The Lottery have launched an amazing looking new fund for social entrepreneurs with lived experience. Grants of up to £50,000 are available, and, encouragingly it also applies to Community Interest Companies as well as the usual not for profit groups. There are only 40 grants available nationally, and the deadline is 13th October.
Here’s what the Lottery says:
Supporting organisations set up or run by people with first-hand experience of a social issue, who are trying to create positive change for communities and people who share those experiences. This funding will support lived experience leadership, and make sure lived experience plays a key role in shaping how communities move towards recovery and renewal after the impact of COVID-19.
You can apply if your organisation:
- was set up by a lived experience leader
- is run by a lived experience leader
- has leadership that reflects the people it wants to support.
Your organisation also needs to be a:
- voluntary or community organisation
- registered charity
- constituted group or club
- not-for-profit company or community interest company.
We cannot accept applications from:
- individuals
- sole traders
- companies that are aimed at generating profits primarily for private distribution
- organisations based outside the UK
- applications made by one organisation on behalf of another
- schools
- statutory bodies (including town, parish and community councils)
We can fund:
- equipment (e.g. office equipment)
- one-off events
- staff costs
- training costs
- transport
- utilities/running costs
- volunteer expenses
We cannot fund:
- statutory activities
- loans, endowments or interest
- electricity generation and feed-in tariff payments
- paying someone else to write your application
- political or religious activities
- profit-making or fundraising activities
- VAT you can reclaim
- alcohol
- buying or refurbishing buildings, also known as capital funding.
Apply at: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/leaders-with-lived-experience-2020
