Essex County Council Cultural Development Funding File
Essex County Council Cultural Development Funding File
Local Schemes
Essex County Council – Culture in Essex Small Grants
The Culture in Essex Grants Scheme awards funds of up to £2500 for cultural project within the
political boundaries of Essex (excludes Southend and Thurrock). Statutory organisations
(schools / local authorities) are not able to apply to the scheme.
There are two rounds each year with deadlines falling on 31st March and 31st October.
http://www.essex.gov.uk/Activities/Arts%20Services/Pages/Arts-Funding.aspx
Essex County Council - Cultural Strategic Fund
The Cultural Development Strategic Fund offers grants of £2,500 and above to support the
cultural infrastructure of Essex. The scheme is open to cultural organisations of all types based
in, or working in, the administrative boundaries of Essex County Council to undertake outcomefocused commissions meeting Essex County Council priorities.
http://www.essex.gov.uk/Activities/Arts%20Services/Pages/Arts-Funding.aspx
Cultural Development Mailing List
Regular funding, commission and employment opportunities are circulated via the Essex Cultural
Development Mailing List. To add your contact details to the mailing list please contact the arts
department on 08457 430 430 or email culture@essex.gov.uk
Local Authorities in Essex
Contact your local Cultural Development Officer in your District or Borough Council and ask
about local funding opportunities. Some councils have an officer responsible for economic or
community regeneration, talk to them as this is another relevant avenue to pursue. Even if there
is no money available, Local Authorities may be able to provide vital in-kind support to voluntary
organisations.
For a contact list of local authority cultural officers email: culture@essex.gov.uk
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Essex County Council Cultural Development Funding File
Royal Opera House Bridge
Royal Opera House is one of ten national ‘Bridges’ that work across England to connect
children and young people with great art and culture. Working directly with professionals in the
Arts, Culture and Education sector we help support and strengthen networks and opportunities,
through investment and advocacy.
Funded by the Arts Council England, ROH Bridge is based in Purfleet, Essex and works across
Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and North Kent. Over the next three years we will be making
investments into local and regional work that supports children and young people’s creative
learning.
http://www.roh.org.uk/learning/royal-opera-house-bridge
Community Initiatives Fund
The Community Initiatives Fund (CIF) is a small grants scheme funded by Essex County
Council (excluding Southend and Thurrock) which is designed to fund community projects that:
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Create, procure or develop new community assets
Enhance existing community assets
Enhance or develop initiatives that strengthen a community
The fund has been designed to be as flexible and responsive as possible to the needs of the
community.
There are two parts to the fund:
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CIF (subject to a maximum application of £20,000 for any one project)
CIF Response (subject to a maximum application of £15,000 for any one project).
Full details of the fund, including the qualifying criteria and eligibility can be found in the
guidance notes, which you should read before submitting your application.
How to apply
To apply, complete the expression of interest form, including the pre-application checklist, and
email them to CIF@essex.gov.uk.
For further information, please call 01245 437887 or email CIF@essex.gov.uk
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Essex County Council Cultural Development Funding File
Essex Community Foundation
We are an independent charitable trust improving the quality of life of people in our community
by investing and distributing funds on behalf of a wide range of donors. Since 1996 our donors
have invested over £20 million of charitable funding directly into Essex, Southend and Thurrock
making it a great place to live, work, learn and grow.
As one of the UK’s leading community foundations we have the expertise and local knowledge
to help our donors support the local causes and charities they care about and make an impact
through their giving.
Here you will read about all aspects of our work; how we help families, individuals, companies
and public agencies to channel their charitable giving locally and how we support voluntary and
community organisations to secure the funding they need to carry out their vital work.
We are always happy to talk to you about what we do so please call us on 01245 355947 or
contact us.
http://www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk/index.php
National schemes
Arts Council England – ‘Grants for the Arts’
Grants for the arts are for activities carried out over a set period and which engage people in
England in arts activities, and help artists and arts organisations in England carry out their work
and is funded by the National Lottery.
