Email Bulletin No.61

Supporting and promoting community

action to revitalise our towns

News Somerset Towns Forum plans and next event - ‘Shop Local’ theme, Watchet in late May/early June The next STF Networking Event will be held in Watchet in late May or early June, with a town tour, presentations and discussion on Shop Local initiatives and of course time for networking.

The date is yet to be confirmed but we’ll inform you as soon as possible.

The Coordination Group that now runs STF has agreed who the first three hosts will be - Watchet, Frome and Aster Communities.

If you would like to present your town’s own initiative at the Watchet event please contact John Richards, Chair, Watchet Association of Commerce, Environment and Trade, tel 01984 634 565 mobile 07836 239 932 email stf@watchet.net

Latest from Radstock Action Group

For info on the planning application for a large development on the railway land, plus

changes to roads - see their website here http://www.radstockactiongroup.org.uk/

News from Minehead

Graham Sizer, Chair, Minehead Chamber of Commerce, shares the latest developments in

the town;

We had a pretty packed venue tonight (9th Jan) at a town get together to discuss the

concept of shared space conducted by Ben Hamilton-Baillie off the back of an agenda item

you organised in the summer. Obviously charged with a bit of apprehension the 100

attendees gave him a rousing clap at the end of the Q&A session. We would recommend

any settlement to at least consider it. You could feel the cogs turning in residents brains, not

all negative by a long way.

The Old Hospital? A meeting now being firmed up for February where Minehead has

muscled in to be included in a County wide series of Asset Opportunity Workshops, talking

about co-location of services. We would have been left out had we not flagged our project

up. Minehead is learning it is no good just waving flags semaphore fashion from the nearest

beacon. If the settlement is small or feels isolated or peripheral, the louder it has to shout.

The two year old Community established Visitor Information Centre, created after local

Council cuts, is moving house. Our Development Trust that can trigger external funding not

available to Councils is developing its offer far better than the old Council operated model.

We weave and dive to capture opportunities, and have just struck lucky with the offer of a

free of rent property opposite the Heritage Railway. It is big enough to not only house the

Information Centre but establish a long needed museum for Minehead, and will open ready

for Easter. Come and see what we are doing.

We have just introduced our town wide Shop Local Loyalty Card Scheme. 90% of High

Street shops signed up and upwards of £100 of prize vouchers up for grabs each month.

Brilliant Lights Switch-On evening in late November - Businesses well motivated to get

involved this year more than in the past few. Perhaps they are nervously optimistic, but it is

difficult to get them to admit it!

That's the news from my standpoint. PS Oh, how about bringing the kids to Minehead at

half term? The Ice Rink will be up and running in the Town Square again. And this year

many shop and eatery offers will be available to outside visitors. Graham

And more from Stephen Hooper, Minehead Vision Manager;

As a Portas Town Team we were successful in our bid to the Centre for Local Economic Strategy for a resilience assessment and were one of the nine towns in the UK chosen for this consultancy which is to take place in February. We held an open public meeting with 'Shared Space' consultant Ben Hamilton Baillie to explore the potential of establishing such zones in Minehead and shall continue looking how we can use such mechanisms to enhance the vitality of the town centre. We have commissioned web developers to design a 'Thermal Calendar' which is in essence an almanac of all the events in Minehead overlaid on each other to give a comprehensive view of the volume and demographic of visitor activity in the town. The Calendar will serve to both encourage visitors to stay longer in Minehead as well as provide market intelligence for traders, event programmers and accommodation providers. The alpha version has been shared with a focus group and the finished Calendar will be launched in February. There is much more but it is too early to publicise. Stephen

3 job vacancies at Frome Town Council (deadline 9am Monday 27th – apologies!)

Read more here...

Jenson lights up Frome at Christmas

From Laura Poulton, Administration Officer, Frome Town Council

The Frome Christmas Extravaganza was held on 30th November. We were lucky enough to

have Jenson Button turn on the Christmas lights and were also treated to the rare sight of an

F1 car racing through the streets of Frome. See below...

