Russell Commission launches small grants programme

Howard Lake | 21 November 2005 | News

Funding information service SMALLfri is once again sharing some funding news with UK Fundraising. The Russell Commission has launched a £600,000 small grants programme to fund preparatory work within England that will lay the foundations for the work of the new Russell Commission Implementation Body.

The grant round aims to fund projects in two key areas: Developing volunteer involving strategies for 16-25 year olds; and Best practice examples of how to reach new groups of young volunteers, particularly Black and minority ethnic groups, disabled people, faith groups and those without qualifications. Grants will cover 2005-06. This programme is not about funding volunteering opportunities for young people directly, but about capacity building and best practice models. Funding volunteering opportunities will be the role of the new Russell Commission Implementation Body, which will be formally launched in Spring 2006.

The Russell Commission was set up in May 2004 to look at ways of getting greater youth involvement in volunteering. Its final report set out a new framework for delivering a “step-change in young people’s action and engagement”. The Government accepted its recommendations and funding of up to £100 million has been allocated over the next three years. This funding round is designed for preparatory work that will lay the foundations for the work of the implementation body.

More details of the two elements of this immediate programme are as follows.

1. Developing volunteer involving strategies for young people from disadvantaged groups.

Bids are invited from organisations that are keen to develop their strategy for delivering Russell volunteering opportunities for young people from disadvantaged groups. These strategies should scope the opportunities that could be offered in the organisation, set out what support would be needed, explain the benefits to the young people and to the organisation, and give an indication of costs. The objective of these strategies would be to put organisations in a position to bid for Russell funding to deliver volunteering opportunities for young people from disadvantaged groups in 2006-07. Applications are invited from a range of organisations, both large and small. The value of grants will depend on the size of the organisation. For example, a large national organisation might receive funding for a staff worker for three months, while a small local organisation might receive funding for a staff worker for two weeks.

2. Developing best practice examples for engaging young people from under-represented groups as volunteers.

Bids are invited to build the evidence base on how to reach new groups of volunteers, including funding existing volunteer involving organisations to collate evidence from their experience of engaging under-represented groups of young people in volunteering, particularly Black and minority ethnic groups, disabled people, faith groups and those without qualifications.

The total amount of funding available is around £600,000 and proposals should reflect the limited nature of the funds. 50% of the money will be available for the first objective listed above, and 50% for the second. Projects should be delivered during the first three months of 2006, although this will be flexible depending on the project.

There are two levels of funding available:

* £2000 to £9000, aimed at small local voluntary andcommunity groups working or wishing to work with young volunteers.

* £10,000 to £24,000, aimed at medium/large voluntary and community groups working or wishing to work with young volunteers. Applications will only be considered from established voluntary and community sector organisations and priority will be given to organisations that can demonstrate that this funding will be used to support additional activity. Applicants do not have to be registered charities, but must be able to show evidence of having a governing constitution or set of rules, a management committee (or equivalent) and an independent bank account. Applications from consortiums will be also be looked at. Partnership bids, involving e.g. schools or local authority youth work, are also welcome as long as they are led by a voluntary and community sector organisation.

Full information is available at www.russellcommission.org.uk or you can email in**@gr*********.uk or call the helpline on 0845 603 1869.

Grants Programme Administration
Russell Commission 2005/06 Funding
The Bond
180-182 Fazelely Street
Birmingham
B5 5SE

Closing date: 2 December 2005. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their bids by 22 December.
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About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale. He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.