Summary
The Birmingham Community Foundation was established in 1995 to help local people 'create, encourage and resource initiatives that would alleviate poverty and deprivation, and also promote employment within our community'.
The general objects of the foundation are:
- to help local people, provide local solutions through an effective grant making programme in areas of poverty and deprivation
- to stimulate new initiatives and partnerships within the community and to link these with the major regeneration initiatives in the city
- to build a long term endowment fund for the sustainability of the communities within Greater Birmingham; providing support for many years to come
- to provide people and businesses with the opportunity to maximise their charitable contribution in ways which bring genuine benefit to their local community.
The foundation aims to build up an endowment fund by encouraging local individuals, businesses and other organisations to give donations and consequently invest in the long-term future of their local community.
Like many community foundations, it administers individual funds which enable donors to direct their contributions to specific locations and/or target groups. The foundation also distributes money from statutory sources. Small grants are generally given to community based groups involved in activities that regenerate and build communities, however priority is given to those projects which:
- encourage community responsibility
- develop community capacity
- are unable to access other forms of funding
- do not duplicate other work being done within the area.
Grantmaking
The Birmingham Community Foundation manages a number of funds, which are summarised below. Much of the information has been taken from the foundation’s highly useful and up to date website.
Charles Henry Foyle Trust
This fund is open to voluntary and community organisations working within Birmingham, with a preference for the south west area. Grants usually range from £2,500 to £5,000 but can be up to £10,000. Projects should benefit the local community and in doing so meet at least one of the objectives listed below:
- enhance the education and skills of local people, particularly the young - including the use of theatrical arts and music
- assist communities in local regeneration programmes
- protect and improve the local environment
- support the improvement of sports and leisure facilities
- celebrate and promote the cultural diversity of the City of Birmingham.
Further information on this fund is available on the foundation’s website.
Charles Henry Foyle Trust Primary School Fund
This is a new fund aimed at supporting primary schools in Birmingham, for activities, events or materials/equipment that are not usually provided through the LEA as part of the National Curriculum. The maximum grant available is £2,500.
The trustees are keen to receive applications from primary schools that are able to demonstrate their project will bring benefit to their children and in doing so meet at least one of the objectives listed below:
- enhance the education and skills of children in the arts, including music, dance and drama
- provide additional (non text book) reading material for children to access for pleasure
- support the improvement of sports and leisure facilities, both indoor and outdoor
- promote activities that reflects the cultural diversity of the local population
- support the inclusion of children with additional needs in extra-curricular activities
- cover transportation and entrance costs to Non Curriculum events
- provide support/and or recreational, pre or after school activities, including breakfast clubs.
Further information is available on the foundation’s website.
ESF Community Grants
The European Social Fund (ESF) is a European Community programme. It aims to increase employment and reduce inactivity by helping to tackle the barriers to work faced by disadvantaged groups.
ESF Community Grants is the ESF's small grants arm, made available through the Birmingham Community Foundation. Local groups can apply for funding for new projects which improve access to mainstream provision for disadvantaged or excluded people. Groups should be based in Birmingham and must be independent. Those that are branches of larger national voluntary organisations may be eligible if they can show that they have a separate management committee and accounts which are not consolidated.
Further information on ESF Community Grants can be found on the foundation’s website.
Fairshare
The Fair Share Fund is a ten-year project, which targets those areas that suffer considerable disadvantage and have previously received less than their fair share of National Lottery funding. The places in Greater Birmingham eligible for funding are: Dudley - St Andrews, Sandwell - Great Bridge, Walsall - Alumwell and North Solihull.
More information on the local priorities and how to apply is available on the foundation’s website.
Grassroots Grants
Grassroots Grants is a key element of the Government’s strategy for building stronger and more active communities. Applications are welcome from voluntary and community organisations that are able to demonstrate their project will build their capacity and bring benefit to the local community. Priority is given to groups which are unable to access other forms of funding. Projects should not duplicate other work being done within the area.
The grassroots grants programme is open to community groups with an annual income of less than £30,000. Further information is available on the foundation’s website.
Letisha and Charlene Educational Awards
This fund was established in memory of Charlene Ellis and Letisha Shakespeare, who were innocent victims of a drive-by shooting in January 2003. The organisation consists of the families of the two girls and representatives from Aston Pride New Deal for Communities, the Birmingham Mail and Birmingham Community Foundation.
Each award offers support for one year for people living in North West Birmingham who are aged 16 or over and who need financial help to continue with their education. Awards are up to £2,000.
Further information is available on the foundation’s website and from the information sheet provided by the fund.
Sports Relief
This programme aims to empower local people and enable them to create lasting change in their communities. Projects should be run by people directly affected by the issues they are dealing with. 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 range from £1,000 - £10,000. For more information please go to 'Sports Relief' page on the foundation’s website.
Urban Living Community Cohesion Chest
This is a ‘Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder’ focused on improving places and supporting communities. The Pathfinders have been set up to deal with the wide range of problems that affect local homes, including: overcrowding, lack of housing choice, empty properties and run down neighbourhoods. The objective of the community cohesion grant is to give organisations the support to make a difference in their area. The programme is focused in eight priority areas: Aston, Handsworth, Lozells, Newtown, Winson Green, Smethwick, West Bromwich and Greets Green.
Organisations must meet the following criteria in order to apply:
- be based and/or provide your services in the Pathfinder area
- be from the voluntary and community sector and have a constitution in place
- have a child protection and/or vulnerable people policy if you intend to work with children, vulnerable groups or young people
- have a bank account with a minimum of two other members of the group as authorised signatures
Grants range from £1,000 to £10,000 and priority will be given to groups working in partnership with other organisations in the area and to those who have not previously received an Urban Living Community Cohesion grant.
Further information is available on the foundation’s website.
Please note: if none of the above funds are applicable to you, you can complete a general application form and the foundation will try to identify a suitable funding stream for you. General application forms are available directly from the foundation or to download from the website.
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