Funding

News and Events

Focus on Funding Forum
Friday 5 February
10.30am to 12.30pm – online event
Join other Cumbrian VCFSEs to explore place-based partnerships and The National Lottery Community Fund’s Partnerships programme.

Building on the place-based approach of previous funding forums, the aim of this forum is to facilitate you to explore and consider working in collaboration and partnership with other VCFSEs in your area and apply for TNL Community Fund Partnerships programme.

The National Lottery Community Fund has recently re-opened its regular funding programmes: Awards for All, Reaching Communities and Partnerships.  We are delighted to be joined this month by Duncan Nicholson, Head of Regional Funding and Amelia Nicholson, Funding Officer from The National Lottery Community Fund North East & Cumbria Team to learn more about these programmes, with particular emphasis on the Partnerships programme.

Book your place on this month’s funding forum by clicking on the link below:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cumbria-cvs-focus-on-funding-forum-partnerships-tickets-137297234725

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!

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 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

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.