#LoveTo in Wales small grants – application guidance
Overview
Groups that are volunteer-led, not-for-profit, and that exist to allow their members to take part in
creative cultural activities are eligible to apply for up to £250 to contribute to the running of an
event in Wales during Voluntary Arts Week (15 to 24 May 2015), designed to attract new
participants to take part in creative cultural activities. Groups of any artistic or creative cultural
discipline may apply.
#LoveTo in Wales small grants are run by Voluntary Arts Wales through funding provided by
the Spirit of 2012 Trust.
Applications open from Monday 26 January and close on Monday 16 March 2015 at 5pm
Background
It is known that over half the adult population of the UK is involved in creative cultural activities
on a voluntary or amateur basis. Activities are wide-ranging and include music, dance, crafts,
drama, literature, visual arts, festivals and much more. People get involved in these activities for
all kinds of reasons – to learn new skills or to show off well practised ones, to meet new people
and make new friends. Whatever reason they do it, groups of talented and committed
individuals add an enormous amount to the cultural life of Wales through their voluntary and
amateur involvement in creative cultural activities.
Voluntary Arts Wales celebrates the creativity of the country and the contribution that voluntary
or amateur groups make. It offers information, support and advice to the vital people who
regularly help and encourage others in their local community to get creative. On our website you
will find a wide variety of resources designed to help groups, activities and events to run
smoothly, including free easy-to-read Briefings that offer advice about everything from risk
assessment to using Facebook and Twitter. www.voluntaryarts.org
Voluntary Arts Week is an annual celebration of cultural creativity across the UK and Republic
of Ireland that will take place from 15 to 24 May 2015 this year. It shines a light on all of the
wonderful amateur arts and crafts activities taking place across the UK and the Republic of
Ireland – and encourages others to join in. You can find more information and read about what
other groups have done by going to www.voluntaryartsweek.org
Criteria
To be eligible to receive a small grant, groups must:
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be not-for-profit;
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be led by volunteers, even if they do employ people, i.e. those who make the decisions
aren’t paid;
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exist to provide opportunities for people to take part in creative cultural activities on a
voluntary or amateur basis;

have a bank account in the group’s name;

agree to complete a simple evaluation process and provide us with photos and/or video
content from your event.
Eligible events will:

take place in Wales during Voluntary Arts Week (15 to 24 May 2015) and be willing to be
showcased on the Voluntary Arts Week website and through social media;

demonstrate 20 per cent match funding. We will not fund 100 per cent of total event
cost, but will fund events that show matchfunding from other sources. Matchfunding can
be made up from other sources of funds, volunteer time or contributions in kind e.g. free
use of venues, donated materials;

attract new people who want to take part in creative cultural activities;

be open and accessible to a wide range of people;

strive to be of the highest artistic quality your group can achieve;

have a legacy or a way in which you can sustain the engagement of your new
participants;

use the Voluntary Arts Week branding on all of their publicity materials;

use, wherever possible, the #LoveTo hashtag and @VolArtsWales and @VolArtsWeek
handles on social media;
Although not an essential criterion, we would particularly welcome groups who want to involve
more young people, older people, or disabled people in what they do. We would also like to
hear from groups who want to work in areas where there is little arts provision.
Additional advice
We would request that you only apply for the sum of money which is absolutely necessary for
your event. Simply put, if you only need £100, please apply for £100 (maximum £250). This will
enable us to maximise the number of events we can support.
If you are planning an event and do not need financial support, please let us know as you can
still list your event on the Voluntary Arts Week website and benefit from the increased publicity
of being part of this nationwide event.
We will not fund core running costs, capital equipment costs, regular activity, days out (such as
trips to the theatre, museums or other cultural activities) or applications from individuals.
We are particularly interested in receiving applications that adopt an innovative approach to
encouraging participation in creative cultural activities – an approach that could form the basis
of an application to Voluntary Arts’ 2016 Epic Awards. www.epicawards.co.uk
How to apply
To apply, please fill in the following application form and return to Gwenan Davies by 5pm on
Monday 16 March 2015. We accept applications by email or post.
By email:
gwenan@vaw.org.uk
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By post:
#LoveTo in Wales small grants
Voluntary Arts Wales
121 Cathedral Road
Pontcanna
Cardiff
CF11 9PH
Any questions, please contact Gwenan at gwenan@vaw.org.uk or on 07825 109594.
Timescale
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


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Applications open – 26 January 2015
Applications close – 16 March 2015, 5pm
Successful applicants will be notified – 20 March 2015
Final details forms to be submitted to VAW – 24 April 2014
Voluntary Arts Week (all events to take place) – 15 to 24 May 2015
Evaluation form due back – 12 June 2015
Disclaimer
For Voluntary Arts’ terms and conditions and privacy policy, please visit the website
www.voluntaryarts.org
Useful information
WCVA Information Sheet - Finding and getting money series
7.3.1 Accounting for volunteers' time in funding applications
www.wcva-ids.org.uk/wcva/1181
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#LoveTo in Wales small grants – application form
About you
Your name:
Your position in the group:
Your postal address (including postcode):
Your telephone number:
Your email address:
Where did you hear about the #LoveTo in Wales small grants scheme?
About your group
Name of your group:
Your group’s postal address (if applicable, including postcode):
Your group’s telephone number (if applicable):
Your group’s email address (if applicable):
Website address (if applicable):
Social networking (if applicable):
 Facebook
 Twitter
 You tube
 Flickr
 Other (please state)
Please answer the following questions as fully as possible. The boxes will expand to fit your
answer.
When was your group established and what are its aims?
What are the main creative cultural activities practiced by your group?
Can you describe how your group is organised? How are decisions made? Is there a
constitution?
How is your group funded?
Is your group affiliated to any organisations or networks, e.g. art and craft umbrella bodies such
as Making Music, Noda etc?
About your event
Name and description of the planned event:
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Dates of the proposed event (dates can be subject to change within Voluntary Arts Week 15 to
24 May 2015):
Please describe how you will use the funds to attract new participants to take part in creative
cultural activities:
Who will benefit from the event, and how will they benefit?
Which of the following groups (if any) are you specifically planning to reach:



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Young people 
Older people 
Disabled people 
Areas where there is little arts provision 
How many people are you expecting to take part in the event (rough estimate)?
How do you think you might sustain the engagement of your new participants?
Please provide a breakdown of total event costs and how you will spend the allocated funds:
(e.g. Venue hire for half day = £…, Marketing leaflet printing = £…, etc.):
Total event cost:
Total amount requested from #LoveTo in Wales small grants scheme (maximum £250):
Where is the funding coming from for the rest of the cost, and is this confirmed?
Please ensure that you have read the application guidelines and confirm that:



All the information in the application form is correct to the best of your knowledge.
By signing the form you agree to allow Voluntary Arts Wales to hold your details on a
confidential database. You will only be contacted with information that Voluntary Arts
Wales thinks may be of interest to me relating to Voluntary Arts Wales services and
creative cultural activities in your area.
Please tick this box if you don’t want to be contacted in this way. 
Signature:
(Typing your signature above or inserting an e-signature will be accepted as agreeing to terms
and conditions)
Date:
Please return this form by 5pm on Monday 16 March 2015 by email or post to:
gwenan@vaw.org.uk
#LoveTo in Wales small grants
Voluntary Arts Wales
121 Cathedral Road
Pontcanna
Cardiff
CF11 9PH
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