Looks like an amazing event! I wish I’d known about it - Well done to all concerned.

Martock Job Club

The Martock Job Club opened its doors to job seekers in September 2012. Funded by grants

as well as the precept, it gives advice and support to anyone seeking employment or

voluntary work or looking to start their own business. Computers are available for members

to use to look and apply for jobs and details of local vacancies are put up on notice boards.

117 job seekers visited the Job Club during 2013 with at least 62 being successful in finding

employment including 27 finding work within Martock.

The Job Club Coordinator is a recruitment professional and works 25 hours per week

including the two 3 hour sessions that the Job Club is open. Support for members includes

help with CV writing and applications, basic computing, referrals to other support agencies

and pro-active searching for job and training opportunities. The Coordinator also visits local

businesses to discuss vacancies and to encourage apprenticeships. Volunteers with diverse

work experiences assist in the running the Job Club sessions.

It was decided at an early stage that a Job Club independent of the Job Centre and training

providers would allow more individual support and objective advice to be given to local job

seekers. Many local businesses now provide details of vacancies and apprenticeship

opportunities to the Job Club before they advertise elsewhere.

Martock Parish Council are planning to fund the majority of the costs of the Job Club for

2014/2015 as it has had a proven track record in helping reduce unemployment in the

parish.

Our Place - now open

Dear Matt

We’re excited to let you know that Locality and partners are now accepting

applications for the Our Place programme.

From today, 20 January, the eligibility checker and guidance notes are on the My

Community Rights website.

This £4.3m programme of support and grants will help areas working to transform local

public services.

Locality, the Local Government Association and delivery associates are supporting at least

100 areas as they work towards making services in their neighbourhoods such as adult

social care, health or employment better for all.

Apply early - we’re expecting a large number of applications so we recommend that you

submit your application in good time.

Am I eligible? If you’re an incorporated body, parish or town council, public service

provider or local authority in England you will be able to apply. Please note that we are

not able to provide grants for capital projects or running costs which relate to a

specific building or an individual organisation’s service / activity.

There are plenty of resources to help you with your application such as the Starter Pack,

insights from the pilot organisations and top ten tips for success.

See our FAQs for the questions we’ve been responding to over recent weeks.

You can contact us through the advice service if you have further questions.

And ask DCLG and Locality questions at the tweetchat on 21 January 12pm-1pm using

#askourplace

When you’re ready to apply, please contact us through the Apply page of

mycommunityrights.org.uk/our-place

We look forward to helping you make a difference in your area!

Best regards,

The Our Place team

Locality

Chard Pop-up Shop opened in August

Read more here - http://popupbritain.com/popup-chard-announces-first-start-ups-to-take-

part-in-the-shop#.UqrKh9JdWSo

SCC Travel Needs Survey - closing date is 9.2.14.

Somerset County Council are seeking information from the community on travel needs in the

county. The information will be used to design our future transport service, providing public

transport where it is needed in the county and linking services. Please encourage your

communities to respond to this survey, whether they presently use public transport or not.

The link takes you directly to the survey. If you require a hard copy, please contact Kathryn

Fraser, E: kjfraser@somerset.gov.uk or T: 01823 357218.

Somerset Heritage Trust Vacancies Somerset and Devon County Councils are seeking a chair and up to seven trustees to lead an

important new charity. To be called the South West Heritage Trust, the new organisation will

help to protect and celebrate the rich heritage of Somerset and Devon. This independent Trust

will deliver the heritage services currently provided by the two councils, with guaranteed

funding of £10m over five years.

Successful applicants will use their experience and passion for the heritage of Somerset and

Devon to lead and shape the trust. It will be a rewarding and challenging opportunity. The

Trust’s role will include managing the Museum of Somerset in Taunton and the Somerset

Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury (which has recently secured funding of £1.6m for

redevelopment), curatorial care of more than three million museum objects ranging from

Bronze Age gold to modern art, caring for and making available the written evidence of

Somerset and Devon history from the 8th century to the present day, and protecting

Somerset’s historic environment.

To learn more:

• Download a briefing pack from website.