For more information tel: 0845 300 6200, textphone: 020 7973 6564, email:
enquiries@artscouncil.org.uk
http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/
Heritage Lottery Fund
The HLF uses money raised through the National Lottery, giving grants to sustain and transform
our heritage. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment
and cultural traditions HLF invests in every part of our diverse heritage.
http://www.hlf.org.uk/Pages/Home.aspx
Big Lottery
Every year BIG gives out millions of pounds from the National Lottery to good causes. Our
money goes to community groups and projects that improve health, education and the
environment
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/about-big
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Biffa Award
Biffa Award is a multi-million pound fund which awards grants to community and environmental
projects across the UK. The fund's money comes from landfill tax credits donated by Biffa
Group Limited. Biffa Award is managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT).
Biffa Award has been awarding grants since 1997. To date, we have awarded more than £145
million to thousands of worthy projects.
http://www.biffa-award.org/home
Comic Relief – UK Grants
Comic Relief are committed to funding work across the UK and are particularly keen to ensure
we reach areas and groups of people who often miss out. As such, we accept applications from
the voluntary and community sector throughout the UK including:
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constituted voluntary and community groups
charities
social enterprises
co-operatives
faith organisations
community interest companies
http://www.comicrelief.com/our-grants/uk
Community Radio Fund
Grants can only be made to community radio licensees who are broadcasting under a
community radio license (and not an RSL, for example).
The latest application form and guidance notes are available below. Please also see statements
detailing the outcome of previous Panel meetings.
For further information, please contact Ofcom's Community Radio Team via email:
community.radio@ofcom.org.uk or by telephone 020 7981 3870.
For more information and to download an application form and guidance notes visit the website:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radio/ifi/rbl/commun_radio/Communityfund/
Dance and Drama Awards
Dance and Drama Awards are available from some of England's leading private dance and
drama schools. They can help with your course fees, whatever your financial circumstances.
You may also get extra money to help with your living costs.
Awards are dependent on you passing an audition to get into the school.
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http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/14To19/MoneyToLearn/DanceandDra
ma/index.htm
Into Film
After facilitating 32 filmmaking projects in the first round of our outreach programme, we're
delighted to reopen applications to get even more of you into film.
This programme aims to engage young people aged 14-19, who are not in formal education,
employment or training, in watching, making and understanding film. The programme gives
young people the opportunity to build on soft skills such as confidence, team work and
communication, as well as develop practical, transferrable skills through filmmaking.
http://www.intofilm.org/news/articles/into-film-launch-round-two-outreach-programme
The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA)
We support a small number of exceptional ideas that meet our aims as a charity, and if we can't
help there are plenty who can. We have three different ways that we can support you - through
grant funding, direct investment or challenge prizes.
http://www.nesta.org.uk/
Youth Music
We are the National Foundation for Youth Music. Every year, we provide more than 90,000
young people with the opportunity to make music, helping them to overcome the challenges
they face in their lives. Our music projects support young people to develop their creative and
social skills, make positive contributions to their community and improve their wellbeing.
Our on-going research allows us to identify the best ways to engage young people and drive
fresh thinking in music education. We also provide a growing online community for thousands
of music education professionals.
http://www.youthmusic.org.uk/
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Essex trusts and charitable foundations
Awards for Young Musicians
AYM is a registered charity that helps exceptionally talented young musicians, between the
ages of 5 and 18, by giving annual financial awards and advice. Award application forms are
available from September each year. Applicants are required to have achieved distinction in
their last music examination; be recommended by a music teacher and their parents must show
evidence of financial need. An adjudication procedure takes place in the spring of each year
and awards are made in May.
Awards are used to help with instrument purchase, music tuition, Saturday music school fees,
or orchestra or special courses fees.
http://www.a-y-m.org.uk/
The Fowler Smith and Jones charitable trust
Grants to local voluntary and community groups who benefit the people of Essex, under the
themes of young people, arts, health, community and churches.
http://www.fsjtrust.org.uk/
The Mercers’ Charitable Foundation
The Mercers' Charitable Foundation provides grants for the arts (performing arts, fine art and
design), heritage and the environment, social welfare and youth in deprived areas. Initial
applications should be in the form of a letter (two sides of A4) giving details of the charity, its
activities and the proposed project, with an indication of costs and a copy of the latest audited
accounts.
http://www.mercers.co.uk/
The Jack Petchey Foundation
The Jack Petchey Foundation, established in 1999, gives grants to programmes and projects
that benefit young people aged 11-25 years. The Foundation is eager to help young people take
advantage of opportunities and to play a full part in society.
