Social Isolation Grants

Background

Set up to support what matters to people and communities.

Objectives

National Lottery Awards for All has three funding priorities, you must meet at least one of them:

• bringing people together and building strong relationships in and across communities
• improving the places and spaces that matter to communities
• enabling more people to fulfil their potential by working to address issues at the earliest possible stage.

Your project or activity must also be led by people, it’s important that you involve your community in the design, development and delivery of the activities you’re planning, your project or activity will be more successful as a result.

Value

£300 - £10,000.

Who can apply

• voluntary and community organisation
• constituted group or club
• registered charity
• charitable incorporated organisation (CIO)
• not-for-profit company
• community interest company (CIC)
• school (as long as your project benefits and involves the communities around the school)
• statutory body (including local authorities, town, parish and community council)
• community benefit society.

Eligible expenditure

This grant can fund a wide range of items, however, this isn’t exhaustive, so you should contact The Community Fund if you’re unsure and below are some examples of these:

• equipment
• one-off events
• small capital projects
• staff costs
• training costs
• transport
• utilities/running costs
• volunteer expenses.

Apply

Applications can be made at any time, visit the The Community Fund to find out more and to complete your application.

Background

Set up to support organisations with great ideas that enable communities to thrive.

Objectives

Reaching Communities support ideas that meet one or more of three funding priorities:

• bring people together and build strong relationships in and across communities
• improve the places and spaces that matter to communities
• enable more people to fulfil their potential by working to address issues at the earliest possible stage.

The fund will want to see that:

• You developed your idea by involving the people who will benefit - that you’ve spoken to people and listened to what they have to say
• You’ll support what’s already working well – that you’ve used your knowledge of the skills and experience people already have and explore how you can build on it
• You can test new approaches – the fund is interested in your original and creative ideas for achieving your mission, and are keen to share what you learn with others
• You understand the existing activities and services that do similar work - have you spoken to other groups? What can you learn from them, and how can you contribute to what they already do?
• You’re committed to equalities and the environment – the fund will want to know about your equalities policy and your environmental policy if we’re interested in your idea.

Value

Flexible funding over £10,000 for up to five years.

Who can apply

• voluntary and community organisations
• registered charities
• social enterprises
• group of organisations, as long as they are led by a voluntary and community organisations or social enterprise
• schools
• statutory bodies (including town, parish or community councils)
• community interest companies (with two or more directors).

Eligible expenditure

The grant can fund:

• staff salaries
• project activities
• running costs
• small-scale refurbishment
• equipment
• organisational development.

Apply

Applications can be made at any time and start by you submitting a brief outline of your idea, you can find out how to do that on the The Community Fund website.

Background

Set up to support organisations which work together with a shared set of goals and values.

Objectives

Partnerships funding supports organisations who share responsibility and influence with others, who have a shared set of goals and values, and achieve their mission by starting with the bigger picture rather than just what their organisation can do on its own. The Community Fund call this generous leadership.

The fund can support you to develop and grow existing partnerships and also to encourage new types of partnership which build on your different skills and strengths and can support many different types of partnership, including:

• cross-sector partnerships
• local place-based collaboration
• local and national organisations working together around a particular theme.

The fund supports ideas that meet one or more of three funding priorities:

• bring people together and build strong relationships in and across communities
• improve the places and spaces that matter to communities
• enable more people to fulfil their potential by working to address issues at the earliest possible stage.

Value

Over £10,000 grants are awarded for up to five years and we can fund project activities, operating costs, organisational development and capital costs.

Who can apply

• voluntary and community organisations
• registered charities
• social enterprises
• group of organisations, as long as they are led by a voluntary and community organisations or social enterprise
• schools
• statutory bodies (including town, parish or community councils)
• community interest companies (with two or more directors).

Eligible expenditure

• staff salaries
• project activities
• running costs
• small-scale refurbishment
• equipment
• organisational development.

Apply

Applications can be made at any time and start by you submitting a brief outline of your idea, you can find out how to do that on the The Community Fund website.

