Herefordshire Funding Opportunities Update July 2016 Useful Contacts

Prince’s Trust Business Programme for unemployed young people

Purpose: The scheme gives young, unemployed people the support required to start up a new business.
Who can apply: Applicants must:

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  be aged between 18 and 30 years;
  
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  be unemployed, or work less than 16 hours per week;
  
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  be able to clearly demonstrate that they are unable to raise all the necessary finance from banks, family or other sources;
  
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  have a good idea for a business.
  

Amount available: Through this scheme the following support is available:

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  A low interest loan of up to £4,000 for a sole trader, or up to £5,000 for a partnership (the average loan is between £2,000 and £3,000)
  
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  Test marketing grants of up to £250.
  
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  A grant of up to £1,500 in special circumstances (subject to local availability).
  
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  Ongoing business support and specialist advice such as a free legal helpline.
  
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  Ongoing advice from a volunteer business mentor.
  
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  Access to a wide range of products and services, offered free of charge or at a discount.
  

Deadline: Applications can be made at any time.

Start Up - supports new community project or social enterprises

Purpose: Start Up will help you get a new or young organisation up and running. It is part of a wider Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneurs Programme. The course is packed full of inspirational and practical sessions that lift the lid on the key challenges that you will face starting and leading your social enterprise. The course covers:

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  Setting up a Social Enterprise
  
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  Strategy
  
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  People and Money
  
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  Marketing
  
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  Leadership
  
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  Presentation Skills
  
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  Social Impact
  

Who can apply: Individuals who are currently setting up a community project or social enterprise. Your idea will have a focus on tackling a social issue or improving your community and you will have thought about how it can be sustainable. You do not need to have any business experience or qualifications to apply.

Amount available: Each Start Up participant receives a fully funded place on a 14 day course, a £4,000 grant and a mentor from Lloyds Bank or Bank of Scotland.

Deadline: You can currently register your interest for 2017/18 programme.

Scale Up – support to grow your social enterprise

Purpose: Scale Up is another course offered by Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneurs Programme and is focused on supporting you to grow an existing social enterprise. The course covers the following areas:

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  Strategies for growth and sustainability
  
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  Partnerships
  
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  Staff development
  
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  Leading in a changing environment
  
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  Trading
  
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  Impact and Evaluation
  
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  Funding and investment for growth
  

Who can apply: The Scale Up course is for individuals who are looking to grow an established social enterprise. To be eligible for this programme your organisation must be more than one year old, have at least one employee and have a turnover greater than £25,000.

Amount available: All Scale Up participants receive a fully funded place on a 14 day course, a grant of £15,000 and a mentor from Lloyds Bank.

Deadline: You can currently register your interest for 2017/18 programme.

Funding for Community Branch Post Offices

Purpose: This is a £20 million investment scheme designed to help secure the long term future of branches which have become the crucial "last shop" in their area giving community members easy access to services such as high street banking and mail. Grants are available to develop and improve Post Office businesses and examples of projects that can be supported include:

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  Changing the format of a branch, for example to improve storage space
  
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  New Post Office signage
  
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  Refurbishment work or investing in growing your business
  
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  New flooring, shelving, doors or lighting.
  

Who can apply: Post Office businesses
Amount available: Most applications are expected to be below £10,000 (or below £2,000 for Outreach or Satellite Services). If your project will cost more than this (or would do so in aggregate with any applications that you have previously submitted) it will be considered by the Exceptions Review Panel.
Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Impetus – Responsible Finance Provider for businesses across the West Midlands

Purpose: Impetus is your local Responsible Finance provider. Our aim is to improve the economy and environment of the area in which we operate – Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin – for the benefit of all the people who live and work here.

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  Regional Growth Fund
  

Loans of up to £150,000 are now available to businesses in the West Midlands and Gloucestershire. To discuss how these funds could help your business grow talk to Martin Linley at Impetus.

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  Start Up Loans
  

The Start Up Loans Company is a UK-wide, government backed scheme, which offers a repayable loan to individuals over the age of 18 who have a viable business idea but no access to finance. The scheme funds businesses in every sector. As well as financial backing all loan recipients are given access to a mentor, free training events and exclusive business offers. Impetus is part of a network of official Start Up Loans delivery partners across the UK who administer the scheme. We are here to guide you through the application process, including advice on creating a business plan and cashflow forecast. If you receive a loan we will then support you through your journey, providing you with your business mentor.

Impetus is a delivery partner to the Start Up Loans Company. Loans are available for start up and new businesses (up to 18 months trading). Loans available from £1,000 to £10,000 over 3 years, and come with 1 years free business advice and support. Contact Sarah Powell on 01386 556000 if you would like to discuss how this fund could help.

Amount available: We provide up to £10,000 to support new start-ups as well as young and growing businesses.

Who can apply: West Midland businesses. These loans are for business use only, and strictly for 18’s and over. Credit and finance is subject to status, and terms and conditions apply.

More than a pub: The Community Pub Business Support Programme

Purpose: This is a unique two year programme established to help support community ownership of pubs in England. It is jointly funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government and Power to Change.  This programme will offer the community pub sector access to an end-to-end support programme including capacity building and a finance package made up of loans and grants. The programme will increase the number of community-owned pubs open and trading. For many communities, pubs are not just a place to drink; they are central to people's sense of place and identity, they provide an opportunity for meeting up, and they foster community cohesion.

Amount available: Flexible bursary awards of up to £2,500 (inclusive of VAT) to fund pre-feasibility costs such as public consultation and valuations. Combined loan and grant funding up to £150,000 but not exceeding £75,000 in grant contribution (average grant is expect to be c. £37,500, average loan may be around £42,800). Where the loan and grant combination is required the loan funding is a pre-requisite and grant monies will only be released once the loan has been approved with a loan provider.

