South West Foundation

Westway Farm, Bishop Sutton

Somerset BS39 5XP

England

Tel: 01275 333666

email: info@southwestfoundation.org.uk

Welcome to South West Foundation

Voted South West Regional Funder of the year

Community Grant Programme for the South West - Over £600,000 allocated in grants to Voluntary and community organisations throughout the Region.

The Foundation in partnership with the Learning Curve and the Skills Funding Agency has allocated grants to 80 organisations to undertake activities and training for people who are furthest removed from the labour market assisting them to move toward employment by picking up new skills and confidences. Over the next few weeks The Foundation will be collecting case histories from some of the grantees and publishing them on the website.

List of Community Grants made - download here

New May 2012 - South West Community Development Network (SWCDN) 

Events

In partnership with Bath Spa University and the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) the Foundation will be putting on a series of three events through the Community Development Network. 

The aim of the events is to bring together Voluntary and Community groups with learning providers to look at how the two sectors can work better together and to consider partnerships. These events include Women and Learning, Communities and Learning providers working together and developing communities through learning.

Phone the Foundation for more info 01275 333666  

This microsite will keep you up to date with the network.

Achievements of SWCDN to date have been:

Creating changes
The Foundation, in partnership with Bath Spa University and the Federation for Community Development Learning held a very successful national Conference on July 26th 2011 at the Newton Park campus of Bath Spa University.  Creating Changes celebrated the value of Community Development Learning.

Conference flyer - download here
Conference report - download here

August 2011 .. Rosa Watkins asked for her views on the cuts on BBC Radio 5

To play the interview, go to http://goo.gl/TIJbJ  - right click and open the file and it will download and play

Visit our Community Researcher website at http://www.communityresearchers.co.uk/

Crisis and Contradiction - new research

The Foundation's report about the research undertaken into the current issues facing small community groups in the South West Region. We were asked to speak about this research on BBC local radio, and it has also been used by MPs and Select Committees, Local Authorities and voluntary sector organisations.

Crisis and Contradiction is the report which contains the findings from this research

Download here

New video

A short film of community researchers celebrating their experience at a special event.

View at: http://vimeo.com/23218404

Women changing the world

In spring 2011 The Foundation and Single Parent Action Network joined at the Albermarle Centre, Taunton and the resulting event was attended by over 100 women involved with their communities. This free event looked at the achievements of women in their communities. 

For more information click here

The Big Society

Views from the South West Voluntary and Community Sector on the Big Society agenda. Summary report from the two South West Foundation events, held in Somerset and Cornwall during September 2010, summarising the views from the 120 delegates.
To download click here

Investing in Communities

The South-West Foundation is an independent organisation helping small community groups throughout the region and those who support them. To date the Foundation has invested over £3million to more than 1,000 organisations

The Foundation invests in communities throughout the region by:
  • Managing  and distributing grants on behalf of other funders alongside its own funding
  • Supporting and promoting community development.
  • Undertaking  research into issues that affect the community sector
  • Supporting over 60 networks and providing networking opportunities fir the sector
  • Encouraging the development of appropriate training for the sector including the Community Researcher training to help people in communities to have a voice and greater influence.
See what groups achieved with their small grants click here

The Big Community Development Picnic

big picnic

On the 28th September 2010 the South West Foundation held an important event, the Big Community Development Picnic. The event brought together around 90 individuals from the voluntary and community sector, housing associations and local authorities. The Foundation gathered their views on the 'Big Society'.

See 'Big Society' above


Tea with Naomi: How to Influence Parliament

The Foundation has been running a series of seminars with Naomi Kent from the Parliamentary Outreach Unit informing local people how they can influence Parliament

The seminars are held over tea and cakes.

Over 200 people in the South West wishing to have a greater say and influence have taken part in these tea parties.

To book a 'Tea with Naomi' event please phone the Foundation on 01275 333666 or e-mail: info@southwestfoundation.org.uk

Grants

Small Grants.

The Foundation, in partnership with the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation would like to invest small grants up to £1,000 in small Community Organisations operating in rural areas, market and coastal towns with the aim of encouraging and enabling people to take part in their communities. We like to talk to you first before sending you a form. (Please note: this funding programme is almost exhausted - Feb 2011)

Please do ring us on 01275 333666 for more information

Networking and Empowerment Fund

A partnership Fund between South West Foundation and Empowering Communities. Small grants up to £1,000 are available for a variety of networking activities, including giving people a voice and greater influence in decisions that affect their communities.
(Please note: this funding programme is almost exhausted - Feb 2011)

The Bigger Picture

The Foundation is currently collecting photos for an exhibition to celebrate the variety of work undertaken by the Community Sector. This exhibition might be coming to a community centre or village Hall near you....The Foundation is also bringing together the BIG Picture Book containing photos and case studies of the work that the sector undertakes.

If you would be keen to have your organisation featured in this book please send the Foundation your photos and case study to: info@southwestfoundation.org.uk or send it in by post to our office address
South West Foundation is registered under The Industrial and Provident Services Act, 1965 as a Charitable Society. Registration number 29124R