Background

Grants are available for work that makes a difference to people's lives as opposed to simply alleviating the symptoms or current problems and should aim to reduce isolation, stigma and discrimination.

Objectives

The Allen Lane Foundation makes grants organisations whose work benefits groups of people who are under-represented in UK society. Overall, the Foundation wishes to fund work which:

• will make a lasting difference to people's lives rather than simply alleviating the symptoms or current problems
• is aimed at reducing isolation, stigma and discrimination
• encourages or enables unpopular groups to share in the life of the whole community.

Value

One-off grants between £500 and £15,000. The average grant is between £5,000 and £6,000. Grants repeated for more than one year vary from around £500 per annum up to £5,000 per annum, for a maximum of three years.

Who Can Apply

Small registered charities, voluntary groups and charitable organisations. Registered charities are eligible to apply as well as other organisations which are not charities, but which seek funding for a charitable project. This could include, for example, constituted voluntary groups or Community Interest Companies. To make sure its grants have an impact, the Foundation will not fund larger organisations. If an organisation works in a relatively local area - a village, or estate or small town - to be eligible it will have an income of less than about £100,000. At the other end of the spectrum, an organisation which works across the whole of the UK will be eligible if it has an income of not more than about £250,000.

Eligible Expenditure

The Foundation aims to help organisations to become sustainable. The funding will support running and core costs to enable them to have flexibility, security and longevity.
To be eligible, the work must directly benefit adults from the following groups, or generalist work which includes significant numbers from more than one such group:

• asylum seekers and refugees (but not groups working with a single nationality)
• gypsies and travellers
• migrant communities
• offenders and ex-offenders
• older people
• people experiencing mental health problems
• people experiencing violence or abuse.

The following types of activities are eligible for support: 

• provision of advice or information
• advocacy
• arts activities where the primary purpose is therapeutic or social
• befriending or mentoring
• mediation or conflict resolution
• practical work, such as gardening or recycling, which benefits both the provider and the recipient
• self-help groups, social activities or drop-in centres
• strengthening the rights of particular groups and enabling their views and experiences to be heard by policymakers
• research and education aimed at changing public attitudes or policy.

Grants may be used for start-up, core or project costs, for example:

• work aimed at combating stigma or discrimination
• work developing practical alternatives to violence
• volunteers' or participants' expenses
• venue hire
• part-time or sessional staffing costs
• work aimed at strengthening the organisation such as trustee or staff training.
•  

The Foundation is particularly interested in unusual, imaginative or pioneering projects which have perhaps not yet caught the public imagination.

Apply

Applications can be submitted by post or by email to the foundation at any time and are considered three times a year, generally in February, June and October. Processing an application and making a grant usually takes between two and six months.

There is no formal application form, groups will need to make a written application accompanied by specified documentation. Applicants will need to answer specific questions which can be found on the Foundation's website.

Background

The Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) offers grants to local and national charities as part of its work to help thousands of disadvantaged and vulnerable people to live happy, fulfilling lives and participate actively in society. Over the last 40 years, the MCF has provided more than £130 million to charities. The MCF’s work is funded solely through the donations of Freemasons under the United Grand Lodge of England, their families and friends.

Based on conducted surveys which indicate which areas Freemason care most about, the MCF has set out new target areas for its grant-making programme:

• reducing isolation in later life
• creating the best start in life for disadvantaged children and young people
• medical research into degenerative disease
• care services in the hospice sector.

Objectives

The Reducing Isolation in Later Life Grants programme offers small and large grants that support disadvantaged and vulnerable older people over 50 years of age. Over the next five years, the MCF will be supporting charities that help people to overcome barriers to actively participate in society in their later years. The funding will help people who face social isolation or loneliness due to reasons such as financial hardship, care responsibilities, a decline in physical or mental health, or life transitions including retirement or bereavement. The support will help to provide a range of services to support the physical and emotional needs of people as they age, including community-based programmes and access to healthcare, transport and technology.

Depending on their annual income level, charities can apply for either a:

or

• large grant, which is for projects and can be used for salary costs, activities, materials, etc
• small grant, which is for general running and/or overhead costs of the charity – core funding.

