How do I get started with raising funds?

If you are a local voluntary or community group looking for funding, contact Worthing Council for Voluntary Service (WCVS) for further information and support.

We have also included some information on the following pages to help you start your search. We understand that obtaining funding can be a lengthy and confusing process so we really hope the following information points you in the right direction.

If you are a business then you can contact our Business Liaison Officers for advice and information.  These following pages will also help you in your quest for funding, including the links to the West Sussex County Council’s ‘West Sussex 4 Business’ database – a free service where you can search for sources of funding for any venture or project.  

These pages have been created to complement the information that is already available on the comprehensive Voluntary and Community Sector pages and also information provided by the Worthing Council for Voluntary Service, whose website will soon be up and running.  These pages also draw on the expertise of the External Funding teams at West Sussex and East Sussex County Council who have kindly given their permission to publish links through to their websites and relevant documents.

The information contained on these web pages is not exhaustive, and it is advisable to check other sources of information. 

Where can I search for available funds?

Funding News (WSCC)

To help you keep up to date with information on funding sources, West Sussex County Council produce a really useful monthly newsletter - 'Funding News' containing:

• Recent funding successes and awards in West Sussex;
• Details of new, existing and updated fund/grant schemes (lottery, government, European and foundations/trusts) to which a variety of organisations can apply (the public sector, voluntary + community groups, charities, and businesses); and
• Information on forthcoming funding events.

http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/community-and-living/grants---funding/

West Sussex 4 Funding

West Sussex County Council offers a free service to businesses, voluntary organisation, charities and community groups, and social enterprises to search for sources of funding for any venture or project.

West Sussex 4 Funding contains details of over 4,300 funding schemes and information on over 4,500 trust funds. This information is continuously researched and updated.

http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/community-and-living/grants---funding/

East Sussex

The summaries of the newest and most relevant funding initiatives and programmes, and other general funding information, can be found via East Sussex County Council's Bidding Bulletin and Diary. With thanks to East Sussex County Council for their kind permission to publish the link.

East Sussex County Council regular updates on sources of funding - Bidding Bulletin and Diary.

http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/community/funding/updates/default.htm

Where can I apply to for funds?

Lottery

Lottery Funding is a joint website run by all Lottery funders in the UK. This site allows you to search information on current funding programmes across the UK, including Awards for All, Heritage Lottery and Sports England.

• http://www.lotteryfunding.org.uk/

Government

• www.governmentfunding.org.uk/ - for voluntary groups seeking advice, contacts and funding from government
• www.dft.gov.uk/ - Department for Transport - Local Transport, Access for Disabled
• www.defra.gov.uk/ - Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs: Rural affairs, animal welfare, sustainable development
• www.communities.gov.uk/ - Communities and Local Government: Neighbourhood Renewal, Social Exclusion, Sustainable Communities, Housing
• www.dfes.gov.uk/ - Department for Education & Skills: education and skills for children, parents, employers & providers
• www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ - Home Office: has a community and neighbourhood remit
• www.go-se.gov.uk/ - Government Office for the South East: regional agency for central government; also use for European funds
• www.dti.gov.uk/ - Department of Trade & Industry: small business support services; industry and commerce
• www.seeda.co.uk/ - South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) - economic development, training and skills. Also use for European Social Fund links.

European

There are many sites: European Social Fund, Interreg III, Euclid.

• europa.eu/ - this is a central source of European information.
• WelcomEurope - European funding programmes:
  A database of over 400 EU grants and loans
  www.welcomeurope.com
  33+1 42 54 60 64

Where can I go for help with securing sponsorship?

Sponsorship

Sportsmatch

Sportsmatch is a government funded scheme set up to help fund grass roots and community sports in England matching new sponsorship money with Sportsmatch funding, on a pound for pound basis.

Applications to Sportsmatch for funding can be made from any not-for-profit organisation capable of delivering community sport. It is directed at projects which aim to increase participation in sport at grass roots level, and/or improve basic skills.

The National Sport Foundation

Can match private investment to sports organisations of over £50,000

• www.nationalsportsfoundation.org
• 0845 603 6069

Arts & Business

Their purpose is to enable business and its people to be more successful by engaging with the arts and to increase resources for the arts from business and its people

• http://www.aandb.org.uk/render.aspx?siteID=1&navIDs=1,2

Where can I search for funds from trusts and foundations?

Trusts and Foundations

Charity Commission

You can search for trusts and foundations here using keywords.

http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/

Directory of Social Change - guides to trusts and foundations

Worthing Library and the WCVS have copies of these publications, which can be used for reference. Regarded as the fundraiser’s bible, these essential reference works provide the only source of independent critical analysis of what trusts do in practice. Each volume contains recent grant information, contact details, deadlines, exclusions and applications advice for each trust.

The Directory of Social Change, set up in 1975, aims to be an internationally recognised independent source of information and support to voluntary and community sectors worldwide. They enable the community and voluntary sectors to achieve their aims through being an independent voice, providing training and information.

http://www.dsc.org.uk/Publications/Fundraisingtechniques/@2687

I’m an individual looking for funding – where can I start my search?

Individuals

Arts Council

Arts Council England works to get more art to more people in more places. They develop and promote the arts across England, acting as an independent body at arm’s length from government.

• http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/

SportsAid

Provides direct financial support to sports men and women between 12 and 18 years old

• www.sportsaid.org.uk
• 020 7273 1975

UK Sport

Supports talented men and women in sports where we compete as the United Kingdom

• www.uksport.gov.uk
• 020 7211 5100

Trusts and Foundations

There are some trusts and foundations that award grants to individuals.

Start your search at the Charity Commission website

 http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/

Here are a few to get you started:

Winston Churchill Memorial Fund

The Fellowships are to enable men and women from all walks of life to acquire knowledge and experience abroad.

http://www.wcmt.org.uk/

Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust

The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) makes awards ranging from £2,000 to £15,000 to craftsmen and women of all ages to help them further their careers.

http://www.qest.org.uk/index.html 

The Journey of a Lifetime

This award is an annual travel bursary for an individual to undertake a journey in the field of geography that will inspire an interest in people and places. The winner will receive training in radio broadcasting from the BBC and will record their experiences for a BBC Radio 4 documentary. A grant of £4,000 will be awarded for an original and inspiring journey anywhere in the world.

http://www.rgs.org

Ron Pickering Memorial Fund

Established in 1991, this Fund is dedicated to assisting aspiring young athletes who have shown by their attitude and dedication that they possess the qualities which will ensure the growth and protection of sport.

The charity will support talented young athletes in Great Britain that are still in education and need financial help towards training or provision of equipment. No minimum and maximum levels of support are defined by the Fund. Each case will be assessed and awarded funding on its own unique set of circumstances. To be eligible for financial support, young people must be aged 15-23 and either be an All-England Schools finalist or be at county representative level and above.

http://www.rpmf.org.uk

Where can I find information to help me fill out funding applications/write a business plan/manage my project?

Help Sheets

WSCC have produced a series of help sheets to assist anyone involved in a funding bid, running a project, building a partnership or all three!

The following sheets can be accessed via the link below:

http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/content/community-and-living/funding/help-sheets.en

• Advice on building partnerships
• Applying to the right funds
• Improving bid writing
• Tips for running your project
• Writing a simple business plan
• Useful contacts

The Big Lottery Fund has also produced a series of information sheets to help when applying for lottery funding. To see these sheets, click on the related link below.

http://www.lotteryfunding.org.uk/uk/information-uk/infosheet.htm

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