At VANEL, we pride ourselves on being able to provide our Members, Friends and Local Organisations with up-to-date information regarding funding opportunities that both they, and their communities, can benefit from. Over the last month we have been supporting stage one funding applications for community-based projects, from organisations and communities of interest, to the People’s Health Trust’s “HealthWin” programme.
“HealthWin”, is our regional version of a national programme which aims to strengthen community ties and improve areas by providing funding for projects designed and run by local people. The month-long funding opportunity, which opened to stage one funding applications online on Wednesday 24th August 2016, has now closed. VANEL supported the funding opportunity, initially by holding a “HealthWin” briefing at the VANEL office on the Tuesday 23rd August. The briefing served as an opportunity for groups and communities of interest who were interested in applying for funding from “HealthWin”, the opportunity to find out more about the programme. The briefing lasted for an hour and a half and was fronted by VANEL’s Finance Manager, Richard Wendel-Jones and our Community Development Intern, Chris Luckman.
Following the success of the briefing, VANEL held a one-on-one appointment day on Wednesday 7th September, again at the VANEL office. The appointment day provided interested parties who were eligible to apply for funding from “HealthWin”, the chance to discuss their project idea and receive support and guidance in regards to writing and submitting their funding bid. We then promoted further one-on-one appointment opportunities up until the closing date for applicants who may have been unable to attend the original appointment day. At least eight groups took advantage of our one-on-one appointment opportunities, with many more receiving support from us over the phone or via email.
Since applications to “HealthWin” closed on Wednesday the 21st September, we know that at least 14 of the groups who corresponded with VANEL in regards to the funding opportunity, submitted an application. Since then, we have been informed that at least four of those groups have made it through to stage two of the “HealthWin” funding application process, and wish them all the best with their stage two funding applications. Stay tuned to find out the actual number of successful applicants who made it through to stage two, and in the future the number of applicants that actually received funding from “HealthWin”. Please note that applications for stage two applications for funding from “HealthWin” must be submitted by Wednesday 12th October 2016 at 1pm.
O2 ThinkBig
VANEL are also pleased to report that we have accepted an invitation from O2 ‘ThinkBig’ to become a Youth Partner of the organisation. The invitation comes following our achievements in regards to supporting funding applications from young people, aged between 13 and 25, for community-based projects to O2 ‘ThinkBig’. As a Youth Partner of O2 ‘ThinkBig’, VANEL’s role is to promote funding opportunities from O2 for projects designed and run by young people, for the benefit of their community.
Two months ago, VANEL employee and volunteer Head Coach of Grimsby Rugrats Basketball under 13s Club, Victoria Russell, successfully submitted an application to O2 ‘ThinkBig’ for funding for the benefit of the club. Grimsby Rugrats Basketball Club is made up of 23 players aged between 7 and 13, of which a majority suffer from learning difficulties such as mild Autism, ADHD, ADD and Tourette’s. Since receiving the funding from O2 ‘ThinkBig’ Victoria has spent some of the money on new equipment such as cones, training aids and specialised balls. The funding has also gone towards the creation a website for the team, which will be launching soon. The funding has also provided the team with the opportunity to play away from home. In the coming months Grimsby Rugrats will be playing team opposing teams Hull and York in away games, something which would not have been possible without the help of O2 ‘ThinkBig’ funding. For more information about Grimsby Rugrats Basketball under 13s club, follow them on Twitter @GrimsbyRugrats.
Likewise, VANEL have been supporting 19-year-old founder of Counting Hope and ‘Courageous Citizen’ Diana Award Winner 2015, Andy Green. Back in August, Andy applied for funding from O2 ‘ThinkBig’ for his upcoming project, ‘Social Action Club’. The project centres around the website www.socialaction.club. The concept of the website is to create a social network designed for schools to use as a platform for talking about social action. Andy hopes that when the website is up and running, schools will sign up to the website and start sharing the social action projects they are involved with such as volunteering that their students are involved in and charitable causes that they are supporting. As the website will be a social network, there is also the potential for schools to share their ideas and even collaborate on social action projects in order to maximise their impact.
