Southwest Foundation Invites Applications to Esmee Fairbairn Foundation’s Small Grants Programme

The Southwest Foundation is administering the Small Grant Fund on behalf of the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation who, for the five year period 2016-2021, will be providing grants throughout the South West region.
Small voluntary and community sector groups are eligible to apply for grants of up to £1,000 for projects that address the needs of people in their communities by engaging them in community activities either as volunteers or as beneficiaries. Most grants are expected to be in the region of £200-£600, and priority will be given to small organisations with running costs under £20,000 and with less than 12 months running costs in free reserves.
To be eligible to apply, all organisations must:

• Be working in the South West of England.
• Have a constitution or set of rules.
• Have a bank account in the name of the organisation with at least two signatories.

Priority will be given to organisations working in rural areas, market and coastal towns. The Foundation considers rural communities to have the following characteristics:

• Sparse population.
• Limited local services.
• Poor transport links.
• Difficult access to services and information because of geographical dispersement.
• Less likely to attract any major funding streams.

Priority will also be given to organisations that are supporting people most in need, including:

• Disabled people, including people with learning disabilities.
• People with mental health problems.
• Frail older people.
• People who are unemployed or on low incomes.
• Carers of people with additional needs.
• Young people who are affected by ‘disadvantage’ in any way.
• People threatened or affected by domestic violence.
• People from the Black and Minority Ethnic Community.
• Lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
• People from Gypsy and Traveller Communities.
• People from any other marginalised group.

Applications from Bristol, Plymouth, Gloucester, Swindon and Exeter will not be accepted unless the applicant can demonstrate that the project will assist and/or support people from rural areas and/or coastal and market towns.
Applications can be submitted at any time.

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