Covid19 – Funding Advice and Support 

The Covid-19 emergency has created a funding crisis for many charities, social enterprises and community groups across Cumbria and has left many voluntary sector organisations across Cumbria struggling to continue to deliver services, pay staff and meet running costs.

Voluntary sector organisations are also rising to the challenge of identifying, developing and adapting to deliver their services differently and/ or delivering different services to meet the needs of people across the communities of Cumbria. Many people are relying on voluntary sector services now more than ever before.

Help and Support from Cumbria CVS

Cumbria CVS 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

Eden Sight Support Funding Case Study

Border Kirk Carlisle Funding Case Study

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 800 350.

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

Funding Focus a weekly focus on funding to support local organisations and keep you abreast of current and new funding opportunities. Please find latest editions here (archived copies are below too):

Focus on Funding 17_11_20: This update includes information on a range of funding programmes and an invite to the next Focus on Funding Forum on 4 December (see below).

Focus on Funding 02_11_20
Focus on Funding 20_10_20
Focus on Funding 6_10_20

Funding Forum a monthly networking and training/information event for those with an interest in funding.

Your Invitation to Cumbria Festive Funding Forum
You are invited to the next meeting of Cumbria Funding Forum taking place on Friday 4 December at the new time of 10.30am to 12.30pm.  We encourage you to get in a festive mood by wearing (and eating) something seasonal.  The theme this month is sustainability and we have a workshop with Graeme Reekie, Director of the Lasting Difference consultancy.  We will also be exploring the Thriving Communities Fund and the opportunities for collaboration and joint bids that this fund brings, followed by an open forum.

Sustaining your Small Charity: Principles and Practices is a one-hour, participatory workshop which introduces the principles and practices of sustainable charities.  Based on the popular Lasting Difference toolkit, it explains how survival and sustainability are more manageable than they often appear.  By the end of the workshop, participants will have broadened their understanding of sustainability, identified ideas for improving their charity’s sustainability and benefited from sharing learning among supportive peers.

The Funding Forum is open to everyone with an interest in funding for the Voluntary, Community, Social Enterprise sector in Cumbria.  Whether you are a paid employee or volunteer, a first-time attendee or a regular participant please join us on the day and get involved.

The meeting will take place via zoom.  You can book your free place by registering on the Eventbrite link:  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cumbria-cvs-focus-on-funding-forum-sustaining-your-organisation-tickets-129281611781
We look forward to seeing you.

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

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.

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

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.

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

Meet the Funders

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 Covid19 these have been postponed but please contact us to register an interest in future training.