Last year, the Social Investment Fund (SIF) launched a new Small Grants Programme aimed at charities and non-profit organisations (NPOs) which support Bailiwick residents. A second funding round was held earlier this year, which takes the total to over £420,000 distributed to forty different organisations.
Applications for another round of the Small Grants Programme are now open for registered charities or NPOs operating within or to benefit the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
Recent small grants were awarded to a wide range of organisations which support our community in diverse ways.
The Astronomy Section of La Société Guernesiaise received £1,039 towards a flat screen monitor, to facilitate lectures and presentations; Alderney Bird Observatory was awarded £4,000 to cover the costs of building a base station for the MOTUS migrant bird data project and purchasing recording equipment; Guernsey Bereavement Service is benefiting from £6,615 towards the provision of mandatory counsellor supervision; and the 5th Guernsey Scouts group received £10,000 for repairs to their Nissen hut so that it can be used as a base for all their different Scouts groups.
Larger awards were distributed to Friends of Sark School, which received £20,000 towards outdoor play equipment for the school; £16,000 to Guernsey Counselling Service to support training and counselling costs; and £14,939 to Action for Children’s Youth Housing Project to fund ‘moving in’ equipment packs for service users who leave training flats to live independently.
Funding applications for this round should be focused on people in our Bailiwick community, on the services and support they need, or be of benefit to our community.
Under the programme, organisations can apply for a grant of up to £25,000 to put towards one-off projects or ongoing expenses of a year’s duration, such as salaries or running costs. Applications must support one of the following outcomes:
• Improving the lives of people with specific needs, disadvantages or vulnerabilities
• Employment, education or training opportunities
• The protection of our natural environment, culture and heritage
• Improved health and wellbeing for our community
• An inclusive community, which challenges the barriers causing disadvantage or discrimination
The programme replaces the Christmas lottery grants which used to be distributed by the Association of Guernsey Charities. SIF now has access to all the Guernsey lottery net proceeds, which means there are more funds available for charities which apply to SIF than in the past.
Sadie Siviter de Paucar, Lead Officer of the Social Investment Fund, said:
“We are pleased to launch another round of small grants which will provide increased funding to the charity sector this year. Small grants are vital for funding the work of charities, enabling them to cover costs that they might otherwise struggle to pay, for small projects or supporting new initiatives.”
For this programme, SIF works with the Guernsey Community Foundation which provides administrative support in coordinating applications.
Charities must complete and submit an application form online through SIF’s grant application portal. Organisations can review information about the grants programme, including the full list of recipients and a link to the application form at: https://sif.gg/grant-programmes/small-grants-programme/ You can also contact the Guernsey Community Foundation on grants@foundation.gg or 259523 for any queries about the programme.
Complete applications must be received by 12pm on Friday 22nd July.
Applications for grants in excess of £25,000 can be made to SIF’s Major Grants Programme, which will open again for applications in autumn 2022