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Funding sources

 

Many therapeutic gardening projects rely on a patchwork of charitable trust and grant funding to support the various facets of their projects: health, social care, gardening, staffing, core costs, training etc. 

Searching  and applying for charitable funding is a time consuming task which requires a strategic approach in order to ensure that as comprehensive a search as possible is carried out. 
Try these three steps to start your funding search:

  1. Contact your local council funding officer - find their details at your Local Authority web pages and enlist their help in your funding search.  Follow this link to Local Authorities in Scotland
  2. Contact your local Council for Voluntary Services (CVS) or volunteer centre and arrange to use their 'funder finder', or online search facilities. This enables a focused search of an extensive database of funders using your own project criteria. Find your nearest CVS in the CVS Directory
  3. Search the online funding database at http:www.fundingscotland.com

Aberdeen Council of Voluntary Organisations web site is a great example of how your local CVS may be able to provide you with practical and useful help when it comes to supporting third sector organisations and serching for funding see their Community Toolkit page at http://www.acvo.org.uk/communitytoolkit.html.

CVS Fife provide voluntary, community and charitable organisations with advice, information and practical support helping the voluntary sector to network, and to take part in Community Planning processes. You can access a very good funding database service on their site here..

GRANTnet are also free to use for funding searches see http://www.grantnet.com
 

Help in making funding applications ?

The Growing Communities in Scotland  Edinburgh Networking Event on Tuesday 5th April 2011 was an excellent opportunity to meet with like-minded people and exchange ideas, tour the Grassmarket Community Project and the Royal Edinburgh Community Gardens. Click here for the meeting notes which offer advice on applying for Funding.

Funding Surgeries Many large charitable trust funds run surgeries or information sessions for those seeking help in applying for their funds . Look out for these if you'd like additional help in making applications,  see for example  Lloyds TSB

If you need support to argue for continued Grant Funding...
A new leaflet from NAVCA can be used by local groups to argue the case for continued grant funding with councillors, commissioning officers and procurement professionals at navca


Below are listed some links to  funding resources that may be useful to therapeutic and community gardening groups:

Growing Communities in Scotland Travel Bursaries

The Growing Communities Partnership, (Trellis, The Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens & The Allotments Regeneration Initiative) is launching its 'Sites Visits Travel Bursary' funded by the Big Lottery. Projects can apply for up to £300 for travel and associated expenses for up to six people & awards will be made to those who can demostrate that the proposed visit can benefit their own therapeutic garden, community garden or city farm. If you would like further information please contact Vicki Ferguson, Growing Communities in Scotland Fieldwork Co-ordinator, at the Trellis Office on 01738 624348 or by email. Click here for further information and application form in Word or PDF format.

Funding sources for training

The Scottish Social Services Council have list of possible training funders at http://ewd.sssc.uk.com/ewd/funding-for-training/funding-for-training.html

 

Plants & seeds ...

Woodland Trust Tree Planting Packs

The Woodland Trust has a range of tree packs to suit schools, youth groups and communities. Applicants can receive practical packs and advice for ensuring a successful planting. For more information go to the Woodland Trust site.

Want to encourage bumble bees?

Contact On the Verge for free seeds ( for those in the Stirling area) and advice on encouraging bumblebees and get your project on the bee map. Email Leigh Biagi or phone Emily Harvey on 07545 247489. Also visit the Stirling-based Bumblebee Conservation trust for further information on bumblebees.

Are you a horticulturalist looking for financial assistance?

The Merlin Trust Are you between the age of 18-35 or in your first five years of a career in horticulture with a love of plants, gardens and gardening?
Do you need financial assistance to visit gardens in the UK or abroad? Or to study plants in their natural habitats anywhere in the world?
If so, then the Merlin Trust may be able to help you. Enthusiasm matters more than qualifications. Applications for grants from Britain and Ireland are invited throughout the year. Funding is also available if you are a foreign national studying in the United Kingdom.
See The Merlin Trust web pages for further information at http://www.merlin-trust.org.uk/


Funding for Horticulturalists
Are you a gardener looking for funding? Try this useful list of possible funders at www.grantsforhorticulturists.org.uk

