Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service

The scheme is open from 1st November 2011 to Thursday 19th December 2011 at noon for Applications from groups delivering Local Projects in Wales. Applications for local projects from charities or not for profit groups are welcomed. The maximum grant for local applicants is £2,500, the closing date is 19th December and decisions will be made early March 2012 and groups will be written to in March Projects need to start from after March 2012 and they have a year to spend the funding. See website for further information.

You may be aware that the Home Office has recently released £5 million for 20011/12 & a similar sum for next year to encourage greater community activism, and to enable communities to develop innovative approaches to tackling local crime issues that matter to them. This money is particular targeted at grass root activists who do not normally receive government grants, full details and application forms are available from the Home Office website.

Community Chest offers grant of up to £1500 in any 12 month period for activities that:

· Encourage more people to become more active, more often

· Raises the standards of existing activities

The scheme is open to any group as long as they hold a bank account in the organsiation’s name.

If you are a member of the public, primary school or associated body arranging activities for children, or secondary school whose part of the 5×60 scheme you are ineligible to apply for a Community Chest grant.

Full application guidance and a copy of the application form can be found at the Sport Wales website.

Through the Grimple’s Green Grants Scheme, the Green Insurance Company wishes to encourage ‘green behaviour’ and is looking for individuals and organisations to get involved in their community and surrounding natural environment. The company is looking for environmentally-friendly green projects across the United Kingdom that it can fund and support.

This year there is an overall budget of £40,000 available for distribution. Individual grants of up to £2,000, plus a special one off grant of up to £10,000, will be allocated to fund a variety of initiatives. Ideas include anything from creating a community garden to reducing food miles by growing vegetables or establishing a wildlife garden to encourage biodiversity back into gardens.

Those in urban areas might wish to develop a project to increase awareness of environmental issues and educate the younger generation so that they develop good habits early. The scheme could also be used to fund energy efficiency improvements in energy inefficient buildings where community meetings take place.

Individuals and non-profit organisations in the UK, undertaking projects with a clear green element are eligible to apply to this scheme.

The deadline for receipt of applications is 30 November 2011.

further information can be found here.

The Community Foundation in Wales is now administrating grants on behalf of the

Dulverton Trust which operates within the following main areas of activity:

YouthOpportunities, General Welfare, Conservation and Preservation. Grants of £500 to £5000 will be awarded to small charities and organisations normally with an annual income of under £200,000. The next application deadline for this year is 31 December 2011. For further details please visit: www.cfiw.org.uk  or tel: 029 2053 6590.

The Welsh Government is offering up to 100% grants to projects (big and small) which help people to enjoy the wonderful waters of Wales. The money is being made available for projects that secure new or improved public access to Wales rivers, lakes, canals, reservoirs, and coastal waters for recreational and educational activities. To find out more contact: Ceri Morgan, Environment Agency Wales, Ty Cambria, 29 Newport Road, Cardiff CF24 0TP Tel: 029 2046 6241 Email: splash@environment-agency.gov.uk

The Kellogg’s Swim Active Programme offers grants to not for profit organisations to help the development of innovative projects that encourage any aquatic activity which enhances motivation, removes barriers and increases participation in swimming. Projects can be revenue based, capital based or a mix of both. The Fund has no minimum or maximum limit, although it is not an unlimited financial resource. It is preferred if organisations think about whether their application can include an element of partnership funding in cash or in kind. This is not essential, but is seen as a useful indication that others support the idea and are prepared to back it. The closing date for applications is 1 December 2011.

Click here for links to the relevant website/scheme guidelines and GRANTfinder report

WREN, the Waste Recycling Group, has announced the launch of a new Heritage Fund to support the repair, maintenance or restoration of a building or structure of architectural or historic importance including places of worship. Under the new scheme, grants of between £15,001 and £50,000 are available for listed buildings or structures including places of worship situated within 10 miles of an active and licensed Waste Recycling Group landfill site.

The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) Living Wetlands programme provides awards to a range of multi-functional projects across the UK that contribute to the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), demonstrate sustainability of wetland habitats and ensure the safety of BAP priority species and habitats. An award of £1,500 is available to projects that demonstrate the sustainable use of wetland habitats. The closing date for applications is 20 January 2012. Click here for links to the relevant website/scheme guidelines and GRANTfinder report

What could your community do with a share of £5m?

Aired in August this year, Village SOS – a prime-time BBC TV series – followed the journey of six UK villages as they each used a Big Lottery Fund grant to start up a community enterprise to help them answer a local need and breathe new life into their area.

And now, through the Village SOS Active competition, the Big Lottery Fund is offering rural communities across the UK a share of £5m to help them start up their own enterprises, big or small, which could include community pubs and shops, broadband schemes, and local food or craft projects.

Funding of between £10,000 and £30,000 is on offer to groups and organisations in rural areas of less than 3,000 people to help them develop their enterprising ideas. Applying is easy and entries must be received by 20 October 2011. For further information on how to apply, please call the advice line on 0845 434 9123 or visit the Village SOS website BIG have teamed up with rural enterprise experts The Plunkett Foundation to provide a range of support and advice to help you get a thriving community enterprise off the ground in your village. A wide range of support is available through the website.

And the Big Lottery Fund are now hosting a series of free events to bring the benefits of community enterprise directly to you! The nationwide Village SOS roadshow will visit Wales twice and the first session will be held at the Galeri Centre in Caernarfon on Tuesday 8 November 2011, 10am to 4pm. The second will be held at the BIG funded Talgarth Mill in Talgarth, Brecon on Monday 28th November 2011, 10am – 4pm.

Please take a look at the Village SOS website and pass on this information to anyone in your community who may be interested.