Funding Advice

Whatever your funding need, large or small, we can help you. It might be to develop a funding strategy or project idea, carry out a funding search to find out what funding and resources are available, or to support you to write an application or bid for a contract.

We also manage a number of funds to support local projects - see below for details of current funds and how to apply.

Who can use the service?

Any person, community group or voluntary organisation based or working within South Derbyshire.

When is the service available?

Our usual office hours are 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 4.00pm Friday.

How much will it cost?

Nothing, all information, advice and support is free. 

Contact

Current Funds Managed by SDCVS

Small Grant Funds

South Derbyshire CVS manages 2 small grant funds available to local voluntary, community and not-for-profit groups, which help to improve health & wellbeing including mental health, or support self-help:

A) Improving Health & Wellbeing Grant

Grants of up to £1,500 are available (all ages) for projects or activities anywhere in South Derbyshire that:

• Reduce health inequalities between different communities. This means giving everyone the same opportunities to lead a healthy life, no matter where they live or who they are

• Support people to make choices in their lifestyles that improve their physical and mental wellbeing. The Five Ways to Wellbeing are a set of national evidence-based actions (developed by the New Economics Foundation) which promote people's wellbeing. They are: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give. These activities are simple things individuals can do in their everyday lives which have been proven to help improve people's mental and physical wellbeing

• Support people with dementia and other long-term conditions and their carers to have a good quality of life, retain their independence for as long as possible, and receive the support they need at the end of their lives

If you have ticked the 'support people to make choices in their lifestyles' priority you will be expected to attend (or have attended) a Mental Health Awareness / Mental First Aid training session.

B) Self-Help Grant

Grants of up to £1,000 to support the activities of health and wellbeing related self-help groups that support adults (18+) in South Derbyshire.

A self-help group is any group of people who have experience of a particular health-related issue or situation, who meet for mutual support, to reduce isolation, improve the wellbeing of members and/or to devise practical actions to address the issue. For example, a carer’s group or a group for people with a similar health condition.

How to Apply

You could apply for both funding pots (A & B) which would be a maximum of up to £2,500 and you only need to fill in one application form. You can apply at any time, but your application will be assessed at regular Grants Panel meetings – you will be notified of when the next Panel meeting will take place. You will be notified of the outcome of your application within 10 days of the panel meeting.

For guidelines and an application form please contact Development Officer Liz Gumbley by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01283 219761.

Micro Grants

Grants of up to £200 are available to smaller community groups who are not constituted and can’t access other Health Partnership funding but may need low-cost resources to get groups functioning e.g. room hire, equipment, refreshments. Funding will be for the health priorities listed above in category A of the Small Grant Funds (reduce health inequalities, support people to make choices in their lifestyles and support people with dementia and other long-term conditions and their carers).  For further information and the short application form contact Development Officer Liz Gumbley by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01283 219761.

The Commissioner’s Vulnerability Fund

South Derbyshire CVS are working alongside the Police Crime Commissioner to promote the Vulnerability Fund, which offers grants of up to £1,000 – this could be funding to pay for a security system to make a community building safer for the local community to access the facilities, or to prevent crime related issues that may be occurring.

Here are some examples of other projects that could be funded to support community groups that access your facilities:

• Projects from the following list who are wishing to prevent victimisation, repeat victimisation or create safer local community outcomes: local residents’ groups, self-help or support groups working with vulnerable people, youth groups, village halls and community centres, mental health groups, user-led organisations representing and supporting people with specific protected characteristics (such as disabled people’s groups, BAME community groups, LGBTQ groups)

• Diversionary activities and support for young people, particularly those who are most vulnerable to becoming a victim or perpetrator of crime due to their family or life circumstances, people with learning difficulties, physical disabilities, or mental health conditions, or with a history of, or vulnerability to, substance misuse

• Support services, advice or self-help groups and services offering emotional, practical, and other support to particular vulnerable groups, either on-line, by telephone or appropriately social distanced face to face support

• Projects which support and encourage target groups of vulnerable people who have lost their jobs or lost income as a result of the pandemic to get back into work, training opportunities or other programmes

• Groups which have had to close facilities or put services/activities on hold during lockdown, who need a small amount of additional resource to enable them to re-open safely or deliver services in new ways e.g. protective equipment, barriers/screens, and IT software

• Activities to ensure vulnerable people have access to reliable, accurate information and are able to access support services – including those who are digitally excluded or who face barriers due, for example, to their disability, health condition, language barriers, making them more vulnerable to becoming victims of crime or anti-social behaviour.

How to Apply

Grants from £50 to £1,000 are available. For more information and to get an application form please contact Development Officer Liz Gumbley by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01283 219761.