• Attend the open evening - see attached - for potential candidates on Monday 27 January at

the Museum of Somerset. If you wish to attend please confirm your attendance by 24

January.

To ask questions, confirm that you wish to attend the open evening, or register your interest

please contact Mickey Green at mcgreen@somerset.gov.uk tel. 01823 356897.

Applications are invited between:

• 13 January and 3 February if you wish to be considered for the role of chair of the trust

board;

• 13 January and 28 February if you wish to be considered only for the role of trustee.

Small charities can now register as CIOs From Bates Wells Braithwaite weekly review: there has been confirmation from the Charity Commission that Charitable Incorporated Organisations can now be registered with incomes under five thousand pounds. Pending the website/online form being updated, "you will need to put on the form that your income is over £5,000 in order to progress . . You should then put a note at the end in the special circumstances box at the end of the form explaining that the income is under £5,000."

Smaller charities previously unable to register can now, via registration as a CIO, obtain a charity number. FAQs on CIOs.

My Cheddar community group and Fairlands Middle School pupils work together to

brighten up the village centre.

Local community group My Cheddar have been working with Fairlands Middle School's Year

5 pupils as part of the school's activities for this year's Communities Week. Every year the

whole school holds extra-curricular activities to strengthen links with the community and

expand the pupil's horizons in a fun way.

My Cheddar is working on a number of projects around the village, one of which involves

improvements to the village centre, and the year 5 pupils have made a wonderful

contribution to this work.

My Cheddar's Bill Storer and Cheddar artist Katrina Atkinson have worked with the pupils to

brighten up the shopfront of the empty former butcher's shop opposite The Bath Arms. It

now looks like a traditional sweetshop selling all sorts of Cheddar related goodies.

Unfortunately this shop has been empty for a while and the hope is that will be taken on

soon. In the meantime the project will undoubtedly enhance the area and also raise

awareness of this and other empty premises around the village therefore helping to attract

new proprietors to Cheddar. Interest in this property should be directed to the selling agents’

GTH on (01278) 782326 or (01935) 423474

Greg Passingham from Fairlands Middle School commented ‘it has been fantastic having all

of the 141 Year 5 pupils involved in such a wonderful community project’.

My Cheddar community group is coordinating the refurbishment of Hannah More

Cottage Garden, willing volunteers needed.

My Cheddar are working with W C Maunders, Cheddar Tool Hire and Cheddar Parish

Council to enhance the garden at Hannah More Cottage. This building is very important to

Cheddar, both historically and because it is in the centre of the village. The council have

repaired the surrounding walls however the garden itself has been neglected for a long time.

A building of this importance warrants an easily maintainable garden for all to enjoy, a space

that can be used for garden fêtes and parties, very fitting uses considering the founder,

Hannah More and what she stood for. In this regard it just as fitting that the local community

should work together to bring this about.

During the summer and autumn the area to the rear of the cottage has been levelled and

seeded, the steps have been rebuilt and the small fence repainted. However there is a lot

still to do.

Therefore My Cheddar are asking for volunteers to help with this project- different skills will

be required as the works progress, even someone to make the tea would be valued! So,

whether it is 1/2 hour, or 1/2 day any help will be much appreciated.

Anyone with experience of using a mini digger is asked to get in touch, likewise any First

Aiders that can make themselves available. Also wheel barrows, spades, rakes, gloves etc

will be required so volunteers are asked to come prepared!

Anyone who is able to offer any help is asked email their availability and work preference to

lesley.miller@mycheddar.co.uk.

Together we can make a difference!

Neighbourhood Plans resource Have a look at all the 'made' plans, with their examiners reports, consultation statements and basic conditions statements.

Local Employment event in Minehead A “Journey to Employment Event” will be taking place in February in Minehead. The event will provide an excellent opportunity for employers to speak to individuals face to face about current and future opportunities within their organisation and we encourage all local employers to get involved. The aim is to help individuals develop a better understanding of what local employers are looking for when recruiting. This will be a very interactive event with attendees encouraged to take part in short work related tasters.

