Funding & Training Focus - 19 March

Meet Malin Wollberg – Funding & Organisational Development Officer

I'm excited to join Engage Renfrewshire as the Funding and Organisational Development Officer. My role focuses on supporting local groups to grow, strengthen governance, and advice on funding opportunities. I look forward to working with communities and organisations across Renfrewshire to help build capacity, develop sustainable projects, and bring ideas to life.

I’d love to hear from you so please get in touch if I can be of help to your group! mwollberg@engagerenfrewshire.com

Funding

• Disadvantaged People
• Ethnic Minorities
• Miscellaneous
• Schools/Education
• Small Charities
• The Fore
• Way Forward for Families Partnership
• Women

Events/Training

• Invest in Renfrewshire External Funding Webinar
• Greater Renfrewshire & Inverclyde: Intergenerational Training for Trainers and Practitioners
• Nilbymouth Training Opportunity

Disadvantaged People

Grants to Improve the Quality of Life for Disadvantaged & Vulnerable People
Small-to-mid-size registered charities helping improve the quality of life of people in the UK, particularly those disadvantaged and vulnerable, can apply for grants of up to £5,000. The funding is being made available through the Hedley Foundation. Each year, the Foundation makes around 250 grants for initiatives that benefit the lives of young people, disabled people, elderly people, the terminally ill, and otherwise disadvantaged people and their carers. Occasional larger sums are given to charities where high impact can be achieved. The next closing date for applications is 04 June 2025. Find out more
 

Grants to Improve the Lives of Disadvantaged People
Registered charities in the UK can apply for grants of up to £10,000 to address the housing needs and assist with the financial wellbeing of people who are disadvantaged or are facing deprivation. The funding is being made available through the Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation. Priority is given to charities operating in the top 50% of the UK Index of Multiple Deprivation. Eligible applicants must be registered charities established for at least three years with a minimum of three trustees. Funding can cover core costs such as salaries and utilities, as well as project expenses like equipment and materials. The closing date for applications is 01 May 2025. Find out more
 

Funding to Support Disadvantaged Young People and Offenders
Registered charities, charitable incorporated organisations, and in exceptional circumstances Community Interest Companies can apply for grants for projects that support offenders and ex-offenders as well as into work and helping specific less popular groups within the criminal justice sector. The funding is being made available through the Weavers' Company who are looking specifically to support projects helping offenders find work as well as projects that support marginalised groups. A secondary priority is given to projects aiding disadvantaged young people, including immigrants, in realising their potential and engaging in society. The Weavers' Company has two funding streams: a Small Grants Programme offering up to £5,000, and a Main Grants Programme with no maximum limit. Funding covers both project and core costs. Applicants must demonstrate efforts to secure other funding and future sustainability. The next application deadline is 03 July 2025. Find out more
 

New £1.5 Billion Government Fund to Revitalise Deprived Neighbourhoods
The government has announced £1.5 billion in funding to tackle deprivation in 75 areas across the UK. Each area will receive up to £20 million over the next decade as part of the government’s Plan for Neighbourhoods, which aims to breathe new life into local high streets, parks, youth clubs, cultural venues, libraries, and health and wellbeing services. New neighbourhood boards will be established, bringing together residents and businesses to decide how the funds are spent. Options range from repairing pavements and revitalising high streets to setting up community grocers, co-operatives, or neighbourhood watch schemes. Funding will be released from April 2025, with investment delivery starting in 2026. Find out more
 

Grants of up to £5,000 Available to Increase Employment Opportunities for Disadvantaged Adults
Grants of up to £5,000 are available to registered charities to support projects that equip people (18 or older in order) from disadvantaged groups with the communication skills necessary to gain employment. Priority will be given to projects that target people experiencing multiple deprivation or other groups facing major hurdles to employment, especially women, people with physical, mental, or learning disabilities, refugees and asylum seekers. The funding is being made available through the Thomas Wall Trust, and the deadline for stage 1 applications is 05 May 2025. Applicants successful at this stage will be invited to submit a stage 2 application. Find out more

Grants of up to £15,000 Available to Support Ethnic Minority Community Development
Ethnic minority-led organisations in Scotland can apply for grants of between £500 and £15,000 to foster community cohesion, empower individuals, and enhance spaces significant to ethnic minority communities. The funding is being made available through the Ethnic Minority Development Fund, a partnership between CEMVO Scotland and The National Lottery Community Fund. Eligible organisations must have at least 60% representation of people from an ethnic minority background in leadership roles and an annual income of £100,000 or less. The closing date for applications is 14 April 2025. Find out more

Funding to Promote the use of the Gaelic Language
Public bodies in Scotland can apply for grants of up to £25,000, covering up to 80% of project costs, to support the implementation of their Gaelic Language Plans. The funding is being made available through the Gaelic Plans Fund and this funding round relates to the Projects stream of this fund. This can relate to enhancing the use of the Gaelic language, expand Gaelic language learning and promote a positive image of Gaelic. This stream is open to all other public bodies, allowing them to apply for one-year funding for up to three projects each, to be delivered between August 2025 and August 2026. The closing date for applications is 3pm on 06 May 2025. Find out more

