Hi there, here is May’s update!
I’m definitely not complaining – but it has been very, very warm in my office! And as soon as I open the doors and windows, all the neighbours appear to use that very moment to start up every power tool they own! But let’s hope this good weather is here to stay for a while.
Lots to update you on this month, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that you find at least a couple of useful items in this newsletter.
Remember – you can also join the Free Facebook Group: Straight Forward Funding Sources (and Resources) for further news.
#SubscriberOffer
This is an organisation I can highly recommend, as I’ve used their services myself several times in previous roles.
Fairandfunky is a community interest company with the mission statement: empowering people to take little steps to change the world. they deliver high quality, interactive and creative workshops to schools and community groups. They run events, host SCRAPtastic community workshops and are the go-to organisation for local and global sustainability education in Yorkshire and surrounding area.
Focusing upon three key global themes: recycling, the environment and Fairtrade; these interactive workshops support and complement national curriculum requirements as well as engaging young people and communities with important key messages. Sessions are delivered by qualified and experienced teachers and artists.
Take a look at their website, to find out more about the workshops, sessions and resources that fairandfunky can offer.
Fairandfunky also have an innovative partner package for those organisations who would like to find a way to give back to their community and support their local schools.
If your organisation has an offer you would like me to share to my entire mailing list – please just reply to this email and let me know.
And before we jump into the grant funding round up –
Would you like a bit of extra help with preparing, creating and submitting your funding applications?
Take a look at the Straight Forward Funding Membership Programme.
Low cost, high impact support delivered on a month to month basis – no contracts, no commitment, a simple ‘pay as you go’ process.
Open now to new members.
Find out more here
#Funding News
Triangle Trust 1949 Fund Their focus for 2025/26 is young women and girls who are already in contact with the criminal justice system or who are at high risk of being drawn into it.
Applications for the:
First round opened on 15 April 2025 and close 22 May 2025. All applicants notified if shortlisted on 1 July 2025.
Second round open 16 September 2025 and close 28 October 2025. All applicants notified if shortlisted on 18 December 2025.
The Naturesave Trust supports environmental projects across the UK. The next funding window will open in May 2025. To hear the theme for the next round, sign up for their newsletter.
The Community Engagement Fund (CEF) is a £150,000 grant fund to support grassroots and community organisations to engage communities and raise awareness of priority Home Office policy areas and the support available. The fund is offered by the Home Office.
This fund is best suited to support short and easy-to-deliver projects, rather than a programme of work, as all allocated funds needs to be spent within the financial year 2025-2026.
Some nationality groups, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ghana and India, despite possibly having been impacted, may not be coming forward for compensation to the Windrush Compensation Scheme.
The deadline for applications is 4pm on 28th May 2025.
Information sessions will be held for organisations who are interested to learn more about the Fund and how to submit an application. These virtual sessions will be held on Thursday 1st May from 2pm to 3:30 pm and Tuesday 6th May from 11am to 12:30pm. The presentation will be available to all applicants after each session.
The Barclays Community Sport Fund opened for applications on 22 April 2025 and closes on 22 June 2025. The fund may close early if heavily over-subscribed. You are eligible to apply if:
- Making football, cricket, or tennis more accessible to women and girls
AND
- Operating in areas of high deprivation
What can I apply for?
A £1000 grant to help sustain and increase access to football, tennis, and cricket for women and girls (as well as engage people from other underrepresented groups, such as people with disabilities, those from racially diverse communities and those from the LGBTQ+ community)
Funding for football, tennis, and cricket coaching courses to help increase the number of female coaches delivering sport to girls.
Alpkit Foundation remain focused on small awards that have a direct impact, with support in the region of £50-£500 to individuals, community groups, schools and organisations to encourage people to get outdoors and have great experiences that otherwise couldn’t happen.
They particularly like to support projects that:
- Encourage responsible outdoor activity, Have long lasting benefits, Introduce new people to get outdoors, Demonstrate value for money
- So this might include such things as; Providing discounted equipment for outdoor adventures and trips to individuals, groups, schools and organisations that wouldn’t be viable without support from the Alpkit Foundation.
