Voted South West Regional Funder of the year

Community Grants

THE COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAMME OPENED 17th OCTOBER 2011 AND CLOSED 28TH NOVEMBER 2011 AT 5PM

ORGANISATION'S WHO ARE WAITING TO HEAR BACK REGARDING THEIR APPLICATION'S SHOULD EXPECT TO HEAR FROM US ABOUT 14 DAYS AFTER THE PANEL MEETING (WHICH WILL BE TAKING PLACE IN THE FIRST WEEK IN FEBRUARY)

South West Foundation, in Partnership with the Learning Curve and the Skills Funding Agency, are running this new grant programme for the South West. The Community Grants programme, funded by the European Social Fund and the Skills Funding Agency, is aimed at supporting voluntary and community organisations with charitable aims, to deliver projects that will help and support people furthest removed from the labour market to pick up the skills and confidence that will enable them to move toward employment. This particular programme covers all of the South West (excluding Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly – these areas are being handled by a different agency).

Grants up to £12,000 will be available although it is envisaged that most grants will be in the region of £6,000 to £8,000.  

To apply you need to be given a application form with a unique reference number else it will be invalid, please contact us to request a form as we like to discuss eligibility with organisations first. (Draft applications were in circulation during our information seminars, these were all clearly marked draft and are not valid)

Seminars

In connection with this programme the South West Foundation has been holding a number of information seminars throughout the region. These seminars are now complete, but you can still apply if you were unable to attend.

All those organisations that would like to find out more about this programme are welcome ring the Foundation on 01275 333666.

Grant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - download here

New! 2nd August 2011 .. Rosa Watkin at The Foundation is asked for her views on the cuts on BBC Radio 5 following one of The Foundation's reports.

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

New! Visit the Community Researcher website at http://www.communityresearchers.co.uk/

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
Contact The Foundation for the follow up report


1) Creating Materials for Working with Community Groups
Wednesday, 13th July at Quakers Meeting House in Devizes – trainer Karolyne Fudge Malik

2) Supporting Community Groups to Influence Decision Makers
Monday, 18th July at Friend Resource Centre in Weston Super Mare – trainer Jenny Wildblood

Future community development based events will be announced on our website

Crisis and Contradiciton - new research

The Foundation has spent the last few months undertaking research lnto the current issues facing small community groups in the South West Region. 

Crisis and Contradiction contains the findings from this research. It was this research that we were asked to speak about on BBC radio, in addition the research has been used by MP's and Select Committees, Local Authorities and Voluntary sector organisations.

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

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

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, a new programme has now opened...

Please do ring us on 01275 333666 for more information

Community Grants - please see above or visit our grants page.

Networking and Empowerment Fund - now closed

This was a partnership Fund between South West Foundation and Empowering Communities. Small grants up to £1,000 were available for a variety of networking activities, including giving people a voice and greater influence in decisions that affect their communities.( This programme is now closed )

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