Value

• large grants - start from £10,000 and are available to charities with an annual income exceeding £500,000. The average large grant will range from £20,000 to £60,000. 
• small grants - between £500 and £15,000 are available to charities with an income of under £500,000.

All grants can be over one, two, or three years. Grant amounts should not exceed 15% of the total income of the applicant charity and charities can only apply for one grant programme at a time.

Who Can Apply

Charities registered with the Charity Commission:

• charities with an income of less than £500,000 can apply for a small grant
• charities with an income exceeding £500,000 can apply for a large grant.

To be eligible, applicants must provide:

• mental and physical health support
• gateway and access to service, e.g., transport and technology
• community based approaches, i.e., volunteering, positive ageing and neighbourhood support
• advocacy,social and welfare support.

Eligible Expenditure

The funding for charities that provide activities such as:

• support for emotional and psychological planning for later life
• digital inclusion sessions to enable older people to access services
• activities and clubs enabling older people to remain active and make friends
• providing companionship and befriending schemes for periods of transition
• advice and information on options for those with health conditions
• carers and respite support.

Examples of desired outcomes are:

• short term:
  • older people adapting to key transitions in their lives
  • older people well supported, better informed and receiving essential advice
  • existing services better supporting the physical, psychological and emotional needs of people as they age
  • more therapeutic support available to people at key points in their lives
  • greater knowledge of options and rights leading to greater confidence in choices
  • increased cultural and social participation choices for people as they age
  • greater awareness of the issue within the Masonic community.
• Long term:
  • reduced feelings of loneliness or social isolation for people in later life
  • improved health and sense of well-being for people as they age
  • more active social lives for people in later life
  • the older population living as they choose in a healthy and safe environment
  • MCF’s profile raised within the Masonic community, public and third sector.

Small grants are for general running and/or overhead costs of the charity – core funding. Large grants are for projects and can be used for salary costs, activities, materials, etc.

Apply

Applications will re-open in January 2022, there are no deadlines, the Foundation will run a rolling grants programme and anticipate being able to give applicants a decision within four months of submitting an expression of interest.

Guidelines, an application checklist and the online eligibility test are available on the Masonic Charitable Foundation website. Once the eligibility test has been completed, applicants will be invited to submit an online application form.

Background

In 1955 Sir Godfrey Mitchell endowed a charitable trust with a gift of shares in the construction company George Wimpey Ltd, with the objective of the trustees using its funds for charitable purposes; this trust became known as the Tudor Trust in 1979. Today, the Tudor Trust is an independent charitable trust that supports work that tries to meet the many different needs of people at the margins of society in the UK.

Objectives

The Tudor Trust supports work that tries to meet the many different needs of people at the margins of society. It does not have any specific funding programmes to advance any particular agenda but is keen to work with organisations that have a real understanding of the challenges facing the communities they support, and a clear sense of the difference they seek to make through their work.

Value

There is no maximum or minimum level of grant, although it is unusual for a grant of less than £10,000 to be made. Grants are usually for one, two or three years. Funding is sometimes available over a longer period, usually by making a further grant following on from the original one. However, applicants should be aware that the Trust's funding cannot continue indefinitely. Advice and development support for organisations is also available from the Trust and in some situations short term loans might be made, if this is the most helpful solution. The Trust currently funds one in ten applications.

Who Can Apply

Charitable organisations, including registered charities, unincorporated associations,community interest companies and industrial and provident societies, working directly with people who are on the edges of mainstream society and have limited access to resources and opportunities. The Trust is particularly interested in supporting smaller groups, under-resourced organisations with an annual turnover of less than £1 million. Last year 77% of grants went to groups with an annual income of less than £500,000. (Larger organisations are advised to contact the Trust before making an application).

