From 1 April 2009, there will be changes to the current Awards for All England small grants scheme's. 

Currently Awards for All England is a joint Lottery grants programme supported by the four distributors below.  It will close on 31 March 2009. 

From April, the four distributors will each run their own small grants programme as follows:

·         Big Lottery Fund will launch a new small grants programme on 1 April 2009 awarding grants of £300 to £10,000 to local communities in 2009-2010

 ·         Sport England will provide small grants for sports ranging from £300 - £10,000 from 1 April 2009.

 ·         Arts Council England will provide small grants through their existing ‘Grants for the arts’ programme, supporting awards between £1,000 and £100,000.  

·         Heritage Lottery Fund small grants will be provided through the existing 'Your Heritage' (£3,000 to £50,000) and 'Young Roots (£3,000 to £25,000) schemes.

Please note:  Applications can still be made under the current arrangements until 31 March 2009.

The public enquiries telephone line is 08454 102030.   

The City Council’s TSDF represents a new and exciting approach to funding small groups and organisations. 

The purpose of this specialised fund is to encourage existing small groups to develop themselves and their services and progress from small or set-up grants towards more sustainable funding.

Resources of between £10,000-£20,000 per year will be available for up to three years, under a service agreement and subject to budget constraints.  The fund is compact compliant and offers full cost recovery.

The TSDF is open to existing small groups that have managed a successful funded project before, with proposals that fit the fund criteria. 

Key priorities include residents’ outcomes under the Local Area Agreement, increasing mentoring/training of small groups, supporting minority groups whilst promoting community cohesion.                                                                                                                                            

The fund opens on Tuesday 30 September and closes on 28 November 2008.

Please visit  www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/community_living/grants  for a fund specification and proposal form or follow the link from the home page on the City Council’s website. 

For advice about a proposal or the fund, please contact the Community Initiatives Team on 01902 554023 or email kate.millington@wolverhampton.gov.uk

WNC has recently secured a three year contract with Capacity Builders to deliver a new and exciting project, 'Enterprising Communities'.

The project will help voluntary and community organisations across the City to run more efficiently with a view to being more financially sound.

WNC staff will essentially work on a one to one basis to identify key issues for community groups, and following this, a bespoke package of training will then be compiled to meet the development needs of the individual organisations.

Training will be offered in governance, human resources, business and financial planning, marketing, running social enterprises, and so on, dependent on requirements.

WNC are keen to work with organisations representing Black, Minority Ethnic groups, refugee and migrant communities and faith groups, although it is open to any group or organisation in the third sector.

For further information and to take advantage of the exciting opportunities which this programme offers, contact Rekha Shivam today on 01902 572108 or 572020.

WNC are now working in partnership with Business Link and are offering FREE TRAINING to anyone thinking of setting up their own business...whether that may be a social enterprise or a sole trader company!

All training will be tailored to your individual needs and as flexible as you need it!

The full range of services on offer spans from workshops, to stimulate thoughts and ideas around viable business options, through to self employment taster days, which will enable you to experience the reality of running your own business.  WNC will support you until the point that you are confident to go on to the next level of business preparation.

If you decide that running a business is not for you, WNC staff will also signpost and guide you to alternative skills, training or career opportunities.

To find out more about how WNC can help you take your first steps on the route to self employment, call 01902 572020.

GoldStar is calling for applications for small grants to hold good practice events in the community. If you would like to apply for the grant the deadline for the first wave of applications is 12noon on 29th August 2008. The second is 26th September 2008.

For more information follow the link http://www.goldstar.org.uk/SmallGrantsForEvents.htm