Funding

News and Events

Focus on Funding Forum – Friday 3 September from 10.30 to 12.30

Cumbria CVS North and West District Special:  Carlisle and Eden; Allerdale and Copeland

This is an opportunity to find out more about CVS and meet Niall McNulty, the local District Manager for the North (Eden and Carlisle) and Bridget Johns, the District Manager for the West (Allerdale and Copeland).  It’s also a chance for us to meet you and find out what you want from CVS, what are the major issues in the North and West areas now and in the future, and how we work together in meeting these challenges.

We want the forum to be very much an informal place-based discussion to help plan the way ahead.

The general format of the forum will be:

  • Intro from District Managers
  • What does CVS do and how can groups get involved?
  • Place-based Breakout – What are the major external issues facing groups now?
  • Place-based Breakout – What are the internal issues facing groups now?
  • Feedback from Breakouts
  • Place-based Breakout – How can we tackle the top three challenges (breakout room ideas)
  • What do groups want to see from CVS?
  • Next steps in the North and West areas (networking, peer support?)

To book a place please follow this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/focus-on-funding-forum-district-focus-north-and-west-cumbria-tickets-168238729569

Resources

Funding Update 14.09.2021: Focus on Funding 14/09/2021


NEW: Eric Wright Charitable Trust Open for Applications
The Eric Wright Charitable Trust provides funding for small groups (with income of less than £30,000) in Barrow and South Lakes.

While consideration will be given to all applications, regardless of location, which improve the quality of life and life choices for people in the area, the Trust’s main areas of interest are the following: Young Persons’ Wellbeing; Elderly Services; Education and Training; Health and Respite Care.

Grants are more likely to be funded where the applicant can show a real measurable difference to the community that their project makes. This grant cannot be used for any capital purchases.

The closing date for applications is: 30 September 2021  (funds must be spent by end March 2022).

To apply please download application form and guidance notes below:

Eric Wright Charitable Trust 2021 Small Grant application form
Eric Wright Charitable Trust 2021 Introduction letter
Guidance Notes for The Eric Wright Charitable Trust 2021 small grants fund
Eric Wright Charitable Trust 2021 – 2022 monitoring form

If you have any queries please in relation to this application process, please email: info@cumbriacvs.org.uk

Funding Advice and Support : How We Can Help You

Funding Officer Support
Cumbria CVS currently has dedicated funding officers to help your organisation or group. We can:

  • Help you to identify sources of funding in order for you to adapt and develop services or help your organisation to survive the current funding crisis
  • Provide advice to you on what makes a strong (and therefore more likely to be successful) funding application
  • Assist you by reading over and commenting on your application prior to submission to give your application maximum chance of success
  • Help you by asking questions on your behalf to funders prior to submission where possible
  • Help you to develop, write and submit funding applications where required if you do not have the capacity to do

Help connect you with other voluntary, statutory or private sector organisations who may be able to be partners in your application or service delivery

Case studies:

If you would like our help, advice and support in relation to funding for your voluntary or community group or social enterprise, please contact us by emailing: CVSfunding@cumbriacvs.org.uk or call 01768 800350.

Meet the Funders Events
We run Funding Fairs around the county, so it’s easy to find one near you. You will meet local and national funders face to face and pick up top tips for raising money.  Due to covid 19 these have currently been postponed.

Funding Training
We offer a regular programme of funding training, including Writing Successful Funding Applications. Due to covid 19 these have been postponed but please contact us to register an interest in future training.

Online Resources

We have a range of resources available to support your organisation:

Focus on Funding
Focus on Funding is a (now) fortnightly focus on funding to support local organisations and keep you abreast of current and new funding opportunities. Please find latest editions here (archived copies can be found at the bottom of the page too):

Sources of Charity Funding: Covid-19
Details and links to emergency funding for charities – UK wide, UK country, regional, global, Government financial support, specialist funding and platforms. Sources of Charity Funding Covid-19

Funding Application Checklist
When you apply for funding you need to convince your potential funders that you have a project worth funding. This checklist gives you advice to help enhance your application. Funding Application Checklist

Funding Applications letters
Sometimes Charitable Trusts and Foundations will not have an application form but will ask you to apply in writing. This can seem daunting but, unless stated otherwise, your letter need not be more than 2-3 sides of A4 long. This guide covers the main points that the funder will need to know. Funding Applications letters

Funding Tips
If you’re applying for funding here are a few tips to consider when putting together your application. Funding Tips

Are you Fit to be Funded?
Before you even think of applying for funding, make sure that your organisation is ready to receive it. Funders want to know that you are capable of managing their money, that your organisation is fit and healthy, and that you have all the necessary policies and procedures in place. Are you fit to be funded?

Funding Guide
We have also developed a local Funding Guide which can be accessed here

Archive Copies of Focus on Funding

Focus on Funding 05_01_21
Focus on Funding 15_12_20
Focus on Funding 01.12.20
Focus on Funding 17_11_20
Focus on Funding 02_11_20
Focus on Funding 6_10_20
Focus on Funding 22_9_20
Focus on Funding 8_9_20
Focus on Funding 02_9_20
Focus on Funding 25.08.20
Focus on Funding 18.08.20
Focus on Funding 11.08.20
Focus on Funding 28.7.20
Focus on Funding 21.07.20
Focus on Funding 14.07.20
Focus on Funding 07.07.20
Focus on Funding 30.06.20
Focus on Funding 16.06.20

Thank You
Thank you to the many organisations who completed the Health and Care Project’s End of Year Review Survey.  It has been extremely heartening to hear how the work of the project has helped Cumbrian third sector organisations raise essential funds and make connections with each other. Last year the project helped not-for-profit organisations secure a total value of £447,000.

We look forward to working with you in 2021 and continuing to help you secure more funding, increase your awareness of funding opportunities, improve your fundraising knowledge and skills, work collaboratively and help your organisation to survive and thrive – whatever challenges this year brings!

Contact Us

If you would like our help, advice and support in relation to funding for your voluntary or community group or social enterprise, please contact us by emailing: CVSfunding@cumbriacvs.org.uk or call 01768 800350.