# Bath Women’s Fund invites applications for its first grant programme

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/01/22/bath-womens-fund-invites-applications-for-its-first-grant-programme/
- Published: 2020-01-22T09:47:38+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**At the end of its first year Bath Women’s Fund has launched its first grant programme.
Local charitable organisations are invited to apply for a £10,000 grant to support
work that improves the lives of disadvantaged women and girls living in Bath and
North East Somerset.**

The [Fund’s inaugural meeting was in 2018](https://fundraising.co.uk/2018/10/11/giving-circle-launches-bath/)
and it was set up as a giving circle. The funding is generated by the collective
donations of the pioneering group of women who joined the giving circle in its first
year. Each member donates £25 per month (or £20 plus Gift Aid), or more if they 
wish.

## Giving circle

Co-founder and fundraiser Isobel Michael was inspired to set up the fund after seeing
Melbourne Women’s Fund in action when she was working in Australia. Isobel is a 
Bathonian and shared her vision with Emma Beeston, who works as an advisor to philanthropists
and Foundations. Both agreed that there was the need and opportunity in Bath to 
set up a giving circle so co-founded the group.

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## What is a giving circle?

Giving circles are a collective response to local needs to enable local women (and
men) to pool their donations in order to make a bigger difference in local communities.

 

## How to apply

The first grant-making theme is ‘**Services for Women and Girls**’. It was chosen
through a member vote following an assessment of local needs, informed by Quartet
Community Foundation’s Vital Signs research.

Guidance for applicants is available from the [Bath Women’s Fund](http://www.bathwomensfund.org.uk)‘
s website. It includes details on [eligibility](https://stjohnsbath.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bath-Women%E2%80%99s-Fund-guidance-for-applicants-2020.pdf),
including having:

 * a charitable purpose
 * a constitution / governing document
 * a board of at least three unconnected trustees, or a management committee with
   at least three unconnected members

Expressions of interest applications from eligible organisations are open **until
28th February**.

Shortlisted organisations will then be invited to submit a full application, which
will be assessed to select the final three.

The final three organisations will present their projects at a special event in 
June 2020 when Bath Women’s Fund members can vote for the organisation to be awarded
the **£10,000** grant. The other two organisations will receive a **£1,000 appreciation
award**.

 

![Wera Hobhouse MP speaking at the launch of Bath Women's Fund](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.
cloud/2020/01/wera-hobhouse-mp-bath-womens-fund.jpg)

_Wera Hobhouse MP speaking at the launch of Bath Women’s Fund_

Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath, was one of the inspiring local female role models who
spoke at the 2018 launch. Others who spoke then about the power of women coming 
together to give and support other in their community included Professor Carole 
Mundell, Amy Williams MBE, Sharron Davies MBE and Councillor Karen Walker.

On the announcement of the first funding round, Ms Hobhouse said: “Bath Women’s 
fund is a unique way to give back to our community. As a founding member I care 
deeply about the work that fund does, which is so enriching both to the members 
of the fund, and the organisations they choose to work with. Bath is a special place
and so it is no surprise that we are leading the way in innovative approaches to
giving back. This is such a great opportunity and I urge all eligible organisations
to apply.”

Volunteer-run Bath Women’s Fund is led by volunteers and hosted by St John’s Foundation
so “every pound donated by members will be awarded through the grant programmes”.

 

## Expanding the Fund

The Fund welcomes new members. All members who join the Fund by the end of April
2020 will be able to vote on awarding the first grant.

Isobel Michael told UK Fundraising: “We’ve found that potluck dinners are a great
approach to bring everyone together and learn about local charities and areas of
work – the theme of sharing food and drinks with each other fits well with the concept
of the fund and members pooling our collective giving to award a large grant together.”

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