Special needs schools and colleges can apply for grants of between £20,000 and £75,000 through the Wolfson Foundation’s Funding for Special Schools and Colleges grants programme. The funding is available for projects that are focused on helping pupils at secondary level to develop skills that would help them to gain employment or live independently after leaving school or college.
The funding covers capital costs such as buildings and equipment. The applicant organisation should be a registered charity, local authority, or be registered with the relevant regulatory authority, where applicable, and have at least a good rating.
The project should be for a new building, refurbishment work or equipment and aim to produce one or more of the following outcomes:
- Increased access to services for new and existing users
- Improved quality and range of services
- Improved financial stability of the organisation
There is a two-stage application process. The next stage-one closing date is the 5th January 2023. Applications successful at this stage will have until the 1st March 2023 to complete the stage-two application.
Changing our Lives have a series running currently on YouTube called Barbershop Stories, which is part of a wider work around systemic inequalities and mental health for black men and boys.
DRSAE is a charitable organisation based in Great Bridge, Tipton. They regularly meet each Saturday morning where a wide grange of activities take place. There is yoga and self-defence sessions, run by a qualified yoga teacher and black-belt instructor. There is free cooking and embroidery workshops, or you can join the music lessons or language classes. All the activities are free, plus there is always a hot meal available at the end of the sessions.
Essex Avenue Community Tenants and Residents Association, based in Hateley Heath, West Bromwich, run a very busy Adults Craft Club.
Sandwell Community Dementia Service is a new service that provides advice, information and support to people worried about their memory and those with a dementia diagnosis in the borough of Sandwell. The service also offers support to carers and family members of someone living with dementia. The support provided will be individually tailored to enhance wellbeing and assist you and your family throughout the dementia journey.
Creative Active Lives is hosting a Dementia friendly Friendship Cafe every Wednesday starting the 11th January 2023 from 1 – 3 pm, at West Bromwich Central Library. However, Creative Active Lives will be kicking off the project with a festive pilot session on Wednesday, 21st December, 1 – 3 pm.
Between the 19th and the 30th December Sandwell Council have activities happening in every town, from pantomimes and winter wonderlands, to sports, arts, cooking, and even the opportunity to be part of a rock-band!
Creative Black Country (CBC) is running two open calls as part of Cosy Communities to deliver creative activities in a warm and comfortable space for local communities in the Black Country. They are looking for creative responses which will bring fun, joy, connection, and creativity to local people in the Black Country between now and 31st March 2023.
Charities need to do more to encourage trustees from a wider range of ages, backgrounds and communities. However many charities struggle to know how to do this.
The charity sector is unique due to its delivery of social change rather than just monetary gain for an organisation and that places unique demands on its customer service.