Gardening for Disabled Trust Grants for adapting your own garden to accomodate accessible gardening from the Gardening for Disabled Trust Gardening for the Disabled Trust

 Here are some possible funders for gardening projects. Remember to carry out a wide search for possible charitable funders through Funding Scotland, contact your Local Authority Funding Officer and your local CVS (voluntary association) for help researching funding databases:

Growing Communities for Health Grants, Edinburgh The fund will support community gardening projects that will benefit people with existing health issues, those experiencing cultural or social barriers to accessing greenspaces or those living in areas of deprivation. Up to £750. www.elgt.org.uk/projects/community-gardening

Gannochy Trust Through its grant making, the Trust seeks to make a positive difference for the benefit of people living in Scotland, with a preference for Perth and Kinross.See www.gannochytrust.org.uk/

Scottish Community Projects Fund Grants of up to £2,000 are available to local community groups towards feasibility studies for building or environmental improvement projects or employment or other initiatives which have social benefit. www.scpf.org.uk/

Awards for All Scotland  Awards for All is a small grants scheme which makes awards of between £500 and £10,000 to support projects that improve opportunities to take part in arts, sports and community activities and projects that promote education, health and the environment. Awards for Allcan fund up to 100% of eligible project costs and is open to applications from constituted voluntary and community organisations, schools and statutory bodies. Awards for All is a rolling programme so there are no deadlines and we are currently funding almost 70% of applications received.Contact 0300 123 7110 or visit the website www.awardsforall.org.uk/scotlandfor more information on how to apply.

Lloyds TSB Foundation (Scotland) The Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland distributes its funds to recognised charities in Scotland which are focused on improving the quality of life for people in Scotland who are disadvantaged or at risk of becoming disadvantaged. It has a particular emphasis on funding grassroots charities (with an annual income of £500,000 or less). Funding is available through three funding programmes. The majority of grants are made through the Henry Duncan Awards (previously known as the Standard Grants Scheme). The two other funding programmes are the Capacity Building Programme which funds projects that enhance the effectiveness of the voluntary sector and the Partnerships Drug Initiative which aims to promote voluntary sector work with vulnerable children and young people affected by substance misuse. The Foundation also runs a number of funding surgeries to give people the opportunity to discuss their application face-to-face before it is submitted. For more information, please visitLloyds TSB Foundation Scotland

Biffaward Biffaward is a multi-million pound fund that helps to build communities and transform lives through awarding grants to community and environmental projects across the UK. There are three levels of funding available including Main Grants (Community) £5,000 to £50,000. For projects that provide and improve community facilities. Main Grants (Biodiversity)£5,000to £50,000, for projects that conserve wildlife, species and habitats for small Grants – £250 to £5,000. For projects that enable communities to improve local amenities and to conserve wildlife. There are no grant deadlines. Applications are accepted at any time. Find out more at http://www.biffaward.org


Tesco Charity Trust The funding provided goes towards providing practical benefits, such as equipment and resources for projects that directly benefit children, the elderly, and adults and children with disabilities, living in the local communities around Tesco stores.Amount - £500 - £4,000
Contact: Tesco Charity Trust Awards Scheme, phone: 0845 612 3575
http://www.tescoplc.com/corporate-responsibility/our-community-promises/actively-supporting-local-communities/tesco-charity-trust/
Deadlines - There are two rounds of funding every year for each category. Grants for children's education and children's welfare. Applications can be made from 1 December 2011 to 31 January 2012 or 1 May and 30 June 2012.Grants for elderly people and adults and children with disabilities. Applications should be made between 1 February and 31 March 2012 or 1 August and 30 September 2012.

CSV Action Earth's Award Scheme enables easy access to grants of up to £500.If you are planning an environmental activity using volunteers or you think you can come up with a good project that improves biodiversity in your area, then you could be eligible for a CSV Action Earth grant. We want to empower people to take action in their community and our campaign offers three easy-to-access grants ranging from £50 to £500 to cover , materials tools and expenses, and can make a big difference to an event. The CSV Action Earth campaign is supported one again by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). Apply on-line, download forms or get more information including details of current projects at Action Earth.