The Jack Petchey Foundation will consider sponsoring young people (usually 11-25 years old)
living in areas of London and Essex who are undertaking projects, or participating in events,
that will benefit other young people or specific charities.
http://www.jackpetcheyfoundation.org.uk/
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Essex County Council Cultural Development Funding File
Trusts and charitable foundations
Trusts, charities, foundations and private/business sponsorship are all sources of potential
financial assistance. Research on the web or by subscription to one of the numerous funding
directories and digests is one of the best ways of keeping up to date with opportunities.
The Association of Charitable Foundations provides an extensive range of links to related sites,
including those of ACF’s members. They also provide a selection of advice leaflets for
individuals seeking funding from UK trusts. Visit the website: http://www.acf.org.uk/
Santander Foundation – Community Plus
Community Plus grants of up to £5000 are available for small local charities or local projects of
national charities, with funding available to cover salaries, equipment or materials. Grants must
directly help disadvantaged people in your local area.
http://www.santanderfoundation.org.uk/community-plus.aspx
Baring Foundation
The Baring Foundation’s purpose is to “improve the quality of life of people suffering
disadvantage and discrimination.” They aim to achieve this through making grants to strengthen
voluntary sector organisations which serve them directly or indirectly.
http://www.baringfoundation.org.uk/
The BRIT Trust
The BRIT Trust was established in 1989 and is entirely funded by the music industry. Its mission is
to give young people a chance to express their musical creativity regardless of race, class, sex or
ability. Since its inception, over £8.8million has been donated by the BRIT Trust to various charities.
http://www.brittrust.co.uk/
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
We are an international charitable foundation with cultural, educational, social and scientific
interests, based in Lisbon with offices in London and Paris. The purpose of the UK Branch in
London is to bring about long-term improvements in well-being, particularly for the most
vulnerable, by creating connections across boundaries (national borders, communities,
disciplines and sectors) which deliver social, cultural and environmental value
http://www.gulbenkian.org.uk/
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Essex County Council Cultural Development Funding File
The Carnegie UK Trust
The Carnegie UK Trust works to improve the lives of people throughout the UK and Ireland, by
changing minds through influencing policy, and by changing lives through innovative practice
and partnership work.
http://www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/home
Charles Hayward Foundation Funding
The Charles Hayward Foundation is a grant-making charitable trust making awards to charities
that are registered in the U.K
http://www.charleshaywardfoundation.org.uk/
Clore Duffield Foundation
The Foundation is a grant-making charity which concentrates its support on cultural learning,
creating learning spaces within arts and heritage organisations, leadership training for the
cultural and social sectors, social care, and enhancing Jewish life.
http://www.cloreduffield.org.uk/
Co-operative Community Fund
Community Fund grants, between £100 and £2,000 are awarded to community, voluntary, or
self-help groups to run projects that meet the following criteria. To be successful, a group must:
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Carry out positive work in the community
A project must:
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Address a community issue
Provide a good long-term benefit to the community
Support co-operative values and principles
Ideally be innovative in its approach.
http://www.co-operative.coop/membership/local-communities/community-fund/
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Essex County Council Cultural Development Funding File
The Countess of Munster Musical Trust
The Trust's principal aim is to support young musicians, i.e. instrumentalists, singers,
conductors and composers, of exceptional ability. Application forms may be obtained from the
Secretary in January (December for overseas students) and the closing date is the end of the
second full week in February.
http://www.munstertrust.org.uk/
The Fenton Arts Trust
The Fenton Arts Trust aims to give encouragement and financial support to those actively
contributing to the creative arts in the UK. It seeks to assist, through grants and bursaries,
individuals and groups who are making a worthwhile contribution to the artistic and cultural life
of this country. The Fenton Arts Trust grants are available to support individual works, activities,
performances or prizes in the fields of drama, painting, sculpture, ballet, music and poetry.
http://www.fentonartstrust.org.uk
The Foyle Foundation
The Foyle Foundation is an independent grantmaking trust that distributes grants to UK
charities. The Foundation does not support applications from individuals.
