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This month saw the launch of a new funding round for the SITA Trust grant-making programme, aimed at supporting volunteers (and occasionally contractors) to physically improve selected open spaces.
This led to lots of questions in the office and from our communities around the availability, or not, of funding in these tough financial times. As a result, we’ve dedicated this issue to money.
Not more doom and gloom about the economy but specifically how communities, rural groups and others can find the means to deliver their plans in the most pragmatic and effective ways possible. And that doesn’t always mean grants!
Our lead article is written by Amanda Carpenter, Director at Achill Management and a seasoned fundraiser, which introduces a successful scheme designed to help organisations help themselves. We’ve also arranged for a discount on similar services for all Hidden Britain communities so please do get in touch if you’re interested!
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Funding Buddies helping groups to help themselves
Independent trusts and foundations in the UK make charitable grants of around £3 billion per year but for many small community organisations and charities accessing these funds can seem like an impossible task.
Often the forms are complex, asking for business plans, detailed information about projects and costs, evidence of success with data to support requests for funding and references. While the grant givers have a duty to make sure their money is donated wisely, the process itself can seem like an insurmountable barrier.
However there are several initiatives that can help. For example, charities based in Kent can benefit from the lottery-funded project called Funding Buddies, run by Action for Communities in Rural Kent (ARK). This scheme offers organisations an opportunity to work with an experienced Fundraiser who acts as a mentor and “critical friend”.
Potential grant funders are identified and the charity works side by side with their Funding Buddy to submit the best application they can. Each charitable organisation gets about two days of support from their Funding Buddy, with the idea being that at the end of their time together the charity is left with the skills and confidence to submit their own applications.
This approach has been highly effective with an impressive 81% success rate for applications submitted, as opposed to the usual 33%. One further aspect most organisations like about the service is that they become self-sufficient over time which means being able to generate their own funding without having to continually hire fundraising consultants.
Unsurprisingly, demand for services like Funding Buddies is outstripping supply both in Kent and more widely, so other organisations are offering similar services to help improve the success rates of charities applying for funding.
One such proven service is the Achill Mentoring Programme which offers an effective mentoring service based on several years of grant-fundraising experience, helping smaller, voluntary and community groups to identify possible sources of funds and work on a sample application.
Until the end of September, Hidden Britain member communities can benefit from the Achill Management Mentoring Programme with a 30% discount so register your interest here.
Amanda Carpenter
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The art of investing without any money
When budgets for everyone are so tight, organisations are increasingly turning to a 21st century interpretation of an ancient form of commerce – bartering. Quid pro quo, mutual back-scratching, it has many names but the principles are the same.
Instead of spending a significant amount of time on chasing possible sources of funding to support their marketing efforts, the Community Partnership in Hassocks has worked with Southern Railway to promote the village as a destination, for free.
The company needed relevant and interesting content for its customer magazines. Specifically, stories which link train travel to the opportunities available in the South’s countryside. Therefore, rather than look for funding to buy advertising space, the team worked with the rail company’s magazine team to put together editorial content which met both parties' needs.
The magazine can be found here and the Hassocks content is on page 13.
The key to securing these opportunities is finding partners whose objectives are complementary to yours and that you can help them to meet. Examples include:
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Local newspapers who also need relevant, community-based content
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Motor dealerships who need to raise their positive profile in an area could be open to providing vehicles as long as they carry their livery
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Relevant graduates may design new websites for your group to build their portfolio and use you as a testimonial
Start with thinking about what you need to do rather than how much money you need to do it and you might be surprised about how much you can achieve without needing to find extra funding.
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LEADER funding for tourism
There are still funding opportunities out there for innovative and well planned rural tourism initiatives. One of the most accessible right now, is the RDPE funded Leader Programme which operates in local areas all over the country and has already funded £190,000 worth of projects in the Surrey Hills.
The Surrey Hills LEADER Grant Scheme was set up in 2008 to support rural businesses and communities in the Surrey Hills, one of South East England’s most beautiful and accessible areas of countryside. The scheme offers financial help to projects and ideas by awarding grants of up to £50,000.
The scheme has supported a diverse range of tourism projects that draw in visitors as well enhancing their experience. Just a few examples include; new hand washing and toilet facilities for Ladyland Farm, new signage for the recently opened Box Hill Walks, new bikes, canoes and tents enabling Dynamic Adventures to offer Surrey Hills Safaris, or building a 3rd platform at The Old Kiln Light Railway, part of the Rural Life Centre in Tilford.
Whilst these projects appear diverse, they share the overarching aim of improving the benefit and contribution tourism brings to the Surrey Hills. And this is how groups qualify.
If you have a project that needs additional funding LEADER may be able to award you a grant to part pay for capital items or marketing support. Click here to contact the relevant LEADER team for your area or visit the Surrey Hills Leader Programme website for more information.
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Hints & Tips - giving funders confidence
If you are bidding for funds, make sure you give yourself the best chance of success by giving potential funders confidence in you and your case. Here are our tips for bid writing success
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Do your homework, look at the kind of projects or ideas that have gained funding from that body in the past, check your idea gels with the themes and ideas they support
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Speak to those in charge of the purse strings early, not just to float your idea but also ascertain what level of funding might be available and if there is a strong demand
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Do a full budget/profit &loss /cashflow forecast regardless of amount you are looking for and whether its asked for or not
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Ask someone with experience to critically review your application and fix any gaps
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Don't be economical with the truth or conceal any issues. Nothing hurts your chances quicker than fostering mistrust
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If you intend to sell or communicate with the public then write a marketing plan!
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Get three comparative and realistic quotes for all items (i.e ones you might actually take up)!
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Consider budgeting on second-hand items, this shows you are serious about your intentions and are prepared to make sacrifices to make things happen
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Doing something is better than nothing - consider a lower budget phased approach that will allow a little to happen now rather than the all-singing-all-dancing version
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Be proactive, sign up for alerts and get on lists for funding news; early warnings can be hugely useful.
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There are plenty more great hints, tips and advice on developing all aspects of a tourism project or idea at the Hidden Britain website. Click here to find out more
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Tell us what you think!
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This month's poll is all about how useful social media is to your organisation.
Do you rely on grants to deliver projects?
(1 = totally, 10 = not at all)
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lowest 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 highest
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