- Support outdoor educational programs; e.g. grants for outdoor First Aiders or Mountain Leader Training.
- Support proactive conservation and environmental projects; e.g. community gardens and allotments or grants to help re-wild woodland and protect our wild places.
- Support projects which encourage the development of facilities for outdoor skills and activities to be experienced by wider groups who otherwise may miss out e.g. cycling, climbing, outdoor swimming facilities.
Trusthouse Charitable Foundation Small Grants
Single year grants between £2,000 and £10,000 for core costs, salaries, running and project costs. Projects must have a focus on Community Support.
You can apply if:
- Your organisation’s postcode falls within the following on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation:
- if you are located in an urbanarea, you must be in the bottom 15% most deprived areas
- if you are located in a rural area, you must be in the bottom 50% most deprived areas
- Your project has a focus on community support
- Your annual income does not exceed £250,000
- You can secure 50% of the total project costs
- You can supply your most recent annual accounts
- You can start spending our grant within 1-2 months of receipt
- You are embedded in your local community
- You can apply for a maximum of 50% of the total cost of the project/salary/core running costs. They do not fund capital projects.
#Just for Schools
The Universal Music UK Sound Foundation (formerly the EMI Music Sound Foundation) is dedicated to the improvement of music education with a focus on youth. They fund applications for funding up to £1000 from Schools, teaching the national curriculum, which are based in the UK and Republic of Ireland towards the cost of musical resources.
In 2025 they will begin the transition from running two funding rounds per year to three rounds per year, giving more opportunities for you to apply to them for support.
- Applications opened in April for funding offers made in September (The deadline for you to submit an application is 1pm on 25th June 2025.)
- Applications will open in August for funding offers made in January
- Applications will open in December for funding offers made in April
#Useful Stuff
Applications are now open for the Business for Good West Yorkshire Growth & Resilience Programme 2025–26, delivered by the School for Social Entrepreneurs.
This is for you if you’re leading a purpose-driven organisation that’s been trading for at least 18 months, with £15K+ income over the last year. You want to strengthen your strategy, explore new markets, or try out new tech. You’re based in West Yorkshire — Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Wakefield or Leeds.
And you’re ready to take bold steps toward sustainable growth.
This free learning programme is for West Yorkshire-based co-ops, social enterprises and community businesses ready to boost their income, adopt new tools, and future-proof their impact.
How resilient is your charity? CAF have developed a resilience calculator for, and with, charities like yours.
The calculator is designed to help you start thinking about your resilience. It takes five minutes to complete, and will support you to:
- Identify the areas where your organisation is most and least resilient
- Compare how your resilience results benchmark against charities of a similar size to yours and the wider sector
- Reflect on a holistic approach to building resilience
Spring Impact have produced a very useful checklist to keep your charity on track including 5 questions to help you lead with clarity, and the tools needed to reach your goals.
#Before I go
I’m reading: The Company of Owls by Polly Atkin – in preparation for the Huddersfield Literature Festival. I’ve got a wonderful opportunity to interview the author, and as this event is online, you can attend too.
Date: Wednesday 14 May
Time: 7pm-8pm
Location: Online
Tickets: £2
Age guidance: 16+
I’m watching: (Just finished watching for the second time…) ‘Years and Years’, which is currently available on Netflix. I think it was even better the second time round, very thought provoking, funny and moving.
I’m listening: Titanic, ship of dreams over on BBC Sounds
I’m doing: Camping! Or technically I suppose its Vancamping! Had a lovely couple of days at Ingfield Farm Camping, near Penistone last weekend. Just plotting my next adventure!
I’m learning: How to ‘grow my own drugs’. The herbal and legal kind obviously!! I’m gradually creating a herb garden, and beginning with teas, I hope to build my knowledge over the Summer.
Are you making the most of my free resources?
Use these links to receive my:
Schools and Education free termly newsletter
Visit my resources page for a host of free tools and resources
‘Straight Forward Funding Resources’ Facebook Group, where I post more info about funding, along with any useful information and resources.
See you next month!