Find Funding
Where to find funding
View the Funding News bulletin for information on who has funding available and what sorts of projects funders are interested in.
Community Central Grants - This round is now closed.
Funding Central website for lists of funding sources.
If you are looking for funding for an individual to do something, there is less choice of sources as most funders want to support group projects. However it is not impossible! Look at http://www.o2thinkbig.co.uk/How-it-works/ for a start.
Note that information on new local funders and grants will feature on our regular Inforumation Exchange bulletins so make sure you are signed up! We have also put together this handy document 'Where to find free resources and support' full of free sources of support which includes a large section on where to search for funding and grants.
Evidence
If you are looking to evidence the need which your project meets then there are documents which can help you provide data such as the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and Indices of Deprivation and you can find them on our Strategic Planning & Partnerships Page. We can also advise you about other ways of gathering evidence to support your project.
Help with researching sources of funding and guidance on making applications
You are not alone! We can help your group by showing you how to do funding searches and we have funding guidance available for voluntary groups. We are happy to help you draft your own applications for funding and to read through your applications and to give you unbiased feedback on them before you send them to funding bodies. We are in touch with funders and they share with us what they are looking for. Our approach is to help you learn the skills so that each time you make funding bids or organise fundraising events you are growing your skills and strengthening your group. To be sustainable voluntary groups need to 'grow their own' expertise in this way.
Before you try to raise funds through whatever means you may find that you also need other policies for your group; both private and public funders will want to be assured you have certain procedures in place to show that your project will be well organised and managed. We can help you with these wider issues too.
Come and talk to us about your project so that we can help you. Also keep an eye on this website where you will find details of workshops which involve funders who are able to advise you and other events which can strengthen your group. Our workshop in April heard from the Heritage Lottery Fund, in July we featured Big Lottery funding under the Reaching Communities programme and we will be helping groups to access local funding including the West Sussex Social Enterprise Fund and Community Central grants as well as a wide range of other local funds.
