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Awards for All the former Big Lottery small grants programme has been restructured (unfortunately).  The programme has been split into 3 streams (arts and sports as well as communities) so groups need to carefully consider which fund may suit them best even if a project may cover all of these areas. See below for more details. Each have their own unique criteria and processes. So much for progress.

Awards For All (new)

The Big Lottery Fund is offering Awards for All grants of £300 - £10,000 for projects which improve local communities and the lives of people most in need. The types of projects that will be funded must have at least one of the following outcomes which are the same as those for the Big Lottery main large grant programme Reaching Communities:

• People have better chances in life – with better access to training and development to improve their life skills
• Stronger communities – with more active citizens working together to tackle their problems
• Improved rural and urban environments – for communities to access and enjoy
• Healthier and more active people and communities.

Awards for all will be available to Voluntary and community groups, schools, health organisations, parish and town councils may apply.

Eligible costs include equipment hire or purchase, materials, training, venue hire, volunteer expenses, feasibility studies for building projects and land, building, refurbishment, landscaping or property projects but not salary costs. There is a simplified application process, with a maximum turnaround time of six weeks.

People have better chances in life – with better access to training and development to improve their life skills

• Stronger communities – with more active citizens working together to tackle their problems
• Improved rural and urban environments – for communities to access and enjoy
• Healthier and more active people and communities.

Awards for all will be available to Voluntary and community groups, schools, health organisations, parish and town councils may apply. The application form and guidelines can be downloaded from www.awardsforall.org.uk or call their advice line on 0845 600 20 40

Grants for the Arts

Arts Council England is offering small grants through its Grants for the Arts programme. Grants of £1,000 - £100,000 are available for arts projects lasting up to three years. Decisions are made within 6 weeks for applications below £5,000, and 12 weeks for applications over £5,000.

Heritage Lottery Fund is providing small grants for heritage projects through their Your Heritage and Young Roots schemes.
Your Heritage (£3,000-£50,000) has three aims, learning, conservation and participation. Projects must meet the first aim, and at least one of the other two. Examples of possible Your Heritage projects include people’s memories and experiences, histories of people, communities, places and events, cultural traditions and archaeological sites.

Young Roots (£3,000 - £25,000) aims to involve 13-25 year-olds in discovering their heritage, developing skills, building confidence and promoting community involvement. Young Roots projects should be in partnership with at least one heritage partner, cost no more than £50,000 and be completed within 18 months.

For further information about these programmes, visit the Arts Council website at www.artscouncil.org.uk  or phone their helpline 0845 300 6200.

Grants for Sports

Sport England’s Small Grants Programme has been set up to support local community sport projects aiming to increase and/or sustain participation in, or develop, opportunities for people to excel at their chosen sport. You can apply for £300 - £10,000 but the total project cost cannot exceed £50,000.
Examples of projects supported by Sport England’s Small Grants programme include helping a sports club expand its age range, paying for additional coaching fees or helping youth clubs work together with local sports clubs to get more young people playing sport.

It is open to bona fide not-for-profit clubs or associations, statutory bodies or educational establishments.

You can only apply through the Sport England website http://funding.sportengland.org/default.aspx

SpeakUp is a countywide Forum for VCS. The Forum started working several months after the previously funded VOICES network project finished.  A first year progress report has been produced

The SpeakUp Forum brings together representatives, each with a mandate derived from a significant section of the voluntary and community sector, to enable an exchange on information and views for the benefit of the voluntary sector in East Sussex.

The SpeakUp Forum aims to:

• Support groups to have a voice in the County and be a strong partner for statutory agencies
• Provide representation and influence partnerships, planning and decision-making across East Sussex
• Strengthen networking between groups
• Develop good practice and training in the field of community representation

The first year report includes, written in green, quotes and feedback from SpeakUp representatives and many other members of VCS organisations in East
Sussex. Click on the link below

http://www.askcasper.org.uk/sites/askcasper.org.uk/files/documents/SpeakUp%20Report_April2009.pdf

East Sussex County Council (ESCC), in agreeing the budget for 2009/10, have agreed to a one off allocation which can be used over several years, to support the work to address the recession and the impact it has on residents, businesses and communities.

Priorities

Projects that the County Council wish to support using this fund will need to meet the criteria (detailed in 5 below), which in summary support the County Council’s new policy steer under the Strategic Management and Economic Development Portfolio:

”Take account of the effect of the economic downturn on residents, businesses and services in the County Council’s business and financial plans to ensure that the effects for local people are minimised as far as possible in the short term and that, in the longer term, the area is well placed to emerge in a strengthened position at the end of the current period of economic uncertainty.”