The event is taking place from 9:15am to 3:30pm on Wednesday 12th February 2014 at the Beach Hotel in Minehead. If you would like to participate or wish to find out more, please contact Lucy Divers on LUCY.DIVERS@DWP.GSI.GOV.UK or call 01823 349458

The event is being organised by Jobcentre Plus in partnership with a number of organisations including West Somerset Council , West Somerset College, EDF Energy and The Beach Hotel

Two New Guides Published – https://www.gov.uk/government/news/have-your-cake-and-

eat-it-minister-sets-record-straight-on-street-parties

‘Can Do’ – guide for organisers of voluntary events https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/can-do-guide-for-organisers-of-voluntary-events Voluntary and community events are an important aspect of everyday life that help to encourage and enable people to participate, and play a more active part, in society.

This guide provides information on how to organise such events.

Available at - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/can-do-guide-for-organisers-of-voluntary-events/the-can-do-guide-to-organising-and-running-voluntary-and-community-events the guide has seven parts with links to more specialised guidance in part 7:

Your guide to organising a Street Party - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/your-guide-to-organising-a-street-party This step-by-step guide provides practical advice for anyone looking to hold a street party,

whether it is to celebrate a national or local event, to take part in the Big Lunch in early June

each year, or just to get together with neighbours. It addresses some of the popular myths

surrounding street parties and sets the record straight on what is actually needed (including

on road closures, charges, playing music and insurance) as well as providing links to

organisations who offer advice and support to people planning their own street parties. The

guidance includes a simple form you can use to let your local council know about your plans

and apply for a road closure, or you can look for guidance on your council’s own website.

Right to Contest: new plan to speed up sale of public land and property From 8 January communities and businesses will be able to action their Right to Contest and submit applications challenging the use of sites. The public will be able to contest the use of central government land and property and

apply for its release. Currently, members of the public only have the right to challenge local

authorities where land or property is empty or under-used. Under the Right to Contest

scheme, announced at the Spending Round 2013 and developed by the Cabinet Office, this

power is widened to central government land and property, both vacant and occupied.

More information available at - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/right-to-contest-new-plan-to-speed-up-sale-of-public-land-and-property . Full guidance available at - https://www.gov.uk/right-to-contest On Tuesday 7th January, the Government launched ‘Delivering Differently’, a joint

programme between the Cabinet Office, the Department for Communities and Local

Government, the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Society of Local Authority

Chief Executives (SOLACE) to help local Authorities transform the way they deliver services

through mutuals and by working with VCSE organisations.

At the heart of the programme is the Delivering Differently Challenge, which will provide 10

authorities with up to £100,000 of support to spearhead transformative projects. This

includes bespoke professional support to enable them to undertake a strategic review of all

available options, guidance from an expert panel and opportunities to network and share

their experiences with other Challenge authorities.

Applications must be submitted by Local Authorities, which may wish to explore this

proposal with VCSE partners. Expression of interest forms must be completed by 10

February 2014. Shortlisted authorities will be invited to interview later in the month, with

successful applicants conducting reviews of their services from March.

Further information and the expression of interest form can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/central-and-local-government-team-up-to-

improve-local-service-delivery

NEW BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICE FOR DEVON AND SOMERSET – delivered by

Peninsula Enterprise

6,000 firms in rural Devon and Somerset are set to benefit from the introduction of a new

business support service by the Heart of the South West (HotSW) Local Enterprise

Partnership (LEP).

The Support Service provides a variety of options to assist firms to develop and grow.

Face to face business advice is included from a team of expert business advisers; an

interactive workshop programme; an innovation programme; specialist support for women’s

led enterprises; and a voucher based support programme.

The objective is to establish a strong programme of assistance throughout the HotSW area,

which will facilitate business innovation, helping the local economy and increasing

employment.

Just under £1 million is being invested into the business support programme across the two

counties.

The service is part of the wider Rural Growth Network for Devon and Somerset, which is

being led by the HotSW LEP in partnership with Devon and Somerset County Councils.

