Grants to Charities

Guidance Notes for Applicants

 

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PLEASE NOTE:

The Trust’s annual budget for Grants to Charities is currently under £5,000

Criteria for applications

The William Dudley Trust may only consider applications from charities that are based within the boundaries of the City of Birmingham, benefiting residents of Birmingham and established to alleviate need, hardship and distress.

Current priorities

Trustees regularly review their priorities in grant making.

1.         Trustees give absolute priority to smaller Birmingham based local charities that are working to alleviate need, hardship and distress for residents of Birmingham of any age.

 2.        Trustees particularly welcome applications from smaller Birmingham based local charities that work with older people – those who are frail, housebound, experiencing ill health, poverty, disability or  disadvantage.

3.      Favourable consideration is given to charities in which a large proportion of the work is undertaken by volunteers rather than paid staff.

4.        Grants are usually made for specific purposes rather than a general contribution to funds. The average grant is currently about £250. (Check the list of grants awarded in the most recent financial year, on Page 4)

5.         The Trustees pay particular attention to applications that demonstrate long-term benefits for their clients (e.g. towards meeting the costs of training volunteers; or the costs of equipment such as lifting gear for disabled or elderly people) rather than the costs of a one-off event.

6.         The Trustees welcome applications from newer small local charities as long as they provide evidence of the services and activities they are delivering for their community and all the required paperwork. (See 7. below)

7.         Trustees prefer applications from registered charities. Groups that are not registered charities may also apply,  but must have charitable aims, named officers and a written constitution, a copy of which is to be sent to the Trust before Trustees can consider the letter of application.

8.         Successful applicants, not registered charities, will need to provide the name of a sponsoring organisation (a larger charity) to receive the cheque on their behalf.

 Ineligible applications

To reduce time and resources wasted on inappropriate applications, you are advised to note the following.

•    Trustees do not donate to general appeals from national charities
•    Generally trustees do not  make small contributions to large appeals for vehicles or buildings
•    Larger charities are unlikely to be funded
•    Charities not based in Birmingham are unlikely to be funded
•    Generally Trustees do not fund holidays and outings
•    Trustees do not fund animal charities
•    Trustees do not fund medical research
•    Trustees do not give grants to individuals
•    Community interest companies are not eligible for funding
 

      Applying to the Trust

There is no application form. Please write a brief letter (two sides of A4 maximum) and include details of:

• What your group does

The services you are currently providing

 

• Who will benefit if a grant is awarded and how many

Older people, for example, ethnicity, gender etc

 

• How the people who will benefit are disadvantaged

What hardship, need or distress do they experience?

 

• How this grant will help them

How will it make a difference?

 

• What area(s) of Birmingham will benefit

Winson Green or city-wide, for example

 

• The amount you need

Written quotes or a detailed breakdown of costs are helpful

 

• How much you have raised towards the total costs and how you expect to raise the balance

Essential if your appeal is for more than £1,000

 

• Your service providers. Are they paid or do they volunteer?

Tell us how many

In support of your application please also enclose-:

• A copy of your most recent examined or audited accounts or an internal financial statement that shows income and expenditure. If you do not send accounts your application will be returned.

• An explanation if your unrestricted reserves are larger than your annual income

• An annual report for example or other information about your work

• The names of your management committee, trustees or directors

• A copy of a recent bank statement for all accounts

• A copy of your policy on child protection or protection of vulnerable adults if your application relates to either of these groups

• Your volunteer policy if you are applying for volunteers expenses. Birmingham Voluntary Service Council [0121 643 4343] can help your group to develop best practice policies and procedures for volunteers. Visit www.bvsc.org/volunteer

Re-application

Re-applications are welcomed but please do not re-apply in the same 12 month period, especially if your group has been funded.

Acknowledging applications

To keep its running costs low, the Trust does not acknowledge receipt of applications. If you would like to confirm that your application has arrived at the Trust’s office please enclose a stamped self-addressed postcard or envelope.  When the trustees have met to consider your application you will receive a letter stating their decision within a month.

If you require any further information, please contact the Administrator at the address below. Applicants are welcome to telephone to discuss their application.

Trustees Meetings

Applications are considered at a meeting of the Board of Trustees. Closing dates for the year 2010 are as follows:

        

Meeting date	Closing date for applications
February	Friday 29 January 2010
June	Friday 30 April 2010
September	Friday 30 July 2010
November	Friday 29 October 2010

Acknowledging applications

To keep its running costs low, the Trust does not acknowledge receipt of applications. If you would like to confirm that your application has arrived at the Trust’s office then please enclose a stamped self-addressed postcard or envelope. When the trustees have met to consider your application you will receive a letter stating their decision within a month.

If you require any other information, please contact the Administrator at the address below. Organisations are welcome to telephone to discuss their application.

Grants awarded in 2009

Organisation	grant ( £)	towards
Abplus	350	Photocopier
Balsall Heath Church Centre	250	Christmas goodie bags for elders
Birmingham Fellowship of the Handicapped	500	Minibus inspection & testing
Bishop Latimer Church L.E.P	250	Toys and play equipment
Carrs Lane Counselling Centre Limited	200	Running costs
Cruse Bereavement Care	250	Family travel expenses
Home-Start Sutton Coldfield	150	Arts & craft materials work with children
OPNOCS	250	Volunteer training & expenses
Shard End Day Centre Association	390	Hire of tail-lift coach
Sport4Life	150	Portable blow-up goalposts
St James Community Support & Advice Centre	200	Sylheti speaking advice worker
St. Matthew's Church Centre Perry Beeches	250	Playscheme equipment
Sudden Productions	250	Drama project for young people
The Springfield Project	250	Outdoor play equipment

 

Profile of grant making in 2009		Beneficiaries in 2009
Applications to trustees	57	Services for older disadvantaged people	4
Number of grants awarded	15	Services for disadvantaged adults	3
Total grants awarded	£3,990	Services for disadvantaged youths, families & children	8
Average Grant	£266

 

©The William Dudley Trust is a Registered Charity no. 214752. Registered Office: Unit F1, The Arch, 48 - 52 Floodgate Street, Digbeth, Birmingham B5 5SL