Disabilities

Civil Society - Charity Awards
The Charity Awards recognise and celebrate excellence in the leadership and management of charities across the UK. UK charities of any size are eligible to apply under a number of broad categories of activity, as follows: advice, support and advocacy; arts, culture and heritage; children and youth; disability; education and training; environment and conservation; grantmaking and funding; healthcare and medical research; international aid and development; social care and welfare. The deadline for applications is 9 March 2012.
(Source: Grantfinder Newsflash, 5/12/11)

Living Well with Dementia
Living Well with Dementia is keen to attract ideas from charities and social enterprises and public sector agencies throughout the UK (as well as the private sector) for services, products or activities that will transform the lives of people with dementia and their carers and families. There are no restrictions on the type of solution/improvement idea that might receive support but the Awards are particularly targeted at ideas that will impact on the lives of people immediately after a diagnosis of dementia and before the condition might require a move into specialist residential care. Further details are available from http://designchallenges.ning.com/. You can also email filiz.ciftici@designcouncil.org.uk or Amanda.gore@designcouncil.org.uk or phone 020 7420 5251.
(Source: fundinginformation.org, 5/9/11)

Bright New Futures Launch
The Big Lottery Fund has launched Bright New Futures - a programme that aims to build resilience of young disabled people and young parents in Wales so that they have the life skills, knowledge and ability to manage key transitions in their lives.

Research and consultation have shown us that both groups have a range of complex needs. They may experience gaps in service provision, duplication of some services, and be unwilling to use services due to previous bad experiences.

Under our Bright New Futures programme, we are making £12 million available for projects across Wales, working with young parents and/or young disabled people aged 14 – 25. Grants of between £200,000 and £1 million are available to projects running for between three and five years. Third sector organisations with experience of working with at least one of the target groups will be eligible for funding.

We have organised eight briefing and partnership events during November for those who have registered. These events will explain further about the programme, and give you an opportunity to meet other organisations working in your area. We will only be able to fund a limited number of projects so we want organisations working with the same beneficiaries in the same area to know about each other and work together where appropriate.

Registration information, key dates and more information can be found in the Bright New Futures leaflet or by visiting the Big Lottery Fund website, www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/brightnewfutures

Please also take some time to read the Our Bright Futures comic-style case studies of the types of people this funding could help. There are also videos and podcasts on the website and a video of a flash mob performed by partially sighted young people to mark the launch can be found here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teYPBXgGkBg. Please contact us on 0300 123 0735 if you have any questions about the programme.

Gannet Foundation
Given the pressure that many local organisations are under following local authority cuts it’s probably a good time to mention that applications are currently being invited in many localities across the UK by the Gannett Foundation. The grant programme is linked to more than 300 local newspapers and details vary from region to region, but in the main grants range from £5,000 to £10,000 for one-off local activities or capital items that benefit a large number of people within the community.

To apply you need to be within the circulation/production area of one of the more than 300 titles published by Newsquest. To find out if you are eligible to apply check the information details below. Applications have to be made to the specific local newspaper office too.

The Foundation prioritises: projects/items of lasting benefit such as specially adapted minibuses for older people or people with disabilities; projects that benefit people with special needs either through disability of disadvantage; sport, environment, conservation or local history projects. Applicants must be registered charities, and national and regional charities can only apply for specifically local projects.

There’s a Newsquest newspaper title listing at www.newsquest.co.uk/portfolio/our-titles/, where you can find out if there is a Newsquest publication near you. Applications have to be made to the local newspaper, so go to its website and search under Gannett Foundation if the information is not immediately obvious. There is an application form, which has some attached guidance notes. It can be downloaded via a link at www.gannettfoundation.org/, then printed and sent to your local newspaper office. There is a single application closing date this year, though the date varies from newspaper to newspaper.
(Source: fundinginformation.org, 19/8/11)

Morgan Foundation grants
The Morgan Foundation operates exclusively within the areas of North Wales, Merseyside, Cheshire (west of the M6) and North Shropshire. Only applications from charities, organisations and projects based in these areas will be considered.

