Listed below are details of grants, awards, offers, competitions and other items of interest to parishes and schools in Bucks, MK and Slough. Some of these are time-sensitive, i.e. there are deadlines for getting applications in, and these will be removed when the deadline expires, so if you see something that's disappeared next time you look, contact Brin !

18th November 2008. Compiling and writing a Project Grant application. One day course 10am-4:30pm from Aylesbury Vale DC, at The Buckingham Centre, Buckingham. £10 per head. Book on 01296 585256 or e-mail.  

5^th December 2008 – Aylesbury Vale Community Chest - Community and voluntary groups and parish and town councils in Aylesbury Vale will benefit from a new £5 million fund to support the provision of extra activities over the next 10 years.
Micro-Grants of up to £1,000 are awarded to projects and groups for a range of different uses, for example running costs or organising a community event.   Examples of eligible projects include improvements to community facilities, such as children’s play areas and community centres, local community support projects for older people and environmental projects. Submit by 15th of each month for consideration that month.
Project Grants of up to £25,000 (deadline as above) are available to both new and existing projects that can demonstrate success in meeting local needs.  Grants can be used for a variety of purposes including sustaining or developing the activities of existing community groups, supporting new projects or purchasing items of equipment.
Applicants will have to demonstrate how their project contributes to the Community Plan for Aylesbury Vale – more information is available from the Community Chest Grants Officer. For more information,  to discuss your project or receive an application form please contact Sarah Rothwell, Community Chest Grants Officer, 01296  585634 - communitychest@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk   

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From the foot of this page you can download a document published by Bucks County Council which gives guidance on how voluntary-sector bodies (like the Church and its groups) can access public funding for projects that are of benefit to young people. There are many hurdles and pitfalls to negotiate but if you need serious money to refurbish your church hall or emply a youth-worker, this is probably the route you have to be thinking about. Do contact me for further advice - I can help you through a lot of the jargon !

Check here for a story of fundraising success by groups of teenagers from three S Bucks churches who joined forces.

Youth Focus Awards of around £150 towards educational courses, materials etc for individuals aged 5-25 resident in Bucks who are disadvantaged, financially or otherwise. Contact Sue Martin at Youth Focus  ( or phone 01296 631911). No deadline. Start-up grants of up to £1000 are also available from Youth Focus to help new youth groups get established - but they need to be spent by end March 2008 ! Same contact details. 

Youth Focus (Bucks) has also been given a pot of money to encourage "groups in the Voluntary and Faith sector who work with young people aged 13 – 19. Successful applicants will run a project that will enable young people to take part in a positive activity. It must be attractive in encouraging other young people who don’t usually participate to get involved, in addition to regular club members. At least 75% of the participants need to be in the 13 – 19 age range". Grants of up to £500 are available. They are thinking more of one-off trips, or paying for additional time/sessions, than of buying a Wii kit to tempt young people in, but it's worth trying for anything. Application forms from me or Youth Focus as above.

Bucks has a "branch" of the Youth Bank initiative, which channels funding from local Councils, organisations and businesses (and now also the important Youth Opportunity and Youth Capital funds, totalling £400k) into youth-led projects. The essential ingredient is that a project should be devised and run (with adult help) by young people 11-19. Religious and political groups are not supported, but I suspect that if a group from a church had an idea for something that would help their local community, a way would be found round it. I'm not sure how much might be on offer, probably not huge amounts, but if you've got a worthy idea that needs a source of cash for equipment, training or staffing, contact the Youth Bank team c/o the Youth Focus offices at Green Park, Aston Clinton

The Bucks County Council website now has an excellent section for external funding help, mainly though downloading periodic newsletters and a set of how-to leaflets.   

Slough - Mobile phone network O2 have a "Can Do in the Community" initiative to support charitable projects, and are particularly keen on bids from areas where they have a corporate presence, including Slough. Check out their website for examples and application procedures.

Milton Keynes Community Foundation makes monthly small grants of up to £1500 to local groups who may require funding for equipment, training or small projects and events. Larger grants are available for more substantial projects that benefit local people. In addition, an associated Trust makes grants to support the disabled. Click here to e-mail enquiries or phone 01908 690276. Aylesbury Vale DC Community Chest Micro-Grants of up to £1000 are also available monthly, check their website. 

There is a Milton Keynes-based Council for Voluntary Youth Services and we have affiliated on behalf of our parishes and groups there. Check out their website . 
Small grants of up to £300 are available from MKCVYS for help with new initiatives, training for volunteers or start-up costs for new groups. I can apply for these on your behalf. They also have access to a minibus for hire at very reasonable rates.  

A similar facility is available in Slough from Berkshire Community Foundation's Quick-Response Grants of up to £300.  They are specifically geared to meeting the needs of small voluntary organisations or community groups with little or no income, and resources not large enough to meet the current demand.  Grants are made on a rolling basis with a decision withing one month of written application. Applications are limited to one per organisation per year. Telephone: 0118 930 3021 or e-mail

Downloads
Public funding Guide Bucks CC May 2008