Contact Details

If you have any queries about this fund and the eligibility of your project you can contact: Kieran McNamara 01273 481268.

Eligibility Criteria

You should ensure that you meet all eligibility criteria for the scheme:

•    Applications can be made either by teams within the County Council or external organisations which have the explicit support for the project of an ESCC’s team.

•    All projects must:

• deliver the Council’s objective; “Take account of the effect of the economic downturn on residents, businesses and services in the County Council’s business and financial plans to ensure that the effects for local people are minimised as far as possible in the short term and that, in the longer term, the area is well placed to emerge in a strengthened position at the end of the current period of economic uncertainty” and:
• be supported by a clear evidence base of need in East Sussex related to the recession; and
• set out the intended outcomes of the project and how those outcomes will be measured; and
• demonstrate good value for money; and
•  have a clear exit strategy.

•    The fund must contribute no more than 75% to the overall project cost, except for projects under £10,000. Projects above £10,000 will need to demonstrate that they are of sufficient scale to achieve a significant impact or have the potential to do so.

•    The fund can only be used to support projects with an overall value of over £5,000.

•    The fund may be used to pump prime longer term opportunities (e.g. feasibility studies, research) but there needs to be a clear plan as to how the results of such studies will be taken forward and funded.

•    Projects can be either capital and/or revenue based

Now Closed. Thank you for your interest

This small grants scheme is made available by East Sussex County Council through the Community Partnership Finance (CPF) Programme Priority 3 – 2009/2012. During its lifetime, the aim of the scheme is to award a total of £150,000 in grants of up to £5,000 to voluntary organisations and community groups across East Sussex wanting to:

• pilot innovative approaches to service delivery
• pilot the delivery of a local service to a wider geographical area
• develop new approaches to user involvement in service delivery

In addition all applications must be delivering a service in at least one of the following areas: § Adult Social Care

• Children
• Young People
• Mental Health
• Disabilities
• Community Transportation
• Volunteering Support
• Substance misuse

Who can apply?

The scheme is open to small Voluntary and Community Organisations based in, and offering a service within, the East Sussex area. Where a group is a part of, or is affiliated to a larger organisation, they must be able to demonstrate local governance, and the ability to produce financial records specific to the local service. In order to be considered, groups must be able to satisfy the basic eligibility criteria as detailed in question 5 on the application form, and have a service that meets the aims of the Fund Although the maximum is £5,000, we encourage applications for smaller amounts where appropriate in order to ensure that this limited fund stretches as far as possible, among equally deserving bids. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications well ahead of the deadline where possible, to allow the administrator sufficient time to prepare all cases thoroughly. Where deficiencies are identified at an early enough stage, feedback will be given to enable groups to address shortfalls and resubmit (where appropriate) ahead of the deadline. Comprehensive GUIDANCE NOTES are provided for download to help you complete the form. These will help you make sure that that your group is eligible to receive funding and that the activities for which you are seeking funding meet the aims of the grant programme. Closing dates for applications 26 May 2010 and 3rd November 2010

The Hastings and Rother Directory of community and voluntary groups 2009 is to be published soon. The Directory is a widely distributed listing of community and voluntary organistions, what they do and their contact details. It is widely distributed through East Sussex and is an excellent way of broadcasting your groups presence, attracting new members, users or volunteers.

An entry into the Directory is FREE for any voluntary and community group based or working in Hastings or Rother. If you would like your group or organisation to be included in the 2009 directory download the form below and email it back to us. To see the current Directory click here

If you would also like to take the opportunity to update your groups membership of RVA or join for the first time feel free to complete the rest of the form.

For more information on the Directory or membership of RVA contact us on 01797 229750 or email us at rvaoffice@rothervoluntaryaction.org.uk or click here

Dominic Goggins, Fiscal and Regulatory Officer at the Cental Council for Physical Recreation explains how local sports clubs have saved £millions by registering as Community Amateur Sports Clubs. 

In its current form, the benefits favour property-owning clubs. CCPR and the CASC Development Forum are working to persuade the Government to improve the scheme by allowing CASCs to claim Gift Aid on junior membership subscriptions through our Subs for Clubs campaign. This would fulfil the scheme’s potential by securing vital, sustainable funding for clubs in the years ahead.

With or without these improvements, the CASC scheme is a real asset for community sport and it is important that clubs are aware that this option is available to them.

