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

NO DEADLINES KNOWN

The Harpur Trust, now known as The Bedford Charity, is one of the bigger single-town charities, distributing around £1/2m each year to organisations operating in the borough of Bedford, and it now has an online application process as part of its extremely informative website at www.bedfordcharity.org.uk. Their priorities are education, relief of sickness or need, and recreational facilities with a social-welfare purpose. However, "No grants can be made for any project that relates primarily to the promotion of any religion." But so long as your parish project is for the good of people's bodies or minds, not just their souls, it's worth a go ! Two of the Catholic schools in Bedford benefitted from grants in 2004-05.

Alderman Newton's Educational Foundation - The Foundation is administered by Bedford Borough Council and offers one-off grants to young people (aged 13-25) who live in Bedford (certain areas to the north of the town are excluded, although it is hoped to increase the area to  include Kempston and the rural part of the Borough of Bedford). Grants are awarded for educational purposes, such as the cost of books needed in connection with courses.
For further details, please contact David Baker on 01234 227203. 

Bedfordshire Crimebeat  - A funding Initiative for young people. Anyone under 25 can apply. Small grants are available to support groups involving young people in helping to solve some of the problems that face communities - like solvent abuse, vandalism, shoplifting and bullying. Check out the national website. Contact: Jane Regan, Youth & Community Safety Officer, Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands, Shefford, SG17 5TQ. Tel: 01462 611112.  Email: jane.regan@midbeds.gov.uk. And in similar vein...

Bedfordshire Police Partnership Trust - The Trust supports community initiatives in Bedfordshire that work in the following fields: crime prevention, community safety, drugs misuse and prevention, schools liaison or road safety. Grants of up to £1,000 are currently available. Tel: (01234) 842612, E-mail: brian.prickett@bedspolicepartnership.org or see the website.

Bedford Borough Council offer modest Community Chest (up to £500) and Community Support (up to £1000) grants on a rolling basis throughout the year, subject to budget. Check their website.

There is a number of Community Liaison Forums which can make small grants of up to £500 available to local groups in the villages and smaller towns in Bedfordshire. Check out their section of the Mid Beds District Council website for contact details.

Houghton Regis Town Council  - Grants are available for development costs or for setting up a new group, new activities or new projects and may be available for general running costs at the discretion of the Council. There is no set limit; however Grants are normally between £50 and £500. For more information or an application form, contact: Town Clerk, Houghton Regis Town Council, Council Offices, Peel Street, Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, LU5 5EY. Telephone: 01582 708542 or email: info@houghtonregis.org.uk

A commendably active local infrastructure body in the county is the Community and Voluntary Service, Mid and North Beds. We would encourage all our youth and voluntary groups in those areas to join up for networking, local knowledge and many benefits (see below). Ring 01234 354366.
One of the many things they offer is free loan of display boards. If your parish or school is mounting an exhibition of any kind and could do with more of these, enquire through me.

They have prepared, as part of a Fundraising Toolkit, a truly excellent Local Funders Guide, including all the above bodies and many more, which is freely downloadable from here - scroll down the page until you see "Local Funders". It includes contact-details for local Lions and Rotary groups who may be able to help with small amounts for groups or individuals.

To give credit where it's due, Voluntary and Community Action South Beds are equally active, especially in providing training opportunities. So do check out the Voluntaryworks "family of websites" which gets you to all the different CVS's and similar agencies in Luton & Bedfordshire, with a vast range of information. Another local-info website is Bedfordinfozone.