Site Specific Funders

British Airports Authority Communities Trust.  Is your project local to one of Scotlands airports? Consider applying for a BAA Communities Trust Grant. See BAA for further information.
 

CEMEX Community Fund The CEMEX Community Fund enables and assists communities local to CEMEX quarry and landfill sites carry out project which improve or enhance their local community facilities and places of interest. The CEMEX Community Fund offers grants of between £1,000 and £15,000 for projects that; provide and maintain public parks and amenities when the work protects the social, built and/or natural environment; or repair, restore buildings or structures which are of religious, historical or architectural interest. All projects must be; within 10 miles of any landfill site; open to the public for evenings or two days every week, a total of 84 days per year; and within England, Scotland and Wales. There is a two-stage application process. The deadline for initial expressions of interest is the 25th January 2010. For more information, please visit: CEMEX.


Climate and Green Technology Funding

The Climate Challenge Fund

The Climate Challenge Fund offers grants to a range of community organisations to help with the planning, learning, communication and most importantly, action to reduce carbon emissions. The projects can involve a range of actions, from helping us to use less energy, or walk and cycle more, to local sustainable food. The projects should be delivered in the context of the wider environmental, social and economic dimensions, that give people new skills, improve health, help them to work together or provide better community facilities, but carbon reduction must be at the heart of every proposal.

Junior Climate Challenge Fund contact the CCF team directly on 01786 468 779 and see information online at http://ccf.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/faq.aspx
Junior Climate Challenge Fund (JCCF) is part of the Climate Challenge Fund. The JCCF aims to increase the proportion of the CCF which is supporting under 18's to become engaged and involved in a low carbon future. All other criteria of the CCF still apply - working to reduce carbon emissions, including the community (of young people in this case) at the heart of the decision making of the project and leaving a sustainable legacy for the future.

Energy Saving Trust If you are looking for funding for your community project then try the Energy Saving Trust web pages. There is lots of advice and many funding suggestions to be found on their Green Communities Funding Database.

SEAD  "Switch On to Climate Change" aims to support communities putting their ideas for tackling climate change into action. Garden projects reduce carbon emissions and climate change impacts by recycling, making compost, planting seeds and plants and protecting against soil erosion so this climate change fund may be of interest. Visit SEAD website to find out more, or contact Lorraine at SEAD on lorraine@sead.org.uk

Green Energy Trust  Local community groups and not for profit organisations and charities within the UK can apply for grants for the installation of renewable technologies. The funding which is available through the Green Energy Trust will provide grants of up to 25,000 (but most projects receive around £10,000) for up to half the cost of the chosen renewable technology. The maximum amount would only be awarded to exceptional projects that tick all the boxes and demonstrate real value for money. Projects also need to have a really strong community benefit and wider educational element. The Trust considers all kinds of renewable technologies, including small-scale hydro, wind power, biomass, landfill gas, solar energy and ground source heat pumps. Applications involving other technologies may also qualify for support. Grant requests must be to support the capital and installation costs of a renewable energy project. The Trust meets twice a year to consider applications - usually during the first week of April and October. Applications should be submitted as soon as possible. For more information, please visit Scottish Power Green Trust

E.ON Sustainable Energy Fund The E.ON Sustainable Energy Fund offers grants of up to £20,000 to community groups and not for profit organisations who wish to consider and implement sustainable energy projects in their buildings. Projects that can be considered include; the purchase and installation of one or more renewable energy technologies (e.g. wind, solar thermal, PV, wood etc); the renovation of existing facilities to incorporate micro-generation technology (e.g. the reinstatement of a watermill and the purchase of a turbine to produce hydro-electricity); an energy efficiency makeover for your building that could demonstrate significant energy savings and also behavioural change amongst users; and the use of new or innovative technology to deliver either energy savings or micro-generation capacity. To be eligible organisations must benefit specific groups namely: Education, vulnerable people;and people in fuel poverty. For more information, please visit: E.ON


 

M&S Greener Living Spaces Round 2 Year 2 of the programme aims to develop a range of leisure spaces for all the family, which will help to make communities greener and happier places, encourage greater awareness of climate change, and promote pro-environmental behaviour. The programme aims to transform derelict or underused land into over 30 new ‘Greener Living Spaces’ across the UK, and in doing so provide a wide range of opportunities for the engagement of M&S staff and customers. For more information, please click here.


