The Children and Young People's grant aid application process is now open.  There will be a workshop for organisations wishing to apply for funding on Thursday 7 July from 2:00 to 3:30 pm at the Osmaston/Allenton Children's Centre, First Steps, Cockayne Street North, Derby DE24 9AX. 

If you would like to book a place contact Arshie Mushtaq on 01332 642642 or Alison Trail on 01332 642697.  For more information visit the DCC website.    

Economic Development Fund

Derby has been given an additional allocation of £6.6 million as part of the East Midlands European Regional Development Competitiveness Programme 2007-2013, managed by the East Midlands Development Agency.  After the first three rounds around £6m has already been given to projects.  The aim of Derby's fund is to help areas with high levels of deprivation and low levels of economic and enterprise activity.  For more information visit the ERDF website or email DCNP.

The deadline for completed expressions of interest forms is 12 noon on Friday 15 July 2011.   

Update from the Big Lottery Fund  

The Big Lottery have recently announced a number of new initiatives and programmes - for more information visit the Big Lottery website or call 0207 211 1800 or 0300 500 5050.

The number of applications for the Reaching Communities Building programme has been lower than anticipated, so if you are looking to improve or replace buildings where a wide range of community activities will take place now is the time!

The Improving Financial Confidence Programme is a £30 million fund aimed at helping families and individuals avoid financial difficulty.  It will offer grants of between £500,000 to £1 million for projects lasting three to five years.  The aim of the fund, which will be delivered by partnerships led by voluntary sector organisations, is to give people more confidence and skills in accessing and using financial services, including bank accounts and affordable loans. 

For more information visit the Big Lottery website or call 0207 211 1800 or 0300 500 5050. The closing date for applications is 16 September 2011.  

The Local Infrastructure Fund comprises of £30 million of investment that will be delivered by the Big Lottery Fund to support the development of more efficient local hubs to offer:

·         Better integrated support services for frontline civil society organisations;

·         Support an effective online resource bank for frontline civil society; organisations and,

·        Establish much stronger local partnerships between civil society organisations, local businesses and the local statutory sector. 

For more information visit the Big Lottery Fund website or call 0207 211 1800 or 0300 500 5050.  

Derbyshire Community Foundation

A new fund from the Freemasons via Derbyshire Community Foundation awarding grants up to £1,000.  The fund has been established to support community life and tackle disadvantage across Derbyshire by supporting community and voluntary groups and charities. 

Priority is currently given to activities and groups that are working to:

• Promote the advancement of health and well being.
• Prevent or relieve poverty.
• Support the most vulnerable in our communities such as children and young people, the elderly and isolated, or individuals with mental health problems and/or disabilities.
• Enhance the quality of life to people living in our local communities.

For more information visit the Derbyshire Community Foundation website or call 01773 514850. 

East Midlands ESF Community Learning and Skills Grants 2011-2013

This programme will provide grants of up to £10,000 to small, third sector, voluntary and community organisations to engage with local communities to deliver a range of skills and employment support activities to enable people from the hardest to reach communities, experiencing multiple disadvantages, to make progress towards the labour market.  The deadline for this first round of grant applications is Monday 25 July 2011. 

For more information and a copy of the guidance notes and application form email Melani Phythian . 

This funding is to help people through arts and cultural intervention.  The trust welcomes applications to support projects in the areas of culture, heritage and the arts and will make a positive and ongoing difference to people's lives.  Priority will be given to the area of performing arts - music, dance and drama - but other areas will be considered. 

For more information visit the Foundation website. 

Applications are being welcomed for community dance projects.  The scheme has up to £200,000 to award, with grants of £500 to £5,000 available.  Applications are welcomed from groups working across the UK with all age groups and dance styles.  The deadline is July 12. 

For more information visit the BBC website. 

Time to Change supports events run by small groups or organisations led by people with direct experience of mental health problems.  They offer up to £500 to cover expenses, mentoring and practical advice, help with spreading the word about what you're doing, and Time to Change branded materials to distribute on the day. 

For more information visit the Time to Change website or call 020 8215 2357. 

The DWP Innovation fund will provide up to £30 million over 3 years for social and investment projects, paid on an outcome funded basis.  The projects will support young people aged 14 and over who are disadvantaged or at risk of disadvantage.  For more information visit the DWP website.

Help the Homeless offer grants of up to £3,000 towards capital costs of projects that assist individuals to return to mainstream society.  Funding is allocated mainly to small and medium-sized charities, with an annual turnover of up to £1 million.  All applications must relate to projects that assist individuals in their return to mainstream society, rather than simply offer shelter etc.  The quarterly deadlines for grant applications each year are 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December. 

For more information visit the Help the Homeless website or fax 020 7636 1428 -no telephone number for this charity.   

First TransPennine Express and the Forestry Commission would like to inspire people to make a positive improvement to their community and improve their local environment.  The Green Grants are available for environmental improvements in relation to trees and/or woodlands for the benefits of the community.  For more information visit the Trans-Pennine Express website.  

14 September 2011- A free funding workshop is being delivered by Lloyds TSB Foundation.  Lloyds TSB Foundation help disadvantaged people play a fuller role in their communities.  More details to follow in the August e-bulletin

21 September 2011 - Voluntary and Community Sector Expo and Funding Fair, including Community Action's AGM at the Darwin Suite, Assembly Rooms, Derby from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.  Come along and talk to funders and other agencies.