£130m Grassroots Grants scheme opens its doors to small local voluntary and community groups

 

 

The Government’s groundbreaking £130million Grassroots Grants scheme has declared itself open for business and called on small local voluntary and community groups to come forward and get their hands on essential funding.

 

 

Whether it’s helping local sports clubs get hold of new kit, coaching new volunteers or simply giving the club venue a fresh lick of paint, Grassroots Grants aim to make a real and immediate difference to the work of any small and local community groups with annual incomes below £20,000.

The programme, funded by the Office of The Third Sector in the Cabinet Office and administered by the Community Development Foundation, offers grants of between £250 and £5,000 to support activities that lie right at the heart of our local communities.

Grassroots Grants will put essential cash in the hands of small local voluntary groups without all the paperwork required for larger grants.”

The programme, which will run from 2008-2011 is divided into two parts: an £80 million small grants fund for community organisations; and a £50 million endowments programme to enable local funders to generate additional donations on a matched basis and invest them in endowments, thereby building their capacity to provide long-term funding for frontline community organisations. This offers businesses the chance to contribute directly to supporting and sustaining the communities in which they operate.

The endowment element – which is also open to individual investors – aims to ensure that that Grassroots Grants remain available for many years to come. It is estimated that with match funding and sound investment this £50million could be worth as much as £150million when it starts paying out in 2011. In addition, as Gift Aid can be claimed on donations to a registered charity, a £1,000 match-funded contribution from a business would be worth £2,560 to the fund.

Local sport clubs/organisations or community groups in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent should contact for further information or apply directly to:

Staffordshire Community Foundation
01782 683000
www.staffsfoundation.org.uk

 

For further information on different funding streams for sports clubs and organisations please visit the Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent website where you will find a funding section;

http://www.sportacrossstaffordshire.co.uk/Funding

 

Alternatively please contact Chris Turner – Club & PESSCL Development Officer on 01785 619681 or cturner@staffordbc.gov.uk