Sus It Out Plus £1500 free cash for communities. Forward Scotland is offering community groups across the country £1500 to improve their sustainability and help make them more effective. Any community based group in the area that relies on volunteers could be eligible for their 'Sus It Out Plus' programme. To claim the money all they have to do is attend a two hour workshop which will explain what the funding can be used for.For more information, please visit: Forward Scotland.

Health Related Funding

Help a Heart Grant British Heart Foundation Help a Heart Grants range between £300 and £2,000 and are available for voluntary and community groups that want to make a real difference in their area. Some gardening projects have been successful in their applications for this funding. Check it out at BHF.

See Me funding...does your gardening project reduce the stigma of mental ill health? If it does, why not apply for funding from See Me at www.seemescotland.org.uk

Ecominds Funding SchemeThe Ecominds fund aims to help people with direct experience of mental distress become involved in environmental projects that improve mental and physical health and local communities. For more information, go to Ecominds.


Funding for areas or groups at disadvantage

BIG Jessica (Scotland) Trust A new £15 million investment in Scotland to help disadvantaged urban communities most affected by serious disadvantage to become stronger through their own efforts. BIG is now establishing a £15 million JESSICA (Scotland) Trust which will build on the European Investment Bank's Scotland JESSICA Fund (SJF) by investing in complementary projects that create opportunities for local people and community-led organisations to develop locally owned, led and controlled assets that will lead to local regeneration. BIG JESSICA projects will need to demonstrate that they can bring together agencies and communities to develop a common approach to activities and funding, and to ensure that local people have a genuine say in developing their communities. The Big Lottery Fund's JESSICA (Scotland) Trust will invest in projects that deliver community assets or assets under community control where they meet BIG’s outcomes agenda. JESSICA funding is targeted at geographic neighbourhoods of greatest disadvantage (13 designated areas) in Scotland. For more information, please visit: Jessica Trust.


Baily Thomas Charitable Fund The Baily Thomas Charitable Fund is a registered charity which was established to support projects in the area of learning disability and to aid the care and relief of those affected bylearning disability by making grants to voluntary organisations within the UK and the Republic ofIreland working in this field. The Trust consider under learning disability the conditions generally referred to as severe learning difficulties, together with autism. In this area, they consider projects concerning children or adults. Application for funding is normally considered for capital and revenue costs and for both specific projects and for general running/core costs. They will not offer grants for research into or care of those with mental illness or dyslexia. They offer grants from £250 upwards. The next deadline for applications is the 1st October 2010. For more information, please visit Baily Thomas.


Gardening for Disabled Trust

The Gardening for Disabled Trust offers grants to individuals in order that they may continue to garden, despite advancing illness, age or disability. In order to apply for a grant, individuals must be a member of the Trust's Garden Club and have a written note from their GP, social worker or occupational therapist, describing their disability. The Trust offers a range of support measures such as; adapting private gardens to meet the special needs of the disabled; making grants towards tools, raised beds, paving and greenhouses; providing help with special gardens in hospitals, centres and schools; distributing information on garden aid and techniques; providing a forum for disabled gardeners by publishing the Garden Club magazine. The Trust committee meets once a month to consider applications. For more information, please visit: Gardening for Disabled Trust.

MAN Group plc Charitable Trust

Support for a range of charitable activities that support disadvantaged groups. Who can apply? UK registered charities What is available? Up to £250,000 The Man Group plc operates the Charitable Trust to help support charities that focus on supporting disadvantaged youth; managing literacy and numeracy projects; and supporting vulnerable populations. The type of activities that may be funded include: Arts; Sport;Education;Relief of homelessness; Social Inclusion; Relief of domestic violence; Addressing mental health issues. There are two grant programmes - Small Grants for up to £50,000 and Large Grants for up to £250,000. For more information, please visit: MAN Group

 