Since it became operational in November 2001, The Foundation has disbursed £60M in grants
(up to 31 December 2013).
http://www.foylefoundation.org.uk/
The Garfield Weston Foundation
The Garfield Weston Foundation helps a wide range of UK organisations with grants of varying
sizes. Their recent round of funding has helped projects in the following categories: Arts,
Community, Education, Welfare, Medical, Social, Religion, Youth and Environment. Normally
support cannot be considered for organisations or groups that are not UK registered charities.
This restriction does not apply to churches, hospitals, educational establishments and housing
corporations, which have exempt status.
In assessing applications, the following criteria are taken into consideration:
 the financial viability of the organisation;
 the degree of need for the project requiring funding;
 the amount spent on administration and fundraising as compared to the charitable
activities;
 the ability to raise sufficient funding to meet the appeal target;
 whether the aims of the organisation meet the trustees’ aspirations;
 whether the organisation has the right priorities;
 where possible, the ability of the organisation to achieve the goals.
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Essex County Council Cultural Development Funding File
http://www.garfieldweston.org/
The Grocers’ Charity
The Grocers’ Charity supports a wide range of projects across the UK, with a recent focus being
placed on work with young people and people with disabilities. The Charity is also interested in
the arts, heritage, medicine (but not hospices), religious causes (but not for church fabric projects)
and older people.
The Trustees meet four times a year to consider applications and applications must be submitted
at least a couple of months ahead of each meeting. The Charity can support both capital and
revenue projects and grants range from between: £1,000 and £5,000.
http://www.grocershall.co.uk/index.php/charity/
The Hattori Foundation
The aim of the Foundation in the field of music is to encourage and assist exceptionally talented
young instrumental soloists or chamber ensembles who are British Nationals or resident in the
UK and whose talent and achievements give promise of an international career.
http://www.hattorifoundation.org.uk/
Idlewild Trust
The Idlewild Trust is a grant making trust that supports registered charities concerned with the
encouragement of excellence in the performing and fine arts and the preservation for the benefit
of the public of buildings and items of historical interest or national importance. Occasionally it
also supports projects that conserve the natural environment. The total funding available each
year is approximately £120,000 and registered charities can apply for grants ranging from £1,000
to £3,000.
http://www.idlewildtrust.org.uk/
Jerwood Foundation
The Jerwood Foundation is dedicated to imaginative and responsible funding and sponsorshp
of the arts, education and other areas of human endeavour and excellence, particularly
supporting artists and young professionals based in the UK. It has supported a range of
activities across the visual and performing arts, as well as film, literature, conservation and
some international work in Nepal.
There are a very large number of current capital appeals in the arts world. The Foundation can
make an effective and tangible contribution by supporting projects which require funding over
stated periods, usually between 2-5 years. The Foundation is inclined to support projects where
there are existing relationships with the Foundation and the Charitable Foundation.
http://www.jerwood.org/
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Essex County Council Cultural Development Funding File
The LankellyChase Foundation
LankellyChase Foundation works to bring about change that will transform the quality of life of
people who face severe and multiple disadvantage.
We focus on the persistent clustering of social harms such as homelessness, substance
misuse, mental and physical illness, extreme poverty, and violence and abuse.
http://www.lankellychase.org.uk/
Lloyds TSB Foundation
The Lloyds TSB Foundations make up one of the largest grant-making trusts in the UK and
support charities that enable people, especially those who are disadvantaged or disabled, to
play a fuller role in the community. The Foundation's focus is on funding social and community
projects as well as education and training initiatives.
The trustees are particularly keen to support small community-based charities where small
amounts of funding can make a significant difference to local people's lives. They welcome
applications from all sections of the community and especially from small under funded
charities.
http://www.lloydsbankfoundation.org.uk/
PRS for Music Foundation
Our mission is to stimulate and support the creation and performance of new music throughout
the UK and to ensure that this music is enjoyed by a wide audience. Over the past 10 years we
have proved ourselves as a significant force in supporting pioneering musical activity. Since
March 2000 we have supported over 4,600 new music initiatives to the tune of over £19.5
million. We do this through open grant schemes which are available to musicians and
organisations four times per year and partnership programmes which we lead in response to
specific needs and gaps in funding.