Miscellaneous

New £5 Million Fund for Research on AI Security
The UK government has launched a £5 million Challenge Fund under the AI Security Institute (AISI) to support research on critical AI safety and security challenges. Grants of up to £200,000 will be awarded to researchers and not-for-profit organisations in the UK and worldwide. The fund aims to protect critical industries, boost public confidence in AI, and promote its adoption across the economy. It will support research focused on four key AI security challenges identified by AISI, including AI misuse, human oversight over autonomous systems, and strengthening society against emerging threats. There is a two-stage application process. Applicants must first submit an expression of interest. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to submit a full application. Find out more
 

One Stop Community Partnership Programme Re-opens for Applications
Community groups and other not for profit organisations within a two mile radius of a One Stop shop can now apply for grants of up to £1,000 through the One Stop Community Partnership programme. The programme, administered by the environmental charity Groundwork, will support projects and activities tackling food poverty, supporting the vulnerable, supporting the elderly, supporting low-income families, and supporting a healthier lifestyle. Applications will be welcomed from various organisations, including voluntary/community organisations, registered charities, schools, health bodies, Parish/Town councils, social enterprises, and Community Interest Companies. The next closing date for applications is 31 March 2025. For further information, please contact: onestop@groundwork.org.uk  Find out more

Schools/Education

Schools Can Apply for £500 of Free Equipment to Deliver Outdoor Learning
Early Years, Infant, Primary and Secondary school settings can apply for up to £500 worth of free outdoor resources and two hours of professional outdoor training to deliver outdoor learning and play. The funding is being made available through the Learning through Landscapes’ Local School Nature Grant Programme and is funded by the players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Applicants must be employed by the school. Learning through Landscapes are unable to accept applications on behalf of the school from PTA’s, Governors, ‘Friends of’ groups etc. The next closing date for applications is 04 April 2025.  Find out more

Funding to Support Young People Not in Education, Employment, or Training
Charities, social enterprises and Further Education Institutions in England, Wales or Scotland, can apply for grants of up to £100,000 to enhance employment related skills of young people aged 16 to 24 who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET). A total of two grants will be awarded. The funding is being made available by Impetus, a UK-based charity dedicated to transforming the lives of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds by ensuring they receive the necessary support to succeed in school, work, and life. The closing date for applications is 11:59 pm on the 17 April 2025. Find out more

Funding to Support the Education of Young People with Physical or Learning Disabilities
Schools, charitable organisations and other groups in Scotland supporting the education of young people under the age of 21 who have a physical or learning disability or are socially disadvantaged can apply for funding to the John Watson Trust. Whilst the Trust operates primarily within Edinburgh and the Lothians, it may also award grants Scotland-wide to eligible individuals and organisations, including schools, established charitable organisations and other groups supporting disadvantaged young people. Grants can cover expenses such as special or additional tuition, school trips, bus passes, school expenses such as books and equipment, and laptops where there is a special education need.  Although applicants can apply for grants of any size, most grants made to individuals by John Watson’s Trust will be in a range between £200 and £2000. The next closing date is the 23 May 2025. Find out more

Free Support to Expand Classical Studies in Schools
Classics for All, a UK-based educational charity that promotes the teaching of classical subjects, is offering free support to UK state schools that want to introduce or expand classical studies. This can be done either as part of the curriculum or as an enrichment/club activity. Schools will receive mentoring, initial advice, and contributions toward training costs to help them introduce or develop a classical subject. The support will enable schools, particularly those in areas of high deprivation, to study Latin, Ancient History, Classical Civilisation and Ancient Greek, often for the first time. Teachers can receive training in both subject knowledge and pedagogy. Schools must submit their applications by 01 June 2025 to receive training in the Autumn term. Find out more

Match Funding Campaign Opens for Small Charities
The Big Give, in partnership with Global’s Make Some Noise and NCVO, has opened a match funding campaign to support small charities making a big impact on communities across the UK. Up to £10,000 in match funding is available to help charities to run their own match funding campaigns during Small Charity Week in June. The initiative aims to build the resilience, skills and profile of the small charity sector, while helping organisations raise vital, unrestricted funding to increase their impact. To be eligible, charities must have an annual income between £5,000 and £1 million. Those interested in participating must submit their application by 02 April 2025. Find out more

The Fore

The Fore’s Summer 2025 Funding Round. Please pass on this information to anyone you think might be interested.
Please find more information about what we fund and how to apply in the document attached. 
Successful applicants will receive:

• An unrestricted grant: Up to £30,000, spread across 1 to 3 years
• Access to skills and networks: Including peer support and pro bono support from experienced professionals
• Access to training: Through our workshops programme and fully funded impact measurement support courses

We offer unrestricted funding to help your organisation grow, become more sustainable, efficient, or resilient. We are interested in organisational development, and we believe that by asking you and your charity what you need, our grants will create a transformational impact on your organisation. 

You can find examples of what we have previously funded here.

We are hosting an online Q&A session on Thursday 27 March, 11am to 12pm. If you want to hear more from The Fore team about our application process and pose your own questions before you register your interest in applying, you can sign up here. If you can’t make it on the day, please still register if you would like to receive the recording.

