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.

FUNDING NEWS

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

HEROES RETURN:  The Big Lottery Fund has announced the opening of its funding initiative, Heroes Return 2, pledging funding for veterans, spouses, widows and carers wishing to mark overseas anniversaries throughout 2009 and 2010.  The Fund has opened up a hotline for all veterans to call for further information about obtaining a grant.                The Heroes Return 2 Hotline Number is     0845 00 00 121.

Council Grants  Braintree District Council gives grants for Town & Parish Councils, registered charities, voluntary and community groups and clubs through our Local Area Committees.  Further information click on Local Committee Application Form,  Local Area Committee Grants Guidance 2008-2009 & online Local Committee Application form

Community & Housing Investment Partnership (CHIP) Fund is a grant fund designed to support groups and organisations benefitting local people and communities within Braintree District.  This fund has been designed to ensure long term, positive improvements and change throughout the District.  Grants £10,000 to £5 million.  For Grants off less than £50,000 click on Guidance notes - less than £50k. and   Chip Fund app form - less than £50k.  For more information on Grants over £50,000 click on Funding Guidelines  and The Application Process.

Greenfields 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.  Although set up by Greenfields Community Housing, it is managed by Essex Community Foundation and further information is available from them 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 Greenfields Community Investment Manager on 01376 567317 or email: Karen.O'Connor@GreenfieldsCH.org.uk

Community Spaces  This fund helps local community groups create or improve green and open spaces such as play areas, community gardens,parks, wildlife areas, village greens, kick-about areas and pathways.  There is a 2 stage application process open to constituted community groups, registered charities and trusts, church based and other faith groups, 'Friends Of'' groups and tenants and residents associations.  Small Grants from £10,000-£25,000 and Medium Grants from £25,001 to £49,999 available to January 2011.  Larger and Flagship grants from £50,000-£450,000 available until Summer 2008.  Match funding is not needed for small, medium or large grants.  Information, guidelines and application form available from: www.community-spaces.org.uk or 0845 3671671

Community Initiatives Fund  (Essex County Council) The  2008/9 funding round has now closed and we await news of next year's deadline.  Further information available on http://www.communityinitiativesfund.co.uk/

Money For Youth Projects.  The Community Initiatives Fund (see above) now has a separate grant stream for projects for young people.  This is for capital projects only with a minimum grant of £15,000.  Closing date for this round: 16th January 2009.  Further information, guidelines and applicaiton forms available on http://www.communityinitiativesfund.co.uk/

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

Essex Community Foundation also offer a small grants programme called Grassroots Grants for groups with an income of less than £20,000 per year which should be mainly volunteer led and have been active in their community for more than 12 months.  Grants available up to £5,000

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 

If you are organising a small sponsored or sports event taking place on the highway, roads or in a public place click on the following link for a free Safety Guide:  http:police.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-and-publications/publication/operational-policing/event-safety-guide.pdf

Fundraising

A wide range of one to one help and advice is available from our External Funding Service. This could include general advice for groups just starting out, help to identify sources of funding, or assistance with filling out grant application forms. Contact Angela Verghese by email or phone: - angve@braintree.gov.uk or 01376 551414 extn 2329.

You may also find some useful information by clicking on the following links:

- Where do we start?

- Where do we get the money?

- Can we get money from the lottery?

- Can we get money from Trusts?

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

Let us know what you think

Please tell us what you think about the information provided for voluntary organisations on this website.

Did you find it useful?

What else would you like to see included?

Do you have any fundraising successes you want to share with others that we could feature on the site?

Send us your comments and ideas by clicking on - angve@braintree.gov.uk