# Localgiving opens 2017 Magic Little Grants scheme with initial £35,000 funding round

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/10/05/localgiving-opens-2017-magic-little-grants-scheme-initial-35000-funding-round/
- Published: 2017-10-05T07:17:10+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Localgiving has made its first funding round for its 2017 Magic Little Grants 
scheme by giving £35,000 to 72 local charities and community groups across the UK.**

Run in association with the [Postcode Community Trust](http://www.postcodecommunitytrust.org.uk/),
[Localgiving](https://localgiving.org/)’s [Magic Little Grants](https://localgiving.org/what-we-do/magic-little-grants/)
scheme distributes small grants on behalf of grant makers to local charities and
community groups. It has a simple application process with the aim of easing the
process for grassroots organisations to access small amounts of funding to help 
launch or strengthen their services. This is the first round of grants for the 2017
scheme, with **applications open until 31 October.**

The current grants of £250 and £500 are open to charitable groups in Great Britain
running sports or physical activities for their local community. Applicants must
either be in their first year of operation or have an annual income under £50,000.
Preference is given to projects that encourage social cohesion and help vulnerable
or hard to reach groups to overcome barriers to participation in physical activities.

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As well as receiving a Magic Little Grant, successful organisations are also given
free annual membership with Localgiving. This gives them access to Localgiving’s
online fundraising platform, fundraising resources and regular match fund campaigns
such as [Grow Your Tenner](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/09/07/localgiving-offer-six-months-matched-giving-celebrate-six-years-grow-tenner/).

The scheme has received over 100 applications so far and awards have been made to
a range of projects from Chair Zumba classes for over 60s, to autism friendly trampolining
sessions, and amateur football clubs needing extra equipment ahead of the new season.

[The Gratton Trust](http://www.grattontrust.org/) in Sutton Scotney received £500
to help provide subsidised tennis coaching to local residents. Margaret Sandford,
Trustee of the Gratton Trust said:

> “This application was by far the simplest I have ever completed. We are always
> trying to
> source funding locally to invest in our community, but it is becoming increasingly
> difficult to
> do so. We are so grateful that we have been provided with a grant from the Magic
> Little
> Grants Fund to enable us to give something back to our community, to enable more
> people
> to get into tennis and enjoy fun after school/work activities that are inclusive
> for all.”

Chris Dormer, Head of Business Development at Localgiving said:

> “Sports and physical activities are not only essential to our physical and mental
> wellbeing but can bring people and communities together. It is seldom recognised
> that the majority of groups offering these activities are actually very small,
> community run organisations – from community football clubs to exercise classes
> for hard-to-reach groups. Through these grants we are showing our recognition 
> of these amazing local groups and the difference they make.”

Information on how to apply is available on the [Magic Little Grants page](https://localgiving.org/what-we-do/magic-little-grants/).

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