Arts funding and governance

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Funding is available for arts projects through our arts project grant scheme run by the arts development service. If your project is taking place in a particular community area then you should consider a grant from the area board Please note you cannot receive funding from both grant schemes for the same project.

To enhance funding available from these schemes these organisations below can provide a range of services to voluntary organisations and community groups, including advice, information and training that can assist with issues such as starting up a group or project, organisational development, recruiting volunteers and funding.

Charities Information Bureau South & West (CIB)

CIB helps voluntary and community groups across Wiltshire to raise money from local and national sources. Their funding advisors provide free advice on planning your fundraising, applying for grants, making better applications and company funding. They also give advice on charity registration and constitutions and the roles and responsibilities of trustees.

They can come and talk to you on a one-to-one basis about your funding requirements, or you can call, email or visit their offices in Devizes. Dedicated funding surgeries are held across Wiltshire in Chippenham, Trowbridge, Pewsey and Salisbury, where you can book an hour’s appointment to speak with a funding advisor.

CIB also has a free online database of charitable funds for groups and individuals in Wiltshire and the South West. Please visit www.cibsouthandwest.org.uk to register and search for funds or get in touch with one of the professional team for friendly and comprehensive funding advice.

For further information, contact the Funding Advice Team on 01380 729279 or enquiries@cibwilts.org.uk

Community First

Community First manages a number of community project grant schemes aimed at providing funding support for new project pump priming or for existing project development.

SOLVE - The Community Fund

This is a wide ranging community projects support fund . Grants, for no more than £500 are available for projects in Wiltshire.

Landfill Communities Fund

The Landfill Communities Fund is a grant giving scheme for local community groups, Parish and Town Councils operated mainly in Wiltshire and Swindon. Grants available from £5,000 to £50,000.

Business Grants and Loans Fund (BGLF)

The BGLF is a new fund for businesses that are independently owned and operated or are enterprises for the benefit of the community.

Community Transport Small Grants Fund

The Community Transport Small Grants Fund is for new or improved community transport initiatives and other measures which improve access to services and facilities in Wiltshire and Swindon. Grants are available up to £1000.

Community Foundation for Wiltshire & Swindon

The Community Foundation for Wiltshire and Swindon supports voluntary and community groups and social enterprises in Wiltshire, especially those tackling poverty and social exclusion. Main Grants are £500-£3,000 per year for up to three years.

The Foundation also has grant programmes to support the educational costs of individual children and young people, and a scholarship fund to support young people from West Wiltshire who are studying for, or planning to study for, a degree or doctorate.

For further information, contact Heidi Yorke, Programme Director on 01380 729284 or heidi.yorke@wscf.org.uk

GROW The Support Service for Voluntary and Community Groups in Wiltshire

GROW Enhancing Community Support (GROW) is a charitable service commissioned by Wiltshire Council. GROW offers support and information to voluntary organisations and community groups across Wiltshire. The services are designed to help voluntary organisations deliver services more effectively and support their long-term development and sustainability. Most of the services are FREE to local groups.

GROW can provide a range of support:

• Community Development Team: support and information on a range of development issues;
• Training & Events: including ‘hot topics’ & community lunches covering subjects ranging from First Aid, Governance & Finance and Collaboration;
• Volunteer Centre Wiltshire; promoting volunteering opportunities, advertising and recruiting new volunteers for your group and good practice information;
• Wiltshire Voluntary Sector Forum Network: a formal Network to allow Voluntary Sector groups to come together to discuss and influence issues that affect all groups across Wiltshire;
• Equal Chances Better Lives: the single equalities service for Wiltshire providing information and support for the public, private and voluntary sectors;
• Resources, Website & Weekly e-bulletins: the website puts you in control, advertise your events, news, vacancies and more, you can network online with other local organisations or download a range of useful information, don’t forget the GROW famous weekly e-bulletin of news and updates relevant to your group, low cost printing service, equipment and reference books hire and practical information when you need it;
• Funding Advice, Charity Registration & Governance: through their partnership with Charities Information Bureau South & West GROW can help you find sources of funding and support you through the charity registration process; and
• Wiltshire Directory of Voluntary Organisations: a Directory of all the Voluntary Organisations and Community Groups in Wiltshire, FREE to be included and view online.

For further information call 0845 034 5250 (charged at local rate) or email enquiries@growwiltshire.org.uk

Town and Parish Councils

Your town or parish council will be interested to hear about your projects and may be able to contribute towards your scheme. If you are looking for financial help, the earlier you speak to your town or parish council the better.

Voluntary Arts Network (VAN)

VAN works with policy makers, funders and politicians to improve the environment for everyone participating in the arts, and provide information and training to those who participate in the voluntary arts sector. This includes over 300 national and regional umbrella bodies, and through them, their member groups of local voluntary arts practitioners.

VAN have a huge section on running your group, designed to answer the most common questions you will have when setting up and running a voluntary arts group. This is general good practice information which is useful wherever you are based in the UK and Ireland. Visit the site to find out more.

VAN also have a section on advice when applying for funding full of useful briefing notes and more useful websites.

Wiltshire Council Funding and Performance Team

The Wiltshire Council Funding and Performance team comprises of specialist posts that support funding and fundraising. The team provide expert advice on funding to voluntary (not for profit) organisations and charities, particularly for complex projects or those that require substantial funding throughout Wiltshire. They also support statutory organisations (e.g. council, parish councils and schools) and provide advice to Wiltshire-based groups. To support these actions, the team provides information on where funding is available; for example, government, local government, foundations, trusts and charities.

In addition, the funding and performance team produce a well-respected Regional Funding Bulletin (bi-monthly) which has the support of Funding SW and other funding bodies and is available free to any voluntary or statutory group across Wiltshire and Swindon. A separate schools funding bulletin (monthly) is produced specifically for school community groups across Wiltshire; this also distributes current and relevant funding information but is available only to school heads and external school co-ordinators. Please also note that the team works closely with the Charities Information Bureau (CIB) and does not duplicate any work done by the CIB.

Contact either of the External Funding Officers:

• Damian Wood - 01225 713217 or damian.wood@wiltshire.gov.uk
• Laura Eames - 01225 756197 or laura.eames@wiltshire.gov.uk

Related links:

Here are some quick links to national funding bodies across the art forms, for more ideas visit the related links page.

• Access to Government grants for the voluntary and community sector
• Arts Council – for arts organisations and individuals
• Awards for All - a lottery funding programme
• Big Lottery Fund - a lottery funded programme
• Euclid (for European Funding)
• Lottery funding - links to funding opportunities
• UK Film Council
• National Foundation for Youth Music - a lottery funded programme

Last updated: 10 February 2012