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Latest Funding Update – 1 December 2011

05/12/2011

This is the latest issue of the Learning Partnership funding update part of the funding eXchange service we will be rolling out to partners. Below we have listed all of the new funding initiatives connected to learning and skills. If you would like more information about any of these schemes please contact Nick Bray quoting the relevant reference number. This service is offered to partners who are involved in the design or delivery of learning opportunities within Bedfordshire and Luton.Grantfinder searches over 4,000 funding sources and is the UK’s largest and most comprehensively supported database of its type.  We are pleased to work in partnership to bring you access to the very latest funding opportunities that affect the learning and skills sector.Grantfinder is the UK’s largest and most comprehensively supported database of its type.  For more information or to arrange a demonstration please call 01909 501200.Whilst the majority of the funding opportunities are from the Grantfinder database we are now also providing details of other funding opportunities.
1. Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF) – Phase 2 Open to Applications UN3770  The second phase of the Government’s Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF) has been launched. The fund supports businesses in the UK to develop their skills solutions tailored to their own needs, transforming growth in their sector, region or supply chain.The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) is providing £34 million during 2012-13, added to an existing budget of £29 million. With matched funding from businesses there will be approximately £60 million available under GIF this year.There are no minimum or maximum funding levels cited for individual projects. However, the selection criteria include looking at the scale and impact of proposals and how well proposed solutions meet priority needs identified by bidders in their sectoral analysis of what can unlock growth potential. For that reason, applications with a very small value will not generally be accepted. BIS expects most successful proposals to be on a relatively large scale requiring investment greater than £500,000 per annum over a period of approximately two years.GIF is able to invest in a wide variety of ideas and is actively seeking proposals that:

  • deliver demonstrably employer-led, innovative and future-proofed skills solutions;
  • support the drive to greater ownership of skills by employers;
  • use GIF investment alongside employer investment; and
  • build sustainable skills capacity and infrastructure.

Applications are invited from Sector Skills Councils, Industry Training Boards, formally constituted Sector Bodies, National Skills Academies, Employer Associations, Trade Associations and Professional Bodies in the United Kingdom. Collaborative applications are welcomed from multiple sector organisations. In order to ensure the fund supports businesses in the different ways they work together to secure growth, the programme has also extended its eligibility to apply to local enterprise partnerships. 

The first deadline for receipt of applications under the Fund’s current phase is 31 January 2012

2. Libraries Development Initiative Launched UG1735
Arts Council England has launched the new Libraries Development Initiative. The new initiative offers grants of up to £20,000 to public library services in England to help create vibrant, sustainable 21st century library services.Successful projects will explore how an integrated local cultural offer can improve efficiency, experiences and outcomes for the public and strengthen the library service and arts and culture in the local area.The initiative is divided into the following four parts:

  • Part 1: new delivery models for arts and culture working together.
  • Part 2: co-ordinating partnerships to achieve wider community outcomes.
  • Part 3: books and reading.
  • Part 4: commercial partnerships.

It is anticipated that there will be a range of projects from each part. Each applicant can apply for only one part and must be able to respond to the assessment criteria for that part. However, innovative and original ideas that extend beyond the remit of each individual part will be welcomed. 

Expressions of interest must be submitted by the deadline 2 December 2011. 

Successful organisations will then be asked to fill in an online application with the deadline of 20 January 2012. 

Successful applicants will be announced on 13 February 2012.
3. Cabinet Office Launches Advice Services Fund (England)
The Cabinet Office has launched a £16.8 million grant scheme aimed at supporting voluntary organisations offering free advice services in England.The Advice Services Fund will be administered by the Big Lottery Fund and offers grants of £40,000 to £70,000.Eligible applicants must offer free advice services in the following areas:

  • Advice on debt.
  • Advice on welfare benefits.
  • Advice on housing.
  • Advice on employment.

Priority will be given to organisations experiencing the largest budget reductions, and those who have not received funding from the Transition Fund. 

The deadline for registration is 22 December 2011. 
4. Big Lottery Launches £10 Million Sustainable Living Fund (England)The Communities Living Sustainably Fund is designed to support partnerships of public, private and voluntary sector bodies which are helping communities address the economic, social and environmental effects of climate change.It is expected that up to 10 communities will be supported with a mixture of expert support and advice, up to £10,000 development funding to support the applications and grant funding of up to £1 million.Partnerships must be able to meet the overall aim of the scheme, which is to learn how best to empower communities to live in a sustainable way and cope with the impact of climate change and achieve all of the following outcomes:

  • Communities are better prepared for environmental challenges and longer term environmental change and understand the improvements they can make to live more sustainably.
  • Vulnerable people affected by the impacts of climate change are able to make greener choices to help improve their quality of life.
  • Communities maximise the use of their assets and resources to create new economic opportunities and live more sustainably by, for example, using the skills and knowledge of individuals within their community to create green social enterprises and jobs.
  • Communities have a greater understanding of and more opportunities to use natural resources more efficiently.

