Grassroots Grants Spent Up
Members of Backworth Male Voice Choir with their new digital piano
After a fantastic three years making grants to over 1000 groups through the Grassroots Grants programme in Northumberland, Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland we can now announce that the programme is fully spent to the tune of £2.5million.
Groups from pigeon fanciers to knitters, gardeners to singers and everything in between have been supported since the programme was launched in the summer of 2008.
Backworth Male Voice Choir in North Tyneside was just one group that was supported with a grant of £1,361 to buy a new digital piano for their performances both here and abroad. Andrew Rutherford from the choir said:
“There are 60 of us in the choir and we’ve never had any funding before but we were desperate for a new piano so we thought we’d give Grassroots a shot! The application process was really simple and now we have a lovely new digital piano so that our performances are of the same standard whether we are here or abroad!”
Although the Grassroots Grant programme is now closed for applications the Community Foundation has many other funds that look for applications from grassroots groups. You just need to apply on the normal application form instead of the Grassroots one. Click here to apply online now.
If Only Matures
The If Only Acorn Fund has matured into a full endowment Fund thanks to further donations from the Fund holders Peter and Vera Fletcher. The Fund was established in 2006 and has taken just four years to mature. They are now planning to support general charitable causes in Tyne & Wear and Northumberland.
Vera and Peter said:
“We are delighted that the Fund has matured so quickly and we look forward to making grants to charitable causes in the area. We have found that building up an Acorn Fund is very flexible because we can contribute as much as we want each year subject to the minimum requirements.”
Acorn Funds start from as little as £65 per month enabling anyone who has the means to become a local philanthropist. For more information click here or call Peter Storey on 0191 222 0945.
Women’s Spring Lunch Preparations in Full Swing
Preparations for the annual International Women’s Day Networking Lunch in aid of the Women’s Fund are now in full swing. The date is confirmed as Friday 11 March 2011 at the Hilton NewcastleGateshead and is once again kindly supported by Deloitte. Keep your eye out for special early bird offers on tickets and if you would like to register your interest email Alexandra Horrocks.
Music Award for Local Lad
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Up and coming musician and songwriter Fran O’Hanlon from North Shields has been selected as this year’s recipient of The Alan Hull Award. The Alan Hull Award was established in memory of Alan Hull, the Newcastle born songwriter and founder member of North East group Lindisfarne, who died in 1995. The aim of the award is to encourage young composers and songwriters in the North East. The panel, which includes Alan’s wife Pat and former band mate Ray Laidlaw were hugely impressed with the complexity and beauty of Fran’s compositions both musically and lyrically. Ray Laidlaw said: “When I heard Fran’s songs I was immediately hooked by his use of language and his musicality. Pat Hull agreed and when we read his application describing his influences and ambitions we realised that we had a worthy winner for the 2010 Alan Hull Award.” For more information about the Alan Hull Award or to find out if you might be eligible for grant funding visit click here. |
 Winner of the Alan Hull Award Fran O’Hanlon with Ray Laidlaw |
Calls for Applications
Gateshead Housing Community Fund is looking for applications from community and voluntary groups in areas where Gateshead Housing Company tenants live. Grants from £500 – £10,000 are available and the deadline is 26 January 2011. Priority will be given to projects that bring different sections of the community together but applications can be considered for all types of projects. In kind support is also available. Click here to find out more and to download an application form or email Lisa Cappleman.
The David Dockray Young People’s Fund is also looking for applications for grants of up to £2,000 from community and voluntary organisations supporting young people in the West End of Newcastle. For more information and to apply online click here or email Su Legg.
Active at 60
Cauldwell Ladies Bowling Club are Active in their Community
The Active at 60 programme is now open for applications. It is a pilot grants scheme developed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) aiming to support people approaching retirement to stay or become more active mentally, physically and socially; in particular those at risk of being lonely, leading unhealthy lifestyles, affected by illness or disability, caring for someone or who are worried about their finances.
Grants will be made to local volunteer led groups and organisations whose members volunteer their time to become Active at 60 Community Agents in Sunderland and South Tyneside local authority areas. For more information and to apply online click here.
Awards for Environmental Groups
Environmental groups are being encouraged to apply to the Evening Chronicle Environment Awards to recognise their hard work and commitment to make the North East a greener place to live. Deadline for applications is 10 January 2011. For more information click here.
And Finally…
We would like to say a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone who has supported the Community Foundation throughout 2010 and we look forward to working with you to improve our communities in Tyne & Wear and Northumberland throughout 2011.