The Sylvia Waddilove Foundation provides grants to charities for educational projects, music composition and performances, herbal medicine, medical research, disability, and farming related projects.Grants of up to £20,000 are available to registered charities with a turnover of less than£500,000. The Foundation favours supporting small charities that will carry out the project themselves (except in the case of medical research), who rely on volunteers and who can demonstrate a successful history of projects. The Trustees will usually meet to consider applications in January, April, July, and October. Applications need to be submitted before the last week in the month before the next meeting. For example, for an application to be considered at the January meeting, applicants will need to submit it before the last week of December. For more information, please visit Dig Big

Elifar Foundation Support for people with severe disabilities Who can apply? People with severe disabilities or their representatives Every Life Is For A Reason (ELIFAR) Grants can be offered to fund any piece of specialised equipment or course of therapy for a severely disabled child or adult resident in the UK. Applications must be supported by evidence from a health care professional that the grant will make a significant improvement to quality of life and that funds to purchase the equipment/ therapy are unavailable elsewhere. For more information, please visit: The Elifar Foundation.
 

The Archer Trust What's it for? Support for disadvantaged people Who can apply? Small UK charities What is available? Between £250 and £3,000 The Trust helps small UK charities which support needy or deserving people, for example people with physical or mental disabilities or the disadvantaged, and operating in areas of high unemployment. For more information, please visit Archer Trust.


Woodward Trust The Trust aims to support small-scale, locally-based charitable initiatives in the UK. Applications are accepted from UK registered charities with an annual turnover of less than £250,000. For more information, please visit: Woodward Charitable Trust.


Santander Foundation The Santander Foundation helps disadvantaged people through their two charitable priorities: Financial Capability and Education and Training.Education and training – This could be any activity disadvantaged people undertake where they improve their confidence in a skill or their understanding of a subject. This does not have to be formal training or lead to a qualification, although those activities would be eligible too. Examples could include reminiscence projects for older people and art and craft sessions for disadvantaged children. Grants of up to £10,000 can be awarded anywhere in the UK. The average grant is £4,000. For more information, please visit: Santander Foundation.


The Cranfield Trust The Cranfield Trust is a nationally respected charity providing free management consultancy for charities and social enterprise groups involved in issues of poverty, disability or social exclusion. Highly skilled managers from the commercial sector act as Trust volunteers throughout the country. Volunteers donate their time and expertise to support the voluntary sector, providing advice and mentoring on a wide range of issues to improve management effectiveness, such as: • Business and strategic planning • Financial management • Marketing and communications • Developing IT systems • Human Resources and staffing For more information, please visit: Cranfield Trust.


Hilden Charitable Foundation Within the UK, the Hilden Charitable Fund makes grants to projects that address disadvantages, notably by supporting causes which are less likely to raise funds from public subscriptions. In particular, the Fund wants to support projects that address homelessness; asylum seekers and refugees; Community based initiatives for disadvantaged young people; Penal Affairs. Preference is given to supporting small community organisations with an income of less than £200,000 per year. For more information, please visit: Hilden Charitable Fund.


Peter Vardy Foundation Peter Vardy, one of Scotland's leading car dealerships has launched the Peter Vardy Charitable Fund (PVCF) with an initial £100,000 investment. The PVCF will be run by a board of trustees which will meet regularly to review all funding applications that support underprivileged young people in communities across Scotland where Peter Vardy runs dealerships. Currently this includes Motherwell, Perth, Kirkcaldy and Edinburgh. The trustees will consider two categories for funding: applications of over £1,000 and ones for under £1,000. Interested organisations should visit: Peter Vardy.

Lottery Charities

The People's Postcode Trust have announced that they are now accepting applications for funding in Scotland and England and have also opened applications in Wales for projects of £5,000 and under. Through the Trust, funding of between £500 and £10,000 (£2,000 if not a registered charity) is available to small organisations and community groups operating in the areas of Poverty Prevention; Advancement of Health; Community Development; Public Sports; Human Rights; and Environmental Protection. The closing date for applications is Wednesday 10 November 2010. The application process for projects under £2,000 will now be a rolling monthly decision process. For more details, visit: Postcode Trust.