Because of our specialist knowledge of the music sector, our support is seen as an indication of
quality and innovation. We are also proud to be widely respected as an approachable,
adventurous, and straightforward organisation and to have established a strong track record as
funder of a broad range of activity - from unsigned band showcases and professional
development programmes to music commissions and composer residencies.
http://www.prsformusicfoundation.com/funding
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Essex County Council Cultural Development Funding File
The Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust
The Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust offers financial assistance to deserving artists of
any kind, whether writers, painters, sculptors, musicians, dancers, actors, craftsmen or artists of
any comparable nature or description who are unable effectively to pursue their vocation by
reason of their financial difficulties.
As a general guide the maximum award would be £1,000 but, in exceptional circumstances, the
Trustees may consider making a larger award. The awards are made in December of each year
with the closing date for applications being 15 October.
www.oppenheimdownestrust.org
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
The Paul Hamlyn Foundation provides support for arts initiatives in all parts of the UK that
address inequality of access and lack of opportunity to experience and enjoy the arts. Grants of
£5,000 to £10,000 are available to organisations with a charitable purpose. Visit the website:
http://www.phf.org.uk/
The Princes Trust
The Prince’s Trust helps groups of young people aged 18-30 who want to undertake training,
run projects in their communities or start up in business. They have various schemes supporting
arts activities and creative businesses.
http://www.princes-trust.org.uk/
The Rayne Foundation
Guiding Principles
The Rayne Foundation provides grants to organisations working in four main sectors – the arts,
education, health and medicine, and social welfare. Within these sectors it has a rolling
programme of areas of special interest.
The Foundation has a flexible approach in its support of innovative, high quality projects, but is
particularly interested in those which are of direct benefit to vulnerable and disadvantaged
people or communities.
It prefers projects which have potential for wider than just local application, those which are
likely to encourage funding from or involvement of other organisations, and/or those which are
hard to fund.
http://www.raynefoundation.org.uk/Guidelines.aspx
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Essex County Council Cultural Development Funding File
The Sutton Trust
The Sutton Trust funds projects that provide educational opportunities for young people from nonprivileged backgrounds. The Trust will consider every project on an individual basis, and are
particularly interested in innovative projects and pilot schemes that have the potential to benefit
large numbers, and in new research.
http://www.suttontrust.com/home/
Trusthouse Charitable Foundation (UK)
Charities and not for profit organisations that are active in the fields of Health Care and
Trusthouse is a medium-sized independent grantmaking foundation which makes grants
totalling around £2 million a year to a variety of charitable projects.
Who and What We Fund:
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Charitable organisations (including CICs, social enterprises, not-for-profit
companies, voluntary associations) in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland
Established, small to medium sized organisations working to address local
problems with communities in areas of extreme urban deprivation or remote,
needy rural locations
General running costs including salaries and overheads; capital expenditure on
buildings or essential equipment.
Our grants are for 1 year only and we will not usually make further grants within 2 years for
Small Grants and 5 years for Large Grants.
http://www.trusthousecharitablefoundation.org.uk/
Wellcome Trust – ‘People Awards’
People Awards and Society Awards are two related schemes supporting projects that
encourage the public to explore biomedical science, its impact on society and culture, its
historical roots or the ethical questions that it raises.
Both schemes aim to:
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stimulate interest, excitement and debate about biomedical science and/or the history of
medicine
support formal and informal learning
reach audiences of all ages and from all walks of life and inform, inspire and involve them
encourage high-quality interdisciplinary practice and collaborations
investigate and test new methods of engagement, participation and education.
The schemes are open to a wide range of people, including: mediators, facilitators and
practitioners of science communication; science centre/museum staff; artists; educators; film
makers; theatre producers; games developers; public participation practitioners; health
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Essex County Council Cultural Development Funding File
professionals; and academics in bioscience, social science, bioethics and medical history and
humanities.
Project activities and outputs may include:
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workshops, events, debates and discussions
exhibitions and museum outreach
films, games, websites and cross-platform projects
performance or theatre projects involving existing work or work that may be more
illustrative than artistic
deliberative or opinion-gathering projects
creation of teaching materials
projects that use the collections of the Wellcome Library and Wellcome Collection at the
Science Museum
http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Funding/Public-engagement/Funding-schemes/PeopleAwards-and-Society-Awards/index.htm
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