Who can apply: Support will be targeted at community groups looking to take on ownership of their local pub.

Business Loans for digital creative companies

Purpose: Creative England have launched an interest free loan scheme to help support the growth of digital creative companies. To be eligible applicants must have an annual turnover of at least £200,000, the loan must be matched 50:50 and the company must create and safeguard 1 job for every £7,000 of funding they receive. The first step in the application process is to complete the online eligibility checker and submit an Expression of Interest
Who can apply: Digital small and medium sized businesses based in England, outside of Greater London, can apply.
Amount available: Interest free loan of between £50,000 and £200,000 are available. The loan must be repaid over a maximum of 3 years.
Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Sports Funding

HALO Sport Foundation Grants for talented local athletes

Purpose: The next generation of talented local athletes ambitious to compete at national and international level will again have an opportunity to apply for financial and training support with the Halo Sport Foundation this year. The Foundation (run in conjunction with the national GLL Sport Foundation) gives ambitious sportsmen, women and children in the county, crucial support for their future. It offers grants and free training opportunities to local people (of all ages). It is all about investing in local talent; supporting local athletes and inspiring local communities.

Who can apply: Aspiring local sports men and women
Amount available: Depends on level of sporting participation; maximum grant £1,250 and minimum grant £250.
Deadline: Applications open on 20^th December 2016

Opportunities through Sports funding for disadvantaged people

Purpose: The Peter Harrison Foundation is offering grant for UK charities to support sports projects or projects providing opportunities for people who are disabled or otherwise disadvantaged to fulfil their potential and to develop other personal and life skills. Grants will often be "one off" grants for capital projects but applications for revenue funding for a new project, or if funding is key to the continuing success or survival of an established project, will also be considered. The Trustees welcome applications for the following types of project:

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  Projects which provide a focus for skills development and confidence building through the medium of sport
  
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  Projects that have a strong training and/or educational theme within a sporting activity
  
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  Projects that provide sporting equipment or facilities for disabled or disadvantaged people
  
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  Projects with a high degree of community involvement
  
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  Projects that help to engage children or young people at risk of crime, truancy or addiction
  

Who can apply: Applications for this programme are accepted from charities throughout the United Kingdom.

Amount available: There is no set minimum or maximum grant level, each grant request is reviewed on its own merits.

Deadline: There are no specific deadlines.

Funding to support the use of Sport as a tool to overcome disadvantage

Purpose: The Boost Charitable Trust was created in 2005 to build on Over-Looked Sporting Talent, to champion the disabled and disadvantaged and to inspire them to overcome their challenges through the power of sport.
Who can apply: Not for profit organisations and charities for projects 
Amount available: The Boost Charitable Trust provides grants of up to £500.
Deadline: Applications can be submitted at any time.

Grants towards football based equipment and activities - Adam Stansfield Foundation

Purpose: The Foundation promotes community participation in healthy recreation for the benefit of children and young people by the provision of grants and facilities for playing football. This can include activities and / or equipment.
Who can apply: Not for profit organisations working with children and young people up to the age of 16, residing in Devon, Herefordshire and Somerset.
Amount available: Not specified, but grant awards are usually up to a maximum of £3,000.
Deadline: Applications can be made at any time and the Trust aim to respond within 60 days.
Further information: http://www.adamstansfieldfoundation.com/apply-for-funding/

Small Grants for community sports projects - Sport England

Purpose: The Sport England Small Grants Programme has been set up to support local community sport projects which seek to increase participation, sustain participation or develop opportunities for people to excel at their chosen sport.
Who can apply: The grant scheme is open to any bona fide not-for-profit club or association, statutory body or educational establishment.
Amount available: Up to £10,000.
Deadline: Applications can be made at any time.

Grants to maximise the sports use of community playing fields - Sport England

Purpose: The Protecting Playing Fields programme supports projects that help communities maximise the sporting benefits of playing field land. In the previous funding rounds, grants of were available to provide new playing fields, bring into use disused playing fields or improve existing playing fields in order to establish and/or host a community club-schools link.
Who can apply: Voluntary or community organisations, local authorities, sports clubs, playing field associations, charities and schools. All local authority and school based projects will require a Community Use Agreement with Sport England.
Amount available: Grants between £10,000 and £65,000
Deadline: Round 9 will open Autumn 2016

Grants for tennis equipment and coaching - The Dan Maskell Tennis Trust

Purpose: This Trust grant aids individuals, disability groups and programmes, clubs, schools and associations to help with the purchase of wheelchairs, tennis equipment and grants for coaching.
Who can apply: individuals, disability groups and programmes, clubs, schools and associations.
Amount available: Up to £1,500 for a group, club or project and £500 for an individual
Deadline: There are usually 3 deadlines a year; April, August and November.

Premier League Grants for Small Football Fans Groups

Purpose: The Premier League Fans Fund is a three-year commitment from the Premier League to fund projects and organisations which improve the relationship between fans and their clubs, the way football supporters engage with each other and fans’ experience of the game. The duration of a funded project would range from a one off event/campaign, to a project running over a period of three years.

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  Projects that strengthen the relationship between professional clubs and their fans will be favoured.
  
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  Applicants must discuss potential projects with, and have support from, associated Clubs before an application is submitted. 
  
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  Total project costs must not exceed £50,000.
  
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  Applications for a grant of over £10,000 will be required to complete a development plan. 
  
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  Capital projects are ineligible.
  

Amount available: There are two tiers of projects: Up to £5,000 and Up to £20,000.

Deadlines: Applications to the Fans Fund Small Grants Scheme can be submitted at any time. Projects can take up to 12 weeks in assessment.