Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service

The Welsh Government has launched a new £15 million programme, the Wales Economic Growth Fund, designed to help businesses through the prevailing economic downturn.

The initiative is a short-term, fast-track fund for Welsh businesses, providing immediate access to non-repayable capital funding for investments that will create and retain employment opportunities.

A total of £15 million is available through the programme. The minimum funding level is £100,000.

Eligible expenditure can include new investment in capital assets (machinery, computer equipment, buildings etc). Intellectual property bought from a third party, professional fees and other one off costs related to the investment may also be eligible.

Revenue costs associated with the capital investment are also eligible.

Companies that have projects planned to improve productivity and create and maintain jobs may be eligible for support.

Applications will open on 12 December 2011 with a closing date of 31 January 2012.

For further information see website. 

A £6m investment fund to help community organisations create local enterprise was announced on Tuesday 29th November 2011 by Deputy Minister for European Programmes, Alun Davies. The Communities Investment Fund will provide finance of up to £250,000, primarily through flexible loans, to local organisations and social enterprises. The fund will invest in organisations to develop trading activities by supporting the purchase or improvement of buildings, equipment and other community business ideas. It will also offer finance to charities to support them in delivering public services such as healthcare and employment programmes. Managed by WCVA, the fund is backed with Welsh Government funding including £3m from the European Regional Development Fund. It will create 100 jobs as social and community enterprises involved are able to extend their services and new ones are set up.  In total the fund will help set up 30 new enterprises, support a further 75 existing enterprises and encourage them to become more sustainable by providing an alternative to grant based support. For more information about the Communities Investment Fund and an application pack, contact the WCVA Helpdesk on 0800 2888 329 or email cif@wcva.org.uk.

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

Villages in Wales have one month left to apply for a share of £5 million Lottery cash to create exciting community enterprises that will help to revitalise their area and meet the needs of local people.

Projects have until 5pm on Thursday 20th October 2011 to apply for up to £30,000 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Village SOS Active competition, which follows hot on the heels of the primetime BBC One series, Village SOS.

Find further information here

The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) is the statutory adviser to government on sustaining natural beauty, wildlife and the opportunity for outdoor enjoyment throughout Wales and its inshore waters. CCW champions the environment and landscapes of Wales and its coastal waters as sources of natural and cultural riches, as a foundation for economic and social activity, and as a place for leisure and learning opportunities. We aim to make the environment a valued part of everyone’s life in Wales.

 The Countryside Council for Wales has now opened its grants window for bidding for grants for 2012-13. The window will be open until 21st October 2011. Information on what we fund, who we can fund and how to bid for funds can be found on the CCW website

The Sustainable Steps programme opens on Friday 30th September 2011. The programme aims to:

Support communities across Wales to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to climate change by developing skills, changing behaviour and promoting wider sustainable development.

We are looking to fund a single Wales wide project to help develop the capacity and capability of communities across Wales, to take action on climate change. £620,000 is available over 2 years to fund the project. The successful project is likely to be a partnership that will engage with communities that have previously taken little or no action to address the causes and consequences of climate change. It will support these communities by providing a wide range of initial advice, training and mentoring support.

The deadline for completed outline proposal forms is 12 noon, Friday 4th November 2011. If you are interested in applying we are holding two briefing and networking events:

· Swansea Environment Centre, Monday 3rd October 11am – 1pm

· Wrexham County Borough Council Guildhall, Wednesday 5th October 2 – 4pm

To book your place, please complete the [Download not found] and return to: sustainablesteps@biglotteryfund.org.uk by Wednesday 28th September.

Royal National Institute of Blind People – Researcher – Fundraising – Make a difference in your local community, by joining their already successful team of dedicated fundraising volunteers. they are looking for enthusiastic and friendly individuals to assist within their Community Fundraising department.

Volunteers needed to help research target audiences who are willing to support RNIB Cymru to help raise funds for blind and partially sighted people.

The days and times are flexible to suit you and can be weekdays, evenings or weekends. they would like a commitment of a minimum of 4 hours a month.  If you are interested and would like more information please contact Neath Port Talbot CVS Volunteer Centre on 01639 631387 or info@nptcvs.org.uk.