Woodford Rugby Union Club is certainly grateful for it. A new pavilion built in 1994 left them £200,000 in debt, long before the ability to raise £45,000 through Gift Aid. They will now celebrate their 80th anniversary debt-free, which was unthinkable before the CASC scheme was created. Club representative David Shepherd glows about the scheme,: “It is simple to administer. Staff at the Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs are genuinely interested and helpful in dealing with queries and providing solutions…I would thoroughly recommend it to other clubs”.

Download the full article below

To find out more about the CASC scheme, and for information on how to register, please visit www.cascinfo.co.uk, the definitive
CASC resource.

Note: This article is reprinted from NAVCA Circulation

On April 1st 2009 RDC and RVA jointly financed a year long project to identify and facilitate the development and promotion of social enterprise in Rother. The target group included:

• Self-identified, new or emergent social entrepreneurs
• Existing voluntary organisations looking to become more enterprising
• Existing social enterprises wishing to expand or develop
• Community led businesses as identified through local action plans

Download the full report below

The Hastings and Rother NHS has set its Health Improvement Partnership meetings timetable. See below for dates. Any voluntary or community group is welcome to attend.  For more details contact

Peter Aston

Health Improvement Co-ordinator (rural)

NHS East Sussex Downs Weald and NHS Hastings & Rother

103 Sedlescombe Road North

St Leonards-on-Sea

East Sussex TN37 7EJ

01424 457111   or  078 99791759

HIMP Main Meeting - 29th April 1pm - Bexhill Town Hall 

Accident Prevention -  9th April 2pm -  Battle
Health Centre, Battle

Older People -   20th April 9am  - Watch Oak, Battle

Mental Well-being -   30th April  2pm -   Battle
Health Centre, Battle

Food and Physical Activity  -  9th April 10am  -   Battle Health Centre, Battle

HIMP Main Meeting -   29th July  1pm -  Bexhill Town Hall

Accident Prevention 6th July  2pm    Battle
Health Centre, Battle

Older People -  20th July  9am  -  Watch Oak, Battle

Mental Well-being   TBC                                   

Food and Physical Activity -   6th July 10am  -  Battle Health Centre, Battle

New training opportunities in East Sussex

“EMPOWERING THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR” WORKSHOP WITH SOUTH DOWNS CVS
The Empowering the Voluntary Sector project brings together the Public Law Project (PLP) to support the voluntary and community sector to understand the principles and framework of public law. A national programme of one-day workshops on the principles of public law has been taking place and feedback from people attending has been very positive – over 98% rate the training highly. NAVCA in conjunction with South Downs CVS are holding a workshop on 18 March 2009 at: Room 3, The Hub, Civic Approach, Uckfield, TN22 1AL (next to Uckfield Civic Centre). For further details of cost and registration go to www.navca.org.uk/evs or http://www.southdownscvs.org.uk/information-and-training/training.php

INTRODUCTION TO WORKING WITH THE MEDIA WITH MCCRUDDEN TRAINING
Tuesday 17 March 2009 9.30am - 12.30am
Tuesday 24 March 2009 9.30am - 12.30am at South Downs CVS, 66 High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1XG
This course is run over two half days (to allow delegates time to draft a press release and review it in the second session). Cost £45 - £60 depending on status. Closing date for bookings 3rd March. For further details please contact Julia Fowler, South Downs CVS on 01273 483832, email: info@southdownscvs.org.uk www.southdownscvs.org.uk

SUPPORTING CARERS
A conference for people who work with carers in East Sussex. Guest speakers, information, workshops and networking opportunities. Buffet lunch provided. 23rd APRIL 2009 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at: THE KINGS CENTRE, 27 EDISON ROAD, EASTBOURNE, BN23 6PT. For further information tel:- 01323 738390 or email:- patg@cftc.org.uk

TRAINING FOR NON-STATUTORY ORGANISATIONS WORKING WITH CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE IN EAST SUSSEX
Dealing with Challenging Behaviour - Monday 9th March at Eastbourne
Supervision - Tuesday 10th March at Lewes
First Aid – Appointed Person - Saturday 14th March at Hastings
First Aid – Appointed Person - Wednesday 18th March at Eastbourne
Appraisal - Wednesday 18th March at Lewes
Child Protection Level 1 - Thursday 19th March at Hastings
Equality & Diversity Awareness - Thursday 26th March at Hastings
Record Keeping & Report Writing - Monday 30th March at Lewes