The total fund value is £10 million. Grants of £500,000 and £1 million are available for up to five years. Additionally, grants of up to £10,000 are available to develop a project delivery plan. 

The deadline for submissions of Expressions of Interest is noon on 31 January 2012. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

5. HUMAN RESOURCES EXCELLENCE AWARDS (UK) UGD530Applications are now being invited for the 2012 Human Resources Excellence Awards, which recognise and reward businesses that demonstrate excellence in HR strategies, initiatives and achievements.All organisations operating within the United Kingdom with a human resources department are eligible to apply.Previous award winners include McDonald’s, Capgemini, River Island and ATS Euromaster. Award categories include Best Learning and Development Strategy, Best Talent Management Strategy and Most Effective Recruitment and Retention. The awards presentation will take place on Monday 25 June 2012. An entry fee of £350 plus VAT for the first entry and £195 plus VAT for an additional entry is payable on submission of the completed entry form. Cost of entry for voluntary or charitable sector bodies, or individuals working for them is £195 plus VAT. The deadline for the receipt of applications is 16 March 2012.

6. THE STAKE (UK) UG4360 Funded by Channel 4 Education in partnership with Barclays Bank, the Stake is a new competition providing young people in the UK the opportunity to exploit their business and enterprising skills in order to win funding that can be used towards community or business ideas that will make a difference.The Stake aims to show young people that business and social enterprise can be creative, fun, challenging and that good ideas and passion can be rewarded. The initiative enables the wider public to decide how a total of £100,000 will be spent.A maximum of six winners will be given up to £20,000 (minimum of £1,000), along with support from Barclays’ mentors and youth engagement agency, Livity, to make their ideas become a reality between January and March 2012.The money can be used to fund a variety of projects; for example a start-up business, a new school skate ramp or a one-off event. Anyone aged between 16 and 21 years of age can submit ideas about how they would spend a share of the money. To submit an entry, the participant must be resident in the United Kingdom. The deadline for the receipt of nominations is 23 December 2011.

 7. STARTER GRANTS FOR CLINICAL LECTURERS (UK) UN8820 The aim of this scheme is to provide modest ‘start up’ funds to enable clinical lecturers in the UK to pursue their research work, gather preliminary data and further strengthen their applications for longer-term fellowships and funding.A maximum grant of £30,000 is available, spanning a period of one or two years. The grant can support new and directly incurred research costs such as consumables and equipment. It can also be used to contribute towards necessary technical support that is available within an applicant’s institution.The scheme will fund research work of only the very highest quality and where it is clearly demonstrated that the findings will inform the applicant’s future career aspirations and bids for larger-scale fellowships.Clinicians in the UK who have obtained an MD or PhD, and who currently hold a ‘research active’ clinical lectureship post, are eligible to apply.There are two application rounds per year. The first 2012 deadline has been confirmed as 12 March 2012.

8. OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.  Developing Social Enterprise Ambassadors programme. LSIS is offering grants of up to £10,000 to learning and skills providers to develop a programme to identify and develop social enterprise ambassadors, and to cascade this learning to other providers by hosting delivery of the programme to a cohort of people drawn from the learning and skills sector.Applications should be submitted to teresa.carroll@lsis.org.uk by Monday 5 December 2011.For more information…. 

9. Funding for Peer Review and Development groups
LSIS is pleased to announce the opportunity for Peer Review and Development (PRD) groups to access funding for peer reviews and/or collaborative development activity relating to the development and delivery of the curriculum to meet local community and employer needs. In particular we are interested in funding work which explores the use of unit based delivery to engage with new groups of learners.Funding, up to a maximum of £5000, is available to a limited number of PRD groups. The funding can be used flexibly, either for additional reviews or for other collaborative activity, to develop or revise strategies for the development of the curriculum to meet local community and employer needs.Please read the accompanying invitation and guidance, and complete and return the application form to resource.utilisation@lsis.org.uk by midnight on 14 December 2011 in order to express your interest in participating.For more information… 
10. Sharing effective practice to move thinking forward relating to “Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability”This is an opportunity to get involved in work around the SEN Green Paper  “Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability” (March 2011).LSIS wants  to develop and support a regional cluster in each of the 9 regions in order to meet the commitment in the Green Paper to encourage “partnership working between independent specialist colleges, special schools and colleges. This will help spread knowledge, improve expertise, build capacity, and share delivery arrangements so that colleges and training providers can respond effectively to the needs of learners, employers and communities to whom they are increasingly accountable.” (para 3.18)The attached expression of interest form sets out the background and  thinking to the project. Please read it carefully and if you are interested please fill in the form and return to viv.berkeley@lsis.org.uk  by close of business Friday 16th  December 2011. Any expressions of interest returned after this date will not be considered. Providers will receive a grant of £2750 to support them with their project work.Please ensure you have capacity to participate prior to completing and submitting the form.For more information…�

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