Groups of individuals as well as small community and voluntary groups within the UK that want to improve their communities can apply for funding through the Wakeham Trust. The Trust are particularly interested in supporting:

• neighbourhood projects
• community arts projects
• projects involving community service by young people
• projects set up by those who are socially excluded.

The Trust also support innovative projects to promote excellence in teaching (at any level, from primary schools to universities), though we never support individuals. The Trust normally give grants to projects where an initial £75 to £750 can make a real difference to getting the project up and running. To be eligible, applicants need to be registered charities or have access to a registered charity that will be willing to accept funds on their behalf.

Applications can be made at any time. For further information, visit: www.wakehamtrust.org/

Small charities operating in the areas of the arts and learning that have an annual turnover of less than £100,000 per annum can apply for funding of between £1,000 and £10,000 through the Foyle Foundation’s Small Grants Programme. The Foundation which is one of the largest grant making trusts in the UK provides grants that are helping to make the arts more accessible by developing new audiences, supporting tours, festivals and arts educational projects; encouraging new work and supporting young and emerging artists; and that address special educational needs and learning difficulties. Larger organisations can apply for funding through the Foyle Foundations Arts and Learning Main Grants Programmes.

Applications can be submitted at any time. For further information, visit: www.foylefoundation.org.uk/small-grants-scheme/

The People’s Postcode Trust, a trust set up by the “People’s Postcode Lottery” in April 2009, has announced that Scottish applications are now being accepted for their next round of funding. 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. Projects supported can last for up to 3 months. The closing date for applications is the 30th July 2010. Applications for England will re-open on the 11th October 2010. For further information, visit: www.postcodetrust.org.uk/index.php

Every year Bupa Great North Run Culture awards an artist or film-maker £30,000 to create a new moving image work in response to the world’s largest half-marathon. The work is then presented as part of the following year’s programme with an extract screened on the BBC as part of their live coverage of the Bupa Great North Run.

The deadline for expressions of interest is 5.00pm on Monday 7th June.

For more information, to download a full commission brief and to apply online, please visit http://www.greatnorthrunculture.org/moving-image

What are we looking for?
Theatre Sandbox is for people who have already dabbled with digital technology and those who are completely new to it – it is a great opportunity to experiment, explore and take risks within a supported space.

What does the scheme offer?
Setting out to grow an active community experimentation and learning, the scheme includes a structured programme of commissioning, mentoring, work in progress performances, knowledge exchange and PR/promotion.

Technology is an enabler: it’s only as exciting as the story it is telling or the experience it is helping to create. Being part of the scheme you will also get access to technology experts, leading theatre professionals and the chance to work with one of our venue partners: Bristol Old Vic; mac, Birmingham; Contact, Manchester; The Junction, Cambridge; Soho Theatre, London; and Lyric, Hammersmith.

Applications will be accepted until 30 April and the scheme will run from July – September 2010:

How do I apply?
Theatre Sandbox will launch with a series of workshops to provide more information, help develop ideas and answer questions.

Save a date – attendance at a workshop is essential for those wishing to submit an application:
7 April 2010 – Bristol
8 April 2010 – London
12 April 2010 – Birmingham
13 April 2010 – Manchester
14 April 2010 – Cambridge

To keep up to date with information as it is announced (including booking info for the workshops) join the mailing list on www.theatresandbox.co.uk. You’ll also find lots more about the scheme and our advisory group. Email: theatresandbox@watershed.co.uk

Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/theatresandbox

Theatre Sandbox is produced by iShed and supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England iShed is part of Watershed, a cross art form venue in Bristol.

HBOS Foundation – Community Action Programme

Through its Community Action programme, the HBOS Foundation makes grants of up to £10,000 to support a diverse range of local activities. The programme which is available in those communities where the HBOS bank operates, is open to registered charities and has two key themes: Money advice and financial literacy, and developing and improving local communities. Applications can be made at any time.

For more information visit: www.hbosfoundation.org/index-community.html

The registered charity, Concertina makes grants to charitable bodies which provide musical entertainment and related activities for the elderly. The charity is particular keen to support smaller organisations which might otherwise find it difficult to gain funding. Since its inception in 2004, it has made grants to a wide range of charitable organisations nationwide in England and Wales. These include funds to many care homes for the elderly to provide musical entertainment for their residents. The next application deadline is the 30th April 2010.

www.concertinamusic.org.uk/

The Abbey Charitable Trust has now changed its name to the Santander Foundation and has announced some changes on its new website. The Santander Foundation will support disadvantaged people, focusing on the priorities of education and training and financial capability.

Grants of up to £10,000 can be awarded anywhere in the UK. However there are certain areas where Santander has a significant presence and Community Partnership Groups have been established and higher grants can be made. There are nine such areas across the UK, including Sheffield, which covers South Yorkshire, which grants of up to £30,000 are available. The Foundation is also now able to support revenue or capital items, such as salaries and project costs or equipment.

There are no deadlines or application form, but there is a cover sheet that you can use as a checklist to make sure that you covered all the information required in your letter of application. For more information visit: www.santanderfoundation.org.uk.

The band, ESP, with the support of Kirkgate Arts Centre in the town, recorded a moving version of Over the Rainbow this weekend to help individuals and businesses affected by the recent flooding that devastated communities across the county.

The charity single was recorded at Driftwood Studios in Penrith on Saturday 28 November and produced by Jon Hart, who provided his services free of charge. It is due to be released digitally by Eden Records on all major download sites, and will be available for download on ‘iTunes’ from Wednesday 2 December 2009. All profits from the sale of the track are for the flood appeal.
Ditto Music, the company that is handling the release, has also made the track available via mobile phone networks. To download the track direct to your mobile, text Track Cumbria M to 83262 or to purchase the track via SMS text Track Cumbria to 83262. This provides an internet link via SMS and the track costs £1.
The cause is very close to the heart of ESP drummer, Jack Davies, who lost his home in the flood. Despite the difficult circumstances, he still found time to perform with ESP at a social event for those affected by the floods at the Kirkgate Art Centre and was able to record the song on Saturday.

39-yr-old Jack is accompanied in ESP by Phil Curzon, 45, on lead guitar, 42-yr-old Simon Davies on bass, and the track is sung by Sam Millar, 41, a former police officer with Cumbria Constabulary. All four band members are currently teachers in West Cumbria.

Sam said: “We decided to record ‘Over the Rainbow’ because of the optimism it signifies after the rain. The whole of West Cumbria has been pulling together after the recent floods, and we wanted to do whatever we can to help. We all live in the area and have seen the devastation for ourselves but also the real sense of community. Everyone in the area either has been, or knows someone who has been affected by the extreme weather – and the tragic death of PC Bill Barker.”

“Hopefully, by bringing something positive to the local community and doing our bit to help, we can enable people from all over the world to show their support for this worthy cause.”

Contact Bob Pritchard at Kirkgate Arts Centre in Cockermouth for further details: 01900 829966.
To donate direct to the Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund, see www.cumbriafoundation.org/

The applications deadline is the 11th December 2009. For more information visit: www.ageconcern.org.uk/AgeConcern/08D1C0F9EA804291B35B0DAE63BA5134.asp