The People's Millions Why not give this a try... The Peoples Millions has funded a wide range of projects over the past few years including wildlife gardens , play areas, community halls and even an outdoor gym. Since it began in 2005 , it has given out 50 grants across Scotland totalling just over £3million. This year 14 grants of up to £50,000 are available in Scotland. For further information click here.

People Lottery Dream Fund is a new initiative that will offer registered charities and community organisations in Scotland the opportunity to apply for up to £100,000 to deliver a life-changing project over 12 months. For more information, please visit: Peoples Lottery Dream Fund.

Funding for Community Groups

The Community Chestcan provide grants of up to £1,000. Application forms and guidance notes are available on the Voluntary Action Fund website. Alternatively, contact Patricia McKibben (patricia.mcKibben@voluntaryactionfund.org.uk) or phone 01383 620780.


Funding for rural projects

LEADER is part of the Scotland Rural Development Programme, aimed at promoting economic and community development within rural areas. It replaces the Leader+ programme that ran from 2000 to 2006, and encourages new and experimental approaches to rural development. LEADER is a bottom-up method of delivering support for rural development through implementing a local rural development strategy. Support is aimed primarily at small-scale, community driven projects that are pilot and innovative in nature. Information can be found on the new Scotland National Rural website: Rural Development.
 

Rural Priorities Scheme Rural Priorities is part of the £1.6 billion Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP), which delivers sustainable economic development for communities in Scotland's countryside. For further information and application forms, visit the SRDP web pages.

Children and Young People

BBC Children in Need are inviting not-for-profit organisations (including registered charities, voluntary organisations, schools, local authorities, churches, social enterprises, community interest groups, universities etc) working with disadvantaged children and young people 18 years and under, living in the UK, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, to apply for grants of up to £10,000 through their small grants scheme. BBC Children in Need can only fund projects that focus on the differences made (outcomes) to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people. For this reason, when applying for a grant organisations must provide clear evidence that disadvantaged children and young people will be the primary beneficiaries of the project;and experience positive changes in their lives from the activities or services you are providing.BBC Children in Need aims to fund projects where a small amount can make a real contribution to the success of the project. Grants can be used to cover both, capital and revenue costs. For more information, please visit: BBC Children in Need.


Community Cash Awards for Young People Young people aged 14-25 can apply for awards between £250 and £5,000 to help tackle the dangers of drugs, crime and play a positive role in their community. The Royal Bank of Scotland Community Cash Awards will see £1 million of grants being distributed by youth charity, The Prince’s Trust. Applications can be made at any time. for further information click on this link.


Balmore Trust  The Balmore Trust is a recognised charity [SC 008930], established in 1980, which owns The Coach House and distributes its profits as well as other donations. Two thirds of the money disbursed goes overseas and the other third to projects in the UK (mainly in the Glasgow area and favours families, teenagers, and women’s aid groups). The Trust works in the areas of education, health, alleviation of poverty and community development. For more information, please visit: Balmore.


The Scottish Community Foundation For a variety of local and national Scottish Charitable funding, contact the Scottish Community Foundation on 0131 524 0300 or 0141 225 6670 or to find out more visit the Foundation web pages.

The J Paul Getty Jr Charitable Trust The majority of this funding is targeted at social welfare projects. Priority is given to long-term projects that can meet more than one area of interest. Social welfare priorities include: mental Health; Offenders ; Homelessness; Young People; Ethnic Minorities ; Volunteering. The trust is also prioritising applications from outside London and the SE of England in order to ensure that their funds are distributed to all parts of the UK.  For more information please visit the trust web pages at: J Paul Getty Trust.

Centre for Social Justice Awards Charities, small voluntary groups, or other projects tackling poverty in at the local level are invited to apply for the Centre for Social Justice Awards 2009. With a prize fund of £50,000, the Award aims to recognise and reward effective poverty fighting groups from across the UK. for further information click on this link.

Wildlife Funding

Community Wildlife Fund  Through the fund not for profit groups, local councils, schools and health bodies can apply for funding of between £300 and £10,000 for projects. There are three deadlines for applications: 21st July, 22nd September and 24th November. For more info go to Community Wildlife.
















 





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