: angve@braintree.gov.uk or Judy Cuddeford:  judy@bdvsa.org

Voluntary Sector Liaison

We work closely with Braintree District Voluntary Support Agency, the local voluntary sector's umbrella organisation who offer wide a range of services for the voluntary sector and The Rural Communities Council of Essex whose services include wide ranging advice and information for village and community halls.