Comic Relief Communities Programme: Deadline 9th October 2015

15/09/2015

A new round of the Comic Relief Local Communities Programme has now opened to applications across Sussex.

Groups can apply via Sussex Community Foundation. This fund has its own application form, which is available on the Sussex Community Foundation website.

Grants are available to charitable organisations and groups for projects that benefit local communities. Organisations can apply for one of the following themes:

  • Improve people’s life skills, education, employability and enterprise.
  • Maximise people’s ability to strengthen community cohesion and build social capacity.
  • Provide people with opportunities to access local services, achieve greater social justice and to reduce inequality, exclusion and disadvantage.
  • Advance people’s physical and mental health, wellbeing and safety.

Projects should be run by people directly affected by the issues being dealt with, and priority will be given to small, locally-based groups or organisations in areas of disadvantage that have a clear understanding of the needs of their community.

Grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 are available and must be for at least 30% of the total costs of the project.

The following organisations are eligible to apply:

  • Residents associations.
  • Community groups.
  • Social Enterprises.
  • Community Interest Companies.
  • Community Interest Organisations.
  • Credit Unions.
  • Community centres.

Examples of activities that can be funded through this programme include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Furniture projects.
  • Benefit advice services.
  • Community sport initiatives.
  • Food co-ops.
  • Initiative designed to combat fuel poverty.
  • Employment and employability projects.
  • Community consultation exercises.
  • Training schemes for committee members, volunteers and staff.

For this round only, Sussex Community Foundation aims to spend at least 50% of the money available on projects which increase access to sport and exercise for people who face social exclusion and isolation.

Funding can be used to cover core costs, salaries and project costs.

The deadline for applications is 9 October 2015.

Music charities needed for Latest TV feature

11/09/2015

One of the presenters on Latest TV is looking for several music charities to feature on the television programme they present and produce. They say:

“It would be fantastic for you to come on and talk about the fabulous work you are doing in our city and feature any up and coming musicians that you are working with.”

If you would be interested in taking part and want to know more please email: bmusicellie@gmail.com

You can check out the show here: https://www.youtube.com/user/thisisBmusic

Fundraising opportunity – garage trail event in Brighton

09/09/2015

Cat Fletcher of Brighton Freegle is organising a city-wide day of “Garage Sales” (you don’t need a garage to hold a Sale!) on Saturday 26th September.

https://garagesaletrail.co.uk/

The idea is that people can have a declutter and run a Sale from home, school, workplace, community venue or from anywhere even a garage! This encourages reuse, decluttering and increases the flow of second hand goods around the city but it also is a fab opportunity to do some fundraising.

Even if your charity or community group can not hold a Garage Sale yourselves, you can ask your supporters to hold one from home and donate the proceeds.

It is free and easy to take part.

Just go here https://garagesaletrail.co.uk/ It takes a few mins to register your intent to hold a Garage Sale on Sept 26th.

Cat will then promote all the Sales and map them so buyers will have a fun trail of Sales around the city to go to on the day.

If you’d like extra information, or help to organise a Garage Sale, posters or flyers then please do get in touch!

Email: cat.scrig@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Garage-Sale-Trail-UK/

Twitter: @GSTUK_Brighton

Free video production workshop for charitable and community groups

27/08/2015

Media Trust is running a free video production workshop  for charitable and community groups.

This introductory workshop is designed to help charities and community groups understand how they can turn their stories into short films, and will cover planning, recording and editing. A hands-on learning environment will give practical guidance on using low-cost equipment and techniques that will make videos look professional, even on a low budget.

The workshop is part of Do #SomethingBrilliant, a two year campaign funded by Big Lottery.

There are 10 places available. To apply, contact Reshma for an application form. Places will be allocated to the groups the Media Trust feel will get the most from this opportunity and from the subsequent mentoring available to them following the workshop.

The workshop is aimed at charities and community groups interested in creating their own video content for the web and broadcast platforms like Community Channel. Workshop graduates will be mentored through an assignment to create a short film about the great work they are doing in their community, a film that will inspire others to do something brilliant.

Groups will need to demonstrate that they have access to adequate equipment with which to produce their short film.

13th November 2015
11am-5.30pm
Brighthelm

For more information or to receive an application form, email Reshma Biring: ReshmaB@mediatrust.org

 

Free cookery classes for community groups and volunteers

27/08/2015

The Big Fig is offering free cookery classes for community groups and volunteers.

The aim of these courses are to promote the benefits of healthy eating and to create a better understanding of how to prepare healthy food. Students will also be able to demonstrate enhanced knowledge and skills in cookery and work related areas, improving their employability. The courses are delivered in a way that provides both practical work in the kitchen and classroom-based exercises. During the course the learners will be able to create a nutritionally balanced meal plan and help prepare a healthy meal. Courses can be tailored to meet the needs of the learners. At the end of each course, learners will receive photos of their meals, a copy of their meal plan and a certificate of achievement. Each course will run for a total 6 hours over one or two days depending on your requirements.
The Catering Project at the Big Fig can run outreach healthy cookery training in a variety of locations and course are for disadvantaged learners (age 16+) or those who are volunteering in community groups or community cafes.