For further information see the Heart of the South West website.

Small Ilminster charity spreads big messages in the developing world Press Release: Purple Field Productions (PFP) is celebrating its first ten years this year

making films with and for some of the poorest countries on earth. Working together with

people in Africa and Asia, the charity has made twelve life-changing films, trained three

filmmaking groups, introduced a backpack, pedal-powered cinema (see our 4 minute film on

YouTube: http://youtu.be/DNW8NIVMjnI), and set up a digital magazine. PFP's dramas

and documentaries have reached hundreds of thousands of people, helping to save lives

from HIV, enabling local farmers to combat climate change and grow more food and

releasing disabled people from stigma and isolation.

You can help by becoming a SCREEN FRIEND. All you have to do is email

admin@purplefieldproductions.org and we will send you information on all of our films.

Choose one to show it to an audience, however small - at home, in the village/town hall,

school, club - and the film is yours to keep. We send it to you at no cost in return for what

you can collect as a donation. This will keep the charity alive and enable it to make

wonderful films for another 10 years and beyond.

Ken Loach, the famous UK film director says this of Purple Field Productions: “This is an

extraordinary venture. I’m sure it is valued greatly by those with who you make the films.

Good luck with your continuing work”.

Read more at www.purplefieldproductions.org

Interesting urban wildlife project in Taunton - Routes to the River Tone Somerset Wildlife Trust have recently secured funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund for an ambitious people and wildlife partnership project within Taunton entitled Routes to the River Tone. It will enable us to begin a Living Landscape approach within Somerset’s county town focussed on the River Tone, five tributary streams and 16 green spaces linked to those waterways that connect Taunton to its wider landscape. Read more here - http://www.somersetwildlife.org/taunton_living_landscape.html

There are two jobs being advertised at the moment – but the closing date is this Sunday (?!) – see here http://www.somersetwildlife.org/vacancies.html Gloucestershire miners back regeneration plans for former coal mine Plans for Cinderford's Northern Quarter, including the proposed Gloucestershire College Forest of Dean campus, a new £8.9m spine road and other developments, have resident backing, including from members of the former coal mining community. Read more here - https://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/news/gloucestershire-regeneration-proposals-supported-cinderford-miners

Training

We publicise relevant training opportunities for the town regeneration sector, in Somerset or nearby.

Cascade Training courses

Effective Communication Skills Wednesday 12th February (Bristol)

• Why communication can be so difficult • The importance of active listening & questioning • What is your preferred style of communication? • How personality type affects communication style • How non-verbal signals can affect the message • Resistance & other barriers to good communication • Taking responsibility for your intentions & reactions • Influencing techniques & key communication scenarios • Giving and receiving feedback • Action planning for ongoing skills development This very participative workshop focuses on what helps and hinders good verbal communication and why good communication skills are so important in the workplace.

Using a mixture of different media and exercises, you will gain the tools to improve the clarity of your own communications and better understand where others are ‘coming from’. You will learn and practice how to get your message across effectively and how to overcome common problems and pitfalls. Trainer: Mark Hughes For more details and to book... Legacy & In Memoriam Fundraising Tuesday 25th February (Exeter)

• Understanding legacy & in memoriam fundraising • Exploring the motivations of your target audience • Getting legacies onto the fundraising agenda • Identifying potential donors/supporters • Engaging & building the right relationships • Promoting your legacy and in memoriam campaign • Developing a very useable legacy funding plan

