Grassroots Grants

A new grant-making initiative has been launched to provide greater opportunities for small voluntary and community organisations develop projects that help build stronger communities and higher levels of social capital. Grassroots Grants is a £130 million scheme which aims to provide much needed access to small grants for local community groups. Community Foundations across the region have been chosen to manage the scheme in the North East, on behalf of the Office of the Third Sector.

Community Foundation serving Tyne & Wear and Northumberland: www.communityfoundation.org.uk
County Durham Foundation: www.countydurhamfoundation.co.uk/grassroots.htm
Tees Valley Community Foundation: www.teesvalleyfoundation.org

'Community Kitty'

Deadline: 10 April 2008

UK Villages Community Kitty provides grants of between £50 and £300 to a range of community-based projects. In the past, the fund has awarded grants for projects ranging from a knitting circle, to a playgroup needing toys, sports equipment for cubs, and support for several village halls and playing field committees, as well as a number of Heritage projects. The next application deadline is 10 April 2008.

For more information, visit www.communitykitty.co.uk/ukvillages.nsf/b?open&s=kitty.

(From VAN news, 01.11.07)

Funding from Wear1 in Sunderland and Wearside

The Sunderland Echo is launching its highly successful Wear1 campaign for the second year running. The campaign is run by the paper to raise local pride in Wearside.
As part of the Campaign, the Community Foundation manages the Wear1 Fund awarding small grants to community groups working in Sunderland and Wearside.
Application details are shown in the Sunderland Echo and will be printed from 17 October 2007 and run for the full duration of the Campaign.
Find out more by reading the Sunderland Echo article.

PRS Funding Opportunity

Deadline: 2 November 2007

The PRS Foundation for New Music is again providing £50,000 to inspire and stimulate the creation of an imaginative and original piece of new British music. The New Music Award is of up to £50,000 towards a new music project and will be decided in March 2008.
In order to be considered for an award, you are required to submit an idea which:

• Is and original piece of new music
• Is intriguing, inspiring, creative and of the highest possible quality
• Challenges the boundaries of musical performance in the UK today
• Has at least one guaranteed live public performance in the UK
• Has the potential to create a lasting musical impact and reach a significant number of people
• Has been created by composers / songwriters / producers etc. living and working in the UK

Music of any genre is welcome to be entered. The performance can be presented in any context or suitable media. The project must have a public performance/showing in the UK by 1 September 2009. Additional performances need not be confirmed when an entry is submitted, however the Foundation will be looking for projects which will have a lasting musical impact.

The Award is open to individuals, groups, organisations and consortia. Additional information and entry forms are available from www.prsfoundation.co.uk/newmusicaward/index.htm

TalkTalk Innovation in the Community Awards 2007

Many UK charities and community groups have recognised the power of the Internet for giving much needed support, from chat rooms on health issues to web-based support networks.

Broadband, mobile and other digital technologies are helping to provide essential lifelines. TalkTalk and Citizens Online have teamed up to help UK charities and community groups harness the power of the web. Thirty projects will benefit from £2,000 each, plus a year's free subscription to TalkTalk. The TalkTalk innovation in the Community Awards 2007 are open to community groups and registered charities in the UK that are seeking funding for new and existing Internet projects.

For more details click here.