Contact Mo Yuchetel

01273 468200

mo.yuchetel@careco-ops.org.uk

thebigfig.co.uk

Kitchen equipment competition for community projects

26/08/2015

If your community organisation is looking to update its kitchen facilities, funding is now available from the British cooking appliance company, Stoves. It is part of the company’s new ‘Community Kitchens’ campaign and aims to place kitchens at the heart of local communities.

There are three prizes available: silver and bronze winners will receive Stoves appliance packages worth between £2,000 and £3,000, with overall winner will receive £5,000 in prizes.

To be eligible, your project must be owned, developed and led by the local community. In your nomination, you must explain why a kitchen would add value to your project in no more than 300 words.

The closing date for entries to the first Community Kitchens competition is 13th September 2015. Once the nominations period has closed, a shortlist will be announced, which will then be put to a public vote.

To enter or nominate a community project or good cause, visit the community kitchen page on the Stoves website.

Bid Writing Basics: Free Workshop for LGBTQ Community Groups

26/08/2015

LGBT HIP is running a bid-writing basics workshop for LGBTQ groups:

Are you part of an established or emerging LGBTQ community group? Does bid-writing feel like a mystery to you? This 3 hour workshop is for those who are new to fundraising and looks at what it takes to secure grants of up to £10,000 to develop your group’s activities. We will look at how to identify funders for your cause, what funders are looking for, and what makes a successful bid.

Monday 7th September

6-9pm

Conference room, Community Base

Please book a place by sending an email to meg.lewis@switchboard.org.uk

 

Free training from Community Works – Finance for Small Groups

26/08/2015

Date: 25 November and 2 December

Time: 9.30am-1.30pm

Venue: The Bridge Community Education Centre. In the IT Suite (25) and the Bevendean Room (2)

Trainer: Steve Early

This two half-day course is aimed at anyone from a small community group who wants to understand more about bookkeeping, financial management and budgeting. By the end of the course you will be able to:

  • Keep basic books using an Excel template designed by the Resource Centre;
  • Write an accurate budget including your core costs;
  • Account for each fund you have separately;
  • Put in place appropriate financial controls;
  • Provide financial information to the rest of your management committee;
  • Understand the rules around independent examinations.

Who is this course for?

This training is aimed specifically at groups:

  • With an income of under £35,000 and who are receiving a grant through the Community Health Fund and/or who are delivering health and well-being activities
  • Priority for groups whose health and well-being activities support LGBT communities, BME communities, younger people and older people e.g. physical activity, arts / heritage /culture, food and nutrition, intergenerational work.

Course fees:

Free.

To book on:

To book your place please visit: https://finance-for-small-groups-nov-2015.eventbrite.co.uk. There are limited spaces available, so please book early!

For more information:

If you have any questions please contact: training@bhcommunityworks.org.uk or call 01273 234023.

Funding for community projects

21/08/2015

BrightonSoup are looking for community projects requiring a small amount of funding to pitch at their community Soup events. Four people are invited to talk about their project to a room full of interested people, who then decide on their favourite. They each get 5 minutes to explain their project and what they will do with the money. All of the guests have paid to come to the event and the winning projects gets all of the door money taken on the night.

Although one project gets the funding, all the projects get an opportunity to make connections and get support – it’s about more than just the money. Get in touch with Will Anjos at BrightonSoup.org.uk for more details.

Free video production training

20/08/2015

Media Trust are running a Free video production training course in Brighton.

13th November 2015: 11am-5.30pm
Brighthelm, North Road.

There are 10 places available at each workshop; these are not allocated on a first come first served basis so they are asking people to complete an application form to enable them to target those groups they feel will get the most from this opportunity and from the subsequent mentoring available to them following the workshop.

The Workshop

This introductory workshop is designed to help charities and community groups understand how they can turn their stories into short films, and will cover planning, recording and editing. A hands-on learning environment will give practical guidance on using low-cost equipment and techniques that will make videos look professional, even on a low budget.

The workshop is part of Do #SomethingBrilliant, a two year campaign funded by Big Lottery that sets out to celebrate the inspiring stories from communities across the UK.

Who is it for

The Do #SomethingBrilliant video production workshop is for charities and community groups interested in creating their own video content for the web and broadcast platforms like Community Channel. Workshop graduates will be mentored through an assignment to create a short film about the great work they are doing in their community, a film that will inspire others to do something brilliant.

Please note, Do #SomethingBrilliant offers training and access to equipment only in the workshop context; participating organisations will need to demonstrate that they have access to adequate equipment with which to produce their short film in a period to be agreed following the workshop.

Groups in Sussex can hire the Resource Centre video cameras.

For more information or to receive an application form, email Reshma Biring: ReshmaB@mediatrust.org.