Grants
Grants Programme Guidelines
Improving
services for older people - Grants + Capacity Building
Aims
We aim to help small organisations improve their services to
older people.
Objectives
- to support quality services for older people
- to improve the management of such services to older people by
providing an additional grant to strengthen and sustain the
organisation.
Why is this programme needed?
We know that voluntary and community organisations are providing
vital services reaching into the heart of even the most
marginalised communities.
We recognise that small groups play an invaluable role in
supporting older people, many running on a shoestring. We believe
that older people deserve quality services. Unfortunately many
small organisations working with older people in London lack the
funds or resources to offer the standard of services they want to
provide and that older people deserve.
Sources of help
Many organisations also need to strengthen their management
systems, properly support their volunteers and develop their
fundraising for example. Help is available from many different
sources, such as consultants, councils for voluntary service and
training organisations. This sort of help is often called 'capacity
building'.
Responsibilities
We know small groups face enormous pressures. You have to
compete for funding, recruit and train volunteers, provide
evaluations or monitoring reports and ensure that your financial
systems are strong. Recruiting trustees can be hard and keeping up
with legal requirements like health and safety regulations takes
time and money. Taking on staff brings employment responsibilities
- all this as well as running the lunch club, befriending scheme or
organising outings.
How can we help you?
We will provide you with both a grant and some capacity building
to strengthen your organisation.
1 The Grant
We can give grants up to £20,000 for capital and running costs
or a combination of both. Capital grants could be for improving
your building, replacing equipment or acquiring computers for
example. Running costs could cover salaries, volunteer expenses,
bills, rent and insurance.
2 Capacity Building
As well as a grant we will provide funding to meet the costs of
consultancy help, expert advice or training on any of the
following:
- developing a business plan or work programme
- monitoring and evaluating your work
- improving your management committee through trustee
training
- fundraising
- developing financial and managerial systems
- report writing
- using the media to get your message across
- recruiting and supporting volunteers.
You may have other development needs which we will be happy to
discuss with you.
Further
information
The programme
Capacity building help sheet (PDF)
How to apply