Sandwell Council of Voluntary Organisations - SCVO. Supporting the Growth of Community Action in Sandwell.

 

 

Sandwell Council of Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is pleased to announce its new role as local funder for the Grassroots Grants programme in Sandwell.  This paves the way for inward investment exceeding £1m over 3 years.

Grassroots Grants has two parts:

1.      Small grant awards

2.      An Endowment Match Challenge

The Small Grants amount to £0.45m and are for Sandwell based voluntary or community groups that have been active locally for not less than a rolling 12 months – initially prior to 31 December 2007. 

Awards will be from £250 up to a maximum of £5,000 per group and may be a one-off payment, or spread over 3 financial years until March 2011. 

These groups should have a governing document, and an average income of less than £20,000 per annum.

The grants may be spent, for example, on equipment, rent, or project activities. 

To evaluate the awards, there is a requirement to produce full evidence of the expenditure upon completion.

More details, application form and guidance notes at:

www.scvo.info/support-services/grassroots-grant/

The Endowment Match Challenge is being run by SCVO’s partner – The Harborne Parish Lands Charity (HPLC). 

In a groundbreaking programme, donations are being sought from private sector sources on the basis of each £ being matched by Government to invest in the Grassroots Endowment Fund for Sandwell. 

Over a 3 year period, this is planned to build to a target approaching £0.6m, thereby building capacity for frontline community organisations to receive ongoing small grants generated from the endowment yield.  

SCVO’s Chair, Catherine Marshall said “Grassroots Grants are a most welcome addition to SCVO’s services, as many small voluntary sector organisations find it difficult to access money to support their work.  We look forward to this programme playing a significant part in meeting their needs.  Roadshows will be running in all of Sandwell’s six towns during September”

HPLC’s Lynda Bending comments on the Endowment Challenge “This is a wonderful opportunity for private donors to provide ongoing support to small voluntary organisations throughout Sandwell.”

Cabinet member for safer communities Cllr Derek Rowley, who has responsibility for the volunary sector, said: “This is an excellent scheme to help the voluntary sector and to provide a firm financial footing that will support community based activity for many years to come.”