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 !

8th September 2010 - Bucks Community Foundation Small Grants Scheme. Grants of up to £1000 are available for projects which aim:
 - to assist the disadvantaged
 - to support community care for the elderly and disabled
 - to tackle isolation
 - to invest in young people to encourage education, training and self-development
The overall priority is to support organisations and groups whose work is aiming to tackle poverty and social exclusion
The Foundation also administers the Bucks Masonic Grassroots fund which can provide grants of £1000-£3,000 for voluntary or community groups operating within Buckinghamshire who have “Specific, new and finite projects or facilities that relieve poverty or distress”.
.. And also the Windhill Trust which can provide grants of £500-£3,000 for  (1)  [ not directly relevant to a youth site ] and/or (2) projects that improve the lives of people living in Princes Risborough or Monks Risborough - priority will be given to projects focusing on education and leisure activities
In all cases you start with an "Expression of Interest" form downloadable from the Foundation website. As is usual, the Foundation's own funds cannot make grants to schools, political bodies or "activities where the primary purpose is to promote religious beliefs". But this leaves a lot of room for creativity...

8th September 2010. Slough Social Fund (administered by Bucks Community Foundation) Grants available up to £5,000 – in Sept 2010 & April 2011
Who can apply? - Voluntary or community groups whose priorities are to improve the conditions of life and the promotion of social welfare for residents living within the South Bucks District Council area
What kind of projects will be considered?
• Projects that encourage participation in sport and leisure activities
• Promotion of healthy lifestyles
• Provision of facilities for sport or other leisure-time activities
• The improvement, maintenance or provision of public amenities
• Projects that promote unity between different religions and cultures
To apply, you start with an "Expression of Interest" form downloadable from the Foundation website. Or telephone 01296 330134.

10th September 2010 - Milton Keynes Community Foundation
We award grants to support a wide variety of projects, services and activities. Our first priority is always to fund applicants whose aim is to improve the quality of life for people living in Milton Keynes.
We make awards to a broad range of activities including: public health, the diverse needs of children and young people, the elderly, people with special needs, arts and culture and projects providing services in the community.
Are you eligible to apply?
We accept applications from Not-For-Profit groups and organisations operating for the benefit of people in the Unitary Borough of Milton Keynes including Local community groups, Voluntary sector organisations, Faith groups and Parish councils.
How much do you need ?
Up to £1,500
Small MKCC Grants up to £1500 awarded monthly, deadline the last Friday of each month.
Up to £5,000 ( Community Grants)
Community Grants up to £5000 are awarded five times a year, next application deadline is 10th September .
Where can we get an application form?
By contacting:  The Grants Team, Milton Keynes Community Foundation, Acorn House, 381 Midsummer Boulevard, Central Milton Keynes MK9 3HP.
Email: information@mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk
By telephoning us on (01908) 690276.
By downloading from the MK Community Foundation website
We can either post you an application form or email you an electronic version.

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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 !

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. (This and the item below need checking as Youth Focus has merged, in summer 2010,  with Action4Youth and may not have the same funds at its disposal)

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. They will also offer "Start-Up" grants of up to £200 for new youth groups, to help with e.g. insurance or initial rents. All application forms on their website.