Please do look though and if there are any sources you think we should add please do let us know.

Tenders to deliver a programme to support people into employment welcomed by London Councils .

London Councils has launched a new European Social Fund (ESF) tending round.  Tenders specifications  have been designed for seven London boroughs:   

• Brent
• Enfield
• Hackney
• Havering
• Islington
• Redbridge
• Sutton

Information on how to apply and details about the 7 projects to be funded is available at: http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/

The deadline for applications is 12 noon on 24th May 2013.

London Councils strongly advise that you don't wait until 12 noon to submit your application!
Project delivery is expected to commence in July 2013 and finish in June 2015.

For further information on how to apply, please contact david.jones@londoncouncils.gov.uk or stephen.boon@londoncouncils.gov.uk 

In the interest of fairness to all applicants, London Councils cannot discuss individual project ideas.

If you are a disabled people’s led organisation and have additional requirements, for instance, if you need extra time to make an application or find that the online application process is not accessible please contact either David or Stephen as above.

The Capital Community Foundation website includes a list of grants available across London  -  to find out more visit:

www.londoncommunityfoundation.org.uk

March 2013

Charities using the Community Right to Challenge or bidding to run local services may be eligible for a grant from The Social Investment Business Group. Under its Community Assets and Services Grants programme the SIB Group is giving away £10 million to help organisations with feasibility studies and the initial set up of local services. Grants are also available to those using the community right to bid and pursuing asset transfers.

The next round of applications will be reviewed in April 2013. To find out more and to apply visit
www.sibgroup.org.uk/communityrights

February 2013

Money is still available from Skillsforcare to help individual employers and personal assistants to access training.

Individual employers can apply for money from Skills for Care for themselves and their personal assistants which will cover level 2, 3 and 5 diplomas and support training in range of areas including:

• emergency first aid
• drug administration
• moving and assisting
• safe guarding
• professional boundaries
• food safety, and
• Passenger Transport Assistants Training Scheme (PATS)

The money can also be used to help individual employers to broaden their skill base, be more confident in their role and carrying out supervisions and appraisals with their personal assistants. Additionally the money could be used for individual employers to pay training providers for tailored courses that are specific to their needs.

For more information and how to apply visit:
http://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/funding/funding.aspx

August 2012

The SFA has announced it has funding available for ESF Priority 2 ("developing a skilled and adaptable workforce") and will issue invitations to tender in November 2012 for provision to provide skills support for the workplace through Apprenticeships and related workplace learning from April 2013.

Remember, the SFA has a Minimum Contract Level of £500,000 for the 2012/13 academic year. So, many providers may look to partner with larger organsations for delivery.

The SFA has said its approach to procuring this ESF round will include a broad specification, close working arrangements with the London Enterprise Panel, and an expectation that providers develop collaborative or other networks.

Providers need to be on the SFA Register of Training Organisations (the Register) at the time the invitation is issued. To get on the register, organisations must pass the SFA’s Due Diligence Assurance Gateway Questionnaire and supply Financial Statements.

If your organisation is not currently on the Register the next opportunity to become listed on the Register will be from the end of August 2012 for a period of 30 days.

There is further information on the Register here: http://skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk/providers/programmes/register/

The Government launched the Access to Elected Office Strategy on 9 July to provide additional support for disabled people seeking elected office. The Strategy has been designed to level the playing field for potential disabled candidates and tackle the currently low levels of disabled people in political life.
As part of this Strategy, we have:
• Set up a new fund to help disabled people who plan to stand for elections with the extra disability-related costs.
Go to www.access-to-elected-office-fund.org.uk for more details
• Provided new training and development opportunities for people who are interested in a political career, including launching an introductory online training course and paid internships on the Speaker’s Parliamentary Placement scheme.
Go to www.access-to-elected-office-training.org.uk for more details on the online training
Go to www.socialmobility.org.uk/speakers-parliamentary-placements-scheme for more details on the Parliamentary Placement Scheme, which is open for applications until
30 July 2012
• Produced new online guidance on reasonable adjustments to help political parties meet their legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010.
Go to www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/equalities/public-political-equality/disabled-access-guidance to access the guidance
The fund will be open for applications until March 2014. It will help disabled candidates meet the additional costs they may face compared to a non-disabled person in standing for election, such as extra transport costs or sign language interpreters.
Please visit www.homeoffice.gov.uk/access-elected-office for more information about the Strategy.
You can also contact the team at accesstoelectedoffice@geo.gsi.gov.uk

The Department of Health has announced a further investment of £19 million for social enterprises over the next year.

Since the Social Enterprise Investment Fund (SEIF) was launched in 2007, the Department of Health has invested more than £100 million in more than 600 social enterprises working across a wide range of health and social care areas, including disability services, mental health, substance misuse, carers’ organisations and supporting people with long term conditions. These enterprises include Jamie’s Farm, Norcare, Jets Foundation and HCT Group. SEIF investment packages, which include grants and loans, have supported organisations at different stages, helping them become investment ready and then to scale up and grow. 

To find out more on eligibility for the fund please either visit The Social Investment Business site or call 0191 261 5200. Details of priorities for the 2012/13 fund will be available shortly.

May 2012

Applying to the Merger Fund

There is no closing date for the fund, but applications are assessed  as they come in and this means that once the funds have been allocated any new applications will not be able to be considered.

For more information visit the Esme Fairbourne website.

Disability Grants - your guide to grants for disabled people

Do you have an impairment? Are you a parent or carer of a Disabled child or adult? If so, use this website to save time finding Disability Grants: http://www.disability-grants.org/

This website is updated weekly and has lots of useful information.

Volunteering programmes will benefit from the Social Action Fund

A government fund to give grant support to programmes that increase volunteering and other social action has opened. It is open to any organisation with an annual turnover of at least £100,000 and the minimum grant organisations can apply for is £100,000. Applications will close in early February.
For more information  please go to www.thesocialinvestmentbusiness.org. This is a website  worth keeping an eye on!