This very practical workshop will introduce you to the key fundraising principles related to legacy and in memoriam gifts. In an increasingly competitive funding marketplace, legacy and in memoriam income should not be ignored. Getting the basics right will allow you to overcome the barriers to legacy promotion and widen your appeal to potential donors. We will look at how to get your legacy and in memoriam campaign up and running, how to market it appropriately - and how to write up a strategic legacy fundraising plan to guide and inform your work. Trainer: Jane Galloway For more details and to book... Other Cascade courses coming up; • Introduction to Project Management: Wednesday 29th January (Taunton) • New! Crash Course in Fundraising: Tuesday 4th February (Exeter) • Corporate Fundraising: Tuesday 4th March (Exeter) • Public Speaking & Presentation Skills: Tuesday 11th March (Bristol) • Motivational Management & Leadership - Tuesday 18th March (Bristol) • Addressing Data Protection: Thursday 20th March (Exeter) • Half day workshops on Wednesday 26th March (Taunton): Professional Boundaries (a.m.) £75 Working with reluctant/ambivalent clients (p.m.) £75 • Event Fundraising: making your events stand out from the crowd: Tuesday 1st April (Exeter) Full day workshops cost £139 and run from 9.30am to 4.30pm unless specified otherwise Refreshments (& sandwich lunch at all full day events) are provided Map/directions to venue will be sent to delegates Discounts: 3 bookings for full day courses made at the same time by the same organization, will be discounted by 10% (can't be used in conjunction with other offers) Delegates will receive certificates confirming course completion Cascade offers a bursary scheme for charities and other small groups with an income of less than £25k p.a. To find out more, please contact us. For more details and to book...

Funding OurPlace – major support and funding programme – see item in News

Technology Strategy Board announces new £8 Million High Street Competition

(deadline for registration: 26 February)

A new £8 million initiative designed to re-invigorate UK high streets has been announced.

This competition may be aimed at much larger towns than Somerset’s but here is the info.

The re-imaging the High Street Competition is intended to allow businesses to compete for funding

awards, in order to trial innovative ways of addressing the challenges facing UK high streets.

The competition seeks to develop new technology enabled solutions that can address the challenges

facing the high street by exploring innovative approaches to retailing, service provision, logistics and

travel management.

This initiative runs in two phases:

Phase 1: an initial feasibility study to enable an applicant to develop a proposed solution for a specific high street situation, followed by:

Phase 2: an implementation and testing phase to allow a small number of solutions to be tested at scale.

The programme has a total budget of £8 million. Up to £2 million is available for feasibility studies in

phase 1 of the competition, and up to a further £6 million is available in a second phase to further

develop successful phase 1 projects.

Successful organisations will attract a 100% funded development contract of up to £100,000 in phase

1, and up to £1.2 million in phase 2.

The competition is open to businesses across the UK (predominantly retail) that can demonstrate a

route to market for their solution.

Applicants may wish to bring in other organisations as sub-contractors in order to address some of

the complex and diverse challenges facing the high street.

The scheme is particularly suited to emerging and small businesses.

The deadline for registration is noon on 26 February 2014 and the deadline for applications for

phase 1 of the competition is noon on 5 March 2014.

See the Technology Strategy Board's website for further details.

BBC Children in Need Small Grants Programme This programme is open to charities and not-for-profit organisations applying for any amount

up to and including £10,000 for one year. Grants aim to support children and young people of

18 years and under experiencing disadvantage. The next deadline for applications is 1

February. For more information, please see website.

People’s Postcode Lottery - Small Grants Programme Not-for-profit organisations, social enterprises, charities and others can now apply for

between £500 and £20,000 to deliver a project of up to 1 year in length. The Small Grants

Programme opened again for applications on Monday 6 January. There will be four funding

rounds in 2014. Applications are submitted through an online application form which is

available to access during each funding round. There are a number of funding criteria and all

projects must meet at least one of the following: prevention of poverty, improvement of

health, promotion of community development, advance participation in sport, promotion of

human rights, promotion of environmental protection. The deadline for applications in the

current round is 21 February 2014. For more information, please see link.

Together in Service Fund Together in Service Fund is a new two-year funding programme provided by the Department

for Communities and Local Government and administered by FaithAction. Grants between

£2,000 and £5,000 for new multi-faith social action projects. Match funding is required and

should be at least as much as the amount of grant funding being applied for. The matched

element can be provided in the form of volunteer time, donated cash, goods and services.