If you have any questions, we are happy to help – Please email us at info@thefore.org

Way Forward for Families

The Way Forward for Families Partnership has re-opened to applications

Way Forward is a joint programme invested in by Corra Foundation and the Scottish Government. Grants will support projects to deliver support to children, young people and families affected by alcohol and drugs.   
The programme will distribute £470,000 in grant funding in this round. Applicants can apply for up to £250,000 over three years, a minimum of 50% matched funding must be in place in each funding year.

We invite applications from partnerships, led by third sector organisations working together with public bodies.
Our learning from the first rounds of the programme underlines the need for applicants to focus on:  

• Supporting work which reflects Whole Family Approaches  

• Work that reflects a formal partnership and collaborative working between public and third sector agencies 

• Work that involves meaningful collaboration with children, young people and families affected by drugs and alcohol 

Any organisation interested in applying should arrange an initial welcome chat - by emailing WFFP@corra.scot, before completing our online application form. More information, including full criteria and guidance will be published on the 13th March on the Way Forward for Families Partnership webpage.  

Dates:
1. Applicants have until Friday 25 April 2025 to make an initial inquiry.
2. Completed applications must then be sent in via the online application portal by 2pm on Thursday 08 May 2025.

Givestar’s Adventure for Good Grant Now Open for Applications
Charity fundraising platform Givestar has announced that its Adventure for Good Grant is now open for applications. This year, the grant is exclusively available to women in the UK, aiming to encourage greater female participation in adventure-based fundraising. The £20,000 funding pool will be distributed among successful applicants to support expenses related to their fundraising challenges. Eligible costs include specialist gear, travel, accommodation, and other necessary equipment. Applicants must be women aged 18 or over, residing in the UK, and planning a significant fundraising challenge for a registered charity. To apply, candidates must complete the online application form, which includes written responses and a video submission. Applications are open on a rolling basis until 11:59 pm on 08 April 2025. Successful applicants will be notified by 14 April 2025 and must claim their grant within 14 days of acceptance. Find out more

Training/Events

Invest in Renfrewshire External Funding Webinar

The Invest in Renfrewshire Communities Team host monthly webinars on External Funding Support available for Renfrewshire third sector groups.  The focus will be on the current grant programmes that are open to third sector groups and the type of support available to groups when completing draft funding applications.  The webinar will help assist constituted third sector groups to clearly demonstrate their economic and social benefit, evidence longer term sustainability as well as articulate the impact their proposed projects will have. In addition to this, the monthly webinars also cover wider support available from the Invest in Renfrewshire team including further information on the Invest in Employability programme updates and Business Gateway support. Thursday 24 April 2025 11.00 – 12.30. To book a space please contact our Funding & Development Officer via Email:  Econdev.community@renfrewshire.gov.uk

GWT - Intergenerational Training for Trainers and Practitioners

Tuesday 10 June 2025, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Station 7, 7 Quarry St, Johnstone PA5 8DY

On completion participants will be able to:

• Describe what intergenerational practice is and how it can be defined.
• Explain how planned intergenerational work can be relevant to meeting policy aims in different areas of social policy, community development and work with children, families and older people.
• Explain the relationship between intergenerational practice activities, policy and outcomes.
• Bringing Groups Together

On completion participants will be able to:

• Give examples of how to bring generations together to effectively meet challenges and overcome barriers.
• Describe the importance of bringing different generations together during a staged process.
• Demonstrate how to address ageism and stereotyping through a range of activities.
• Describe and demonstrate how intergenerational activities and projects can be accessible and inclusive.

Book your place here 

Nilbymouth Training Opportunity 

We are excited to introduce you to Nilbymouth, Nil by Mouth is a registered Scottish Charity existing for the sole purpose of achieving a society free from sectarianism where cultural and religious diversity is respected and celebrated by everyone. They aim to campaign for greater recognition of the damage caused by Sectarianism and promote positive change, work with legislation and policy developers to support the eradication of sectarian attitudes, language and behaviour, develop, promote and deliver education and training to promote good relations and challenge Sectarian attitudes, language and behaviour and provide support and resources for individuals and organisations to challenge Sectarianism. More information here - Home | Nil By Mouth
 
Nilbymouth is delighted to offer a training session specifically for Engage Renfrewshire members, they tailor their workshops depending on the types of groups attending. The Childcare Services session is most suited to staff working with young people in settings outside schools, PB4UP session is delivered to modern apprentices, foundation apprentices, employability groups and access to work courses, and the Beyond Religion and Belief session is an awareness raising session suitable for all staff.
 
To ensure that this session is tailored to your needs and interests, we kindly ask that you complete the attached survey. Your feedback will help us understand which training topics would be most beneficial to your organisation. Please take a moment to fill out the survey and let us know if this session would be of interest to you and which specific topic would be most relevant for your team.
 
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=M8xJXvX9u0yJbfwX9BMnE4pKFgonsdBJo0JoSYxe9vBUODlUSzhJVVo1NElITUIzNlBZNTFLOE1MQi4u