Part of the £300 funding Andy received from O2 for his ‘Social Action Club’ is being used to improve and develop the project’s website and make further improvements to it after running focus groups with schools. Once the website is ready to launch, Andy hopes to recruit a team of volunteers to help to promote the project to schools and organisations and help them to start using it. There will also be a section on the website that displays charitable and volunteering opportunities that schools may be interested in getting involved with. This will be particularly beneficial to schools that may wish to get involved with a social action project but are struggling for inspiration. In addition to promoting the website and different opportunities on it, local schools will be sent packs full of resources and free gifts to encourage them and their students to get more involved with social action.
When the project is in full swing, Andy aims to be able to contact the press about socialaction.club to showcase some of the great content that will have been added to the site by schools, thereby encouraging other schools to get involved and sign up as well. Andy has high hopes for his ‘Social Action Club’ and plans to apply for the second stage of funding from O2 and launch an event for the website that will showcase to students why social action is so important, the ways they can get involved, and the work that has already been achieved by the ‘Social Action Club’.
Commenting on the O2 ‘ThinkBig’ application process, Andy said: “The application process for ThinkBig was really straight forward and I found out that I’d been successful within a few days, which was absolutely great. Plus the support that I have received already has been amazing from both the Facebook group and the ThinkBig staff!”
If you are aged between 13 and 25 and would like more information about how to get involved and apply for funding from O2 ‘ThinkBig’ contact IGNITE Youth Leadership Manager, Jenny Hodson.
Email: Jenny@VANEL.org.uk
Running in the background and one of the ongoing funding opportunities that VANEL are pleased to be supporting is “Sportivate”, a 32 million National Lottery funded ‘Sport England’ Programme which launched in 2011. “Sportivate” provides funding to organisations’ that work with young people between the ages 11 and 25, and who are not particularly sporty, in order to give them the opportunity to discover a sport that they love.
Clubs and organisations’ that work with young people are invited to apply for funding from “Sportivate” and can receive six-to-eight weeks of free or subsidised coaching in a range of sporting activities. With the support of VANEL, Grimsby and Cleethorpes’ Scouts have been awarded a substantial amount of funding from “Sportivate” to deliver a mountain biking project.
If you are an organisation or club that works with young people, and would like to find out how to apply for “Sportivate” funding, talk to VANEL. Our Finance and Contract’s Manager, Richard Wendel-Jones is available to discuss the funding opportunity with you further and support your application. Email Richard@vanel.org.uk
Alternatively you can call him on (01472) 231 123.
Funding Surgeries
Earlier in the year we ran ‘Funding Surgeries’ where we invited representatives from ‘The Big Lottery’ and The Heritage Lottery Fund’ to meet with Members, Friends and local groups to have a one to one appointment with a funder about a project that they are looking to receive funding for. In the past our funding surgeries have been very popular. They provide project leaders with an excellent opportunity to meet funders and talk to them about their ideas, one-on-one, giving you the best chance of receiving the funding that your need to get your project off the ground.
As it stands we don’t have any fixed dates for upcoming funding surgeries, but do keep your eyes peeled as this will be changing over the next few weeks. In the past our funding surgeries have been very successful so don’t forget to book your slot early on to avoid disappointment.
Funding Searches and Being a ‘Critical Friend’
Don’t forget, for our Members and Friends, the team at VANEL can help you seek out funding opportunities for projects that you wish to run.
We can also act as a ‘Critical Friend’ and offer you guidance and support when it comes to applying for funding. When it comes to funding, VANEL want to ensure that you have the best chance of securing the funding that you need to turn your project in to a reality. We can support you as you write your funding bid by looking over your application and point out areas that you can improve.
For more information contact VANEL’s Development Manager, Karl Elliott: email Karl@vanel.org.uk
Alternatively, you can call him or leave a message on (01472) 231 123.
Keep checking the VANEL website and our weekly newsletter for more information regarding upcoming funding opportunities and surgeries.