The Trust is looking to fund organisations that:

• display positive organisational characteristics:
  • encourage and develop positive social connections and relationships
  • are embedded in their community and can identify and channel the potential within that community
  • have vision, energy and commitment and are reflective and open to change
  • want to make a step change in the way they work, but need support to do this
  • listen to and are responsive to their users and give users a voice
  • offer longer-term engagement and support
  • make good use of the resources they have.
• Address marginalisation:
  • engage with a marginalised community or engage with a particularly marginalised group of people or ‘community of interest’
  • provide direct support to individuals who are in real need
  • are rooted in overlooked and neglected areas where funding is hard to come by
  • affect the lives of marginalised people and communities in a positive way.
• Make a difference:
  • generate a ripple effect – a wider impact beyond the immediate beneficiaries of the work
  • display new thinking or demonstrate best practice: offer an exemplar others can learn from
  • are interested in reflecting on their work and are generous in sharing their findings with others.

Eligible Expenditure

The Trust does not have specific funding programmes designed to advance a particular agenda but funding is available to support work that benefits people who are on the edges of mainstream society in ways which encourage inclusion, integration and independence, and particularly work that develops and promotes the social connections and relationships that make such an important contribution to the well-being and quality of life of individuals, and which strengthens communities.

Grants can be used for the following:

• core organisational costs, such as salaries, overheads and day-to-day running costs
• project grants
• capital grants for buildings or equipment
• grants to help strengthen the organisation.

The Trust are keen to support organisations that can demonstrate an ability to adapt to the new reality of funding cuts while also imagining new ways of doing things.

Apply

Applications may be submitted at any time. The Trust operates a two-stage application process, applicants must initially submit a first-stage proposal, which will go through an initial assessment process. Full application instructions are available on the Trust's website.

Background

Sanctuary Housing Association, a registered society and registered provider of social housing, provides and administers the Grand Ideas Fund scheme.

Objectives

Sanctuary Housing – Grand Ideas Fund recognises that building strong and safe communities is as important as providing a home. The fund supports initiatives which will make a positive difference to the lives of Sanctuary residents and their communities. Sanctuary will prioritise applications which are led by the community and which demonstrate effective partnership working. Applications must benefit some Sanctuary Housing or Sanctuary supported living residents and be open to, and inclusive of, all.

Value

Up to £1,000, larger amounts can be considered for applications which will make a significant impact. Applicants must have additional funding in place, or the ability to secure additional funding equivalent to the amount of funding being requested from Sanctuary. Additional funding can be in the form of cash or in the value of resources, such as donated materials or volunteer time. Only applications that have additional funding (to the same value or more than requested from Sanctuary) will be considered.

Who Can Apply

Community and residents groups, voluntary groups, social enterprises, community interest companies, registered charities, schools and statutory organisations that are working in the interests of Sanctuary Housing or Sanctuary supported living residents and their community.

Eligible Expenditure

Funding is available for projects that address one or more of the following themes:

• employment, education, skills and training - to help people to develop their skills and access training and support in order to enter into, and sustain, employment. Helping Sanctuary residents and their community to access volunteering, build self-confidence, gain skills or qualifications, and find work
• health and well-being - to support people to live happy, healthy and fulfilled lives, with access to the care and support services they need. Helping Sanctuary residents and their community to access activities which promote healthy lifestyles, create friendships and build links to support networks to help people live more independently
• community safety and infrastructure - to ensure that Sanctuary communities are safe places to live and are equipped with the infrastructure they need to shape their aims and aspirations. Helping to promote opportunities for people to play a positive role in their community, to design community-led initiatives, and build the capacity of local groups and charities to provide them
• environment - to make Sanctuary neighbourhoods greener and cleaner places in which to live and assist residents to live more sustainable lifestyles. This includes involving local people in improving spaces and encouraging greener lifestyle choices such as growing their own vegetables or recycling
• financial inclusion - to ensure that everyone is able to access the basic financial services products that are needed to participate in a modern society. Amidst Universal Credit, Sanctuary are actively promoting routes to local services that offer impartial financial advice, guidance and support to build people’s confidence to manage their money and make informed financial choices.

Apply

The application form is available to complete online on the Sanctuary Housing website. Phone enquiries are welcome. Applications can be submitted at any time of year. The fund is renewed and updated in April.