Our MK

Our MK is bringing together communities, data and enterprise to transform Milton Keynes. We want your innovative ideas for transport, energy, water, health and environment in our city, and to support you to develop these ideas into citizen-led projects.

Our MK is powered by MK:Smart, working to bring MK to the forefront of innovation, technology and data. Our MK now has funding available for your projects that could help MK achieve this. Could you use up to £5k to get your project off the ground?

The deadline for the first round of this competition funding is 16th August, and support to develop your project will be given at a series of workshops before this date. For further information about how you can apply, visit www.ourmk.org/competition.


Grants
DM Thomas Foundation for Young People

The Foundation aims to make a real difference to those most in need. It supports projects within the UK and Ireland that focus on Young People and Education, and Young People and Health.

Amount: £ 30,000

Deadline: 28th July

Website


Anchor Foundation

Grants are available to UK-registered Christian charities for projects that encourage social inclusion through ministries of healing and the arts.

Amount: £ 10,000

Deadline: 31st July

Website


Freemasons’ Grand Charity

The charity makes grants to Masonic and non-Masonic charities in England and Wales. Grants are broadly aimed at charitable work in the following fields: Youth Opportunities; Vulnerable People; Medical Research; and Hospices.

Amount: £ 50,000

Deadline: 31st July

Website


Golsoncott Foundation

Grants are available to voluntary sector organisations in the UK for projects that promote fine arts and music.

Amount: £ 5,000

Deadline: 31st July

Website


Ironmongers’ Company

Grant for projects in the UK that provide opportunities for disadvantaged children and young people under the age of 25 years to fulfil their potential.

Amount: £ 10,000

Deadline: 31st July

Website


Radcliffe Trust

Funding is available for registered charities working in music, and heritage and crafts.

Deadline: Heritage and Crafts Scheme 31st July

               Music Scheme 31st August

Website


Skipton Building Society – Grassroots Giving

Financial awards are available for local community groups in the UK who are passionate about making life better for others and who need a bit of help in getting their projects off the ground.

Amount: £ 500

Deadline: 31st July

Website

 


Marc Fitch Fund

Grant for individuals and organisations in the UK for research and publications whose primary focus is on regional and local history within the British Isles.

Deadline: 1st  August

Website


Weaver’s Company Benevolent Fund Grant

Grants for organisations undertaking projects involving young people who are vulnerable or may become involved in crime in the UK.

Amount: £ 15,000

Deadline: 3rd August

Website


Starbucks Youth Action Grants

Funding to empower young people in England, Scotland and Wales to make a difference in their communities and to enable them to bring their ideas to life.

Deadline:  3rd August

Website


Wellcome Trust – Engaging Science Programme

Funding for projects in the field of biomedical science which aim to make a significant impact on public engagement with science and its related issues. Funding is provided through the People/Society Award, Arts Award, Broadcast Development Award, International Engagement Award, Science Media Studentships, Engagement Fellowships and Capital Funding schemes.

Deadline: 7th August

Website


Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys – Stepping Stones Grants

Grants are available to charities registered in England and/or Wales working to significantly improve life outcomes for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Amount: £ 20,000

Deadine: 14th August

Website


Help Through Crisis Fund

Grants are available for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in England for projects that provide immediate support to individuals currently living in crisis or at risk of crisis as a result of hardship.

Amount: up to £ 500,000

Deadline: 26th August

Website


Awards
Renewable energy awards

The M&S Energy Community Fund is an awards scheme for not for profit organisations that want to use renewable energy to provide community benefits.They have available national awards of £40,000 and £20,000, and a regional award of £12,500.There is also a minimum funding of £15,000 which will be split between the most inspiring and innovative projects.To take part, complete the online application form. Projects will be subject to popular vote, so it will help if your beneficiaries are cute. Click here for details.

Deadline: 29th July


Guardian Charity Awards

The Guardian Charity Awards seek to recognise and encourage UK charities that make an outstanding and valuable contribution to social welfare in the community.

Deadline: 5th August


News
What corporate sponsors look for in a charity partnership

This article from the Guardian is worth a read if you are interested in making connections with businesses to support your work.


Sunday Soup

The Soup Grant is a grassroots model for funding small to medium sized creative projects through community meals. The basic formula is that a group of people come together to share a meal and that meal is sold for an affordable price. All the income from that meal is given as a grant to support a creative project. Grant applications are accepted up until the meal, everyone who purchases the meal gets one vote to determine who receives the grant. The grants are completely unrestricted and will be awarded at the discretion of the customers.


Growing Together

Growing Together, funded by the Big Lottery Fund, is a new partnership of community and environmental sector organisations created to support local community growing groups to generate their own income. Support will be given through advice and training, with particular priorities being: crowdfunding; community shares; e-commerce;  generating income through trading: procurement; business planning; financial governance; finding and securing land.The Growing Together website is due to be launched this summer; to keep informed of the developments visit the temporary webpage , there is also a Facebook page.


What is the National Funding Scheme (NFS)?

The National Funding Scheme is a registered charity set up to enable any organisation with a charitable purpose to fundraise using digital technology. The NFS has developed a national tool of mobile giving – DONATE – which any organisation can adopt, they are not a crowdfunding platform but a risk free alternative where donations are donations and not just pledges. They pass on donor data subject to opt-in so you can build long-term relationships with donors. If you’re a charity or an organisation with a charitable purpose, you can join the DONATE by registering here today.


Evidence on benefits of physical activity

If you are wanting to show a funder that your project involving children running about will benefit their health, the evidence is in a new study published by the Government.


Training and events
Fit4Funding

Click here to download Fit4Fundings learning prospectus


Have we helped your group get funding in the past year? We regularly provide reviews and feedback on funding application and help with getting ‘fit for funding’ to charities and community groups in Milton Keynes. If your group has received funding partly as a result of our help, we’d love to hear from you so we can celebrate your success!

Please email us or call 01908 661623.