Constituted bodies, such as registered charities, charitable incorporated organisations,

unregistered community groups, clubs, and societies, delivering projects in England are

eligible to apply. There are four application rounds in 2014 with the following deadlines:

6 February 2014, 26 May 2014, 25 August 2014 and 1 December 2014. Applicants are

encouraged to discuss their project with the Together in Services team before filling out an

application form. Together in Service Team, Faith Action, LifeLine House, 25 Neville Road,

Dagenham, Essex, RM8 3QS, Tel: 0845 094 6350, Email:

togetherinservice@faithaction.net or see website.

PREMIER LEAGUE & F.A. FACILITIES FUND – Football Foundation launches new fund

for England to support the development of new of refurbished local football facilities

Managed by the Football Foundation on behalf of the funding partners (the Premier League, The FA

and Government, via Sport England) the Premier League and F.A. Facilities Fund is a three-year

£102 million commitment to improving the nation’s grassroots football facilities.

Through this new scheme, the Football Foundation is offering funding to support the development of

new or refurbished local football facilities in England.

Football clubs, professional clubs' community trusts, multi-sport clubs, local authorities, all educational

establishments, registered charitable organisations, not for profit companies limited by guarantee,

industrial and provident societies and unincorporated not for profit organisations in England are

eligible to apply.

Grants of between £10,000 and £500,000 are available to support the development of new or

refurbished local football facilities, such as changing pavilions and playing surfaces, for the benefit of

communities in England.

Funding is available for projects that:

•Improve facilities for football and other sport in local communities.

•Sustain or increase participation among children and adults, regardless of background age, or ability.

•Help children and adults to develop their physical, mental, social and moral capacities through

regular participation in sport.

The types of facilities that will receive funding include:

•Grass pitches drainage and improvements.

•Pavilions, clubhouses and changing rooms.

•Artificial turf pitches and multi-use games areas.

•Fixed floodlights for artificial pitches.

Priority for applications involving professional club community programmes will be given to projects

that are located within areas of high deprivation (as defined by the Governments Indices of

Deprivation).

For projects outside of these areas, priority will be given to those that can demonstrate that it draws a

significant proportion of its participants from neighbouring deprived areas.

Schemes that are a joint application between professional club community schemes and grassroots

football will be prioritised, as will those supporting 3G AGPs.

All applications must have security of tenure either by freehold or leasehold. A minimum of 25 years

security of tenure is required by leasehold.

An opportunity to apply for smaller grants is expected to be available in summer 2014.

Applications may be submitted at any time. There are no deadlines.

Full details can be found on the Football Foundation website. The Foyle Foundation Small Grants Scheme is designed to support smaller charities in the

UK, especially those working at grassroots and local community level, in any field, across a wide

range of activities.

Applications are welcomed from charities that have an annual turnover of less than £100,000 per

annum.

Larger or national charities will normally not be considered under this scheme (note the Foundation

has a separate grant programme for larger awards). The Small Grants scheme generally will not

support charities that are able consistently to generate operational surpluses or which have been able

to build up unrestricted reserves to a level equivalent to three months turnover.

One year grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 are available to charities which can demonstrate that

such a grant will make a significant difference to their work. If applicants cannot evidence this, the

application will be declined. No multi-year funding awards are made.

PLEASE NOTE that demonstrating ongoing sustainability is also important, particularly if for

agencies that have recently lost local authority or other regular funding.

There are no deadlines for submission. Applications will be received at all times but it may take up to

four months to obtain a decision from Trustees.

All applications will be acknowledged, usually by email, within two weeks of receipt. All declined

applications will also be informed by email.

For details on how to apply, visit the Foyle Foundation website. Thanks to West Somerset Council, the Cabinet Office SW, GRIN Funding Bulletins, VolResource, the HCA and STF members for items in this bulletin. If you have been forwarded this bulletin and would like to join our mailing list, email matt@somersettownsforum.org.uk. We welcome feedback so we can develop our services. STF is part of the voluntary and community sector in Somerset. Matt Day Regeneration & Marketing Consultant Tel: 01460 929865 mattdday@onetel.com

For any queries relating to these bulletins, or to contribute news items, email matt@somersettownsforum.org.uk

For general STF queries, email info@somersettownsforum.org.uk

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