The Foundation mainly supports charities and voluntary organisations that work with families and children, older people and disabled people, and socially isolated people who are disadvantaged or who otherwise have restricted life choices. This work might be directly involving the families and children or it can be more indirectly contributing to their quality of life. Preference is given to supporting small to medium sized organisations that are addressing specific needs, particularly where the work has a proven impact and there is the opportunity to engage more people, operate in new areas or otherwise increase effectiveness. Organisations with modest overheads and with high volunteer input are favoured. If you believe you are eligible you can make an application at any time. You must start the process by having an informal conversation with Foundation staff to check your idea out, after which you may be sent an application form. The contact number is 01829 782800. The Foundation’s administrator is Jane Harris.
(Source: fundinginformation.org, 30/6/11)

Health and Social Care Grant Funding
The Welsh Assembly Government, HSSDG, is inviting bids from Third Sector organisations for three year grant funding to commence by 1 April 2012 and payable under:

• Section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968; and
• Children and Families Organisational Grant (CFOG)

Grant applicants must be voluntary organisations operating in the social care and health care sector and must operate on an all-Wales basis. Bids are invited from all-Wales voluntary organisations in the social and health care sectors including physical and/or sensory disabilities, learning disabilities and/or autistic spectrum disorders, carers, mental health and older people, children in need, disabled children and child protection. A copy of the application forms and guidance notes, including contact details of the person(s) to whom enquiries can be made and completed application submitted, are available at: http://wales.gov.uk/topics/health/socialcare/?lang=en.

Arts & Business Cymru launches programme to benefit future generations across Wales
Arts & Business Cymru has announced the first stage of a new programme in its portfolio of services which bring the private sector together with the arts. Thanks to funding from the Arts Council of Wales, Arts & Kids Cymru will engage socially disadvantaged young people aged between 0-19. Examples of such disadvantage include:

• Illness, distress, abuse or neglect;
• any kind of disability;
• behavioural or psychological difficulties;
• living in poverty or situations of deprivation.

All projects, delivered by professional practitioners, will be participatory and will aim to combat disadvantage and make a real difference to young people's lives through engagement with the arts.

In order to ensure that the impact of Arts & Kids Cymru is maximised, a number of delivery methods will be developed over the coming 12-18 months. The first stage of this innovative programme, Arts & Kids Invest, will run as an open application grant-making programme with decisions made on a quarterly basis by A&B Cymru’s existing Investment Panel. The first Arts & Kids Invest projects will be announced shortly. It is hoped that a second arm of Arts & Kids Cymru will be operational from September.

For further information about how to access Arts & Kids Cymru, e-mail Cymru@artsandbusiness.org.uk or go to http://www.artsandbusiness.org.uk/News/2011/April/arts-and-kids-cymru.aspx

Clore Social Leadership Programme
The Clore Social Leadership Programme is now looking for its third cohort of Fellows, who will be recruited through an open application process. To be eligible, applicants must be working in or closely with the wider social sector and will have demonstrated leadership potential in some of the work they have already undertaken.

Each Fellow benefits from a personalised programme which provides challenging opportunities for development, and is tailored to meet their individual needs.

For more details about how to apply, and to find out more about the current Fellows, visit: www.cloresocialleadership.org.uk

Splash – the Water Recreation Challenge Fund for Wales
The Welsh Assembly Government is offering up to 100% grants to projects (large and small) which help people to enjoy the waters of Wales. Minimum grant is £5,000. The emphasis will be on supporting new capital and other works improving bank-side facilities, signage, off road parking, etc. This can also include facilities designed to meet the needs of disabled people. All projects should help promote sustainable and responsible access.
(Source: CCW External Funding Newsletter, 5/10/10)

The Barbara Ward Children’s Foundation
The aim of the foundation is to carry out exclusively charitable purposes anywhere in the world, primarily in relation to children, mentally handicapped adults and any person who has been assisted by the charity as a child. This could be for the relief of poverty, the promotion of health, the provision of recreational facilities or any other charitable purpose for the benefit of the community. Grants can range from one-off grants to project-related grants that run for two or three years. Further details are available from www.bwcf.org.uk.
(Source: Charity Funding Report, Issue 102)