Funding Update October 2006

Main issue on HLF is the conference at Austin Court in Birmingham on 17th November, of which all recipients of Funding Update will hopefully already be well aware. The conference is jointly hosted by IWA and HLF, and is intended to educate the voluntary side of the waterways sector how to submit good heritage applications. HLF are concerned that waterway applications generally seem to be coming from statutory or public sector organisations, and are anxious that the rest of us get in on the act. More details here but hurry as places are limited. Take a look at the HLF website for recent (2006) grants to schemes involving inland waterways if you are still in any doubt that HLF does like canals.

It is also worth noting that shortly after the last edition of Funding Update was issued, Tessa Jowell announced that HLF would still continue to receive its share of one sixth of all of the money that goes to the good causes. This followed a consultation on where the good causes’ money should go, to which over 11,000 people or organisations responded. There was concern that some earlier ‘bad publicity’ for the heritage sector might have been pre-empting a decision to reduce support in favour of a bigger slice for Big Lottery Fund.
 
BIG LOTTERY FUND (BLF)
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Community Buildings is a new funding stream that was introduced in July, with £50m to be committed over two years in grants of between £50,000 and £500,000. The name says it all; the scheme is intended to fund buildings that can be used by a diverse spectrum of community groups, and are socially and environmentally sustainable. BLF is keen that community groups also have a hand in managing the building. There are a number of examples in the recent past of old canal-side warehouses having been brought back into community use and encouraging a new community interest in the canal, so this would seem to have considerable potential for us. Applications close on 30th April 2007, so plenty of time to go on to www.biglotteryfund.org.uk and download application forms and guidance.
 
October 9th saw the launch of the second round of Breathing Places with a deadline for applications of 13th December. Again run in conjunction with the BBC’s Breathing Places campaign, the remit is probably too orientated to biodiversity and wildlife for most canal schemes, and emphasis this round is on creating or improving woodland; still it might well be a useful way of currying favour with some landowners. Grants of between £300 and £10,000 are available from a total pot of £5m. More information and applications on www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/index/apply-uk.htm  or ring the Big Advice Line on 0845 102030.

It might be worth noting that one of the first joint programmes between the old Community Fund and New Opportunities Fund, Fair Share, is still running and will be until 2013. Fair Share is looking to direct funds to 77 deprived areas that suffer disadvantage and have received less than their share of lottery money. A £50m trust fund is managed by the Community Foundation Network which has appointed a delivery agent in each of the 77 areas to try and deliver capacity-building, sustainability and support for community assets. One of the specific remits is to “improve the local environment, enabling communities to make it safer, healthier, greener, cleaner, better designed and more welcoming and accessible to all groups.” Details of the 77 areas and who is managing the Fair Share programmes there, are available from the BLF website.

WILL AID
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Repeating an initiative first run in 2004, some 1,800 solicitors have signed up to a scheme, whereby they agree to draw up simple wills in return for a donation to Will Aid; £75 for a single will, £110 for a pair of mirror wills or £40 for a codicil. The donations are spread amongst the nine charities who established the scheme, including NSPCC and the British Red Cross, but the idea is that at the same time as we promote the scheme to our members, we ask them to make a legacy to us, the XYZ Canal Society. More info on the website www.willaid.org.uk  which also includes a tool to find your nearest participating solicitor.

CHEQUE SCAMS
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Advice on how not to lose money rather than how to get it. The Charity Commission have warned of a number of scams whereby a substantial cheque or more is received by a charity out of the blue, but accompanied by a convincing ‘payback’ request. Delighted to receive a donation of maybe £5,000 from a plausible sounding benefactor, a number of charities have agreed to refund half of it in accordance with instructions, only to find the initial cheque bounces and the benefactor has done a runner. Any such request should be forwarded to the Charity Commissioners, the Police and local Trading Standards.

SECTION 106 AGREEMENTS
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Another slightly esoteric ‘funding’ issue, but a recent survey by the Audit Commission showed that there is alarming variation in the extent to which local authorities seek Section 106 agreements as part of any development deal. The idea is that any developer whose proposed development is likely to impinge negatively on the wider community (eg by constraining recreational land, extinguishing rights of way etc) should compensate the community by having remedial measures written into the development agreement. By such means have some short sections of infilled canal been ‘restored’ wholly at a developer’s expense. The Audit Commission’s evidence suggests that community groups should closely monitor all developments that might affect them, and ensure that our councils are demanding such agreements where appropriate. Clearly the council needs to make a judgment as to whether holding out for their ‘pound of flesh’ might actually deter a developer from investing in the area, but they equally need to be made aware that we are watching them. There is a guide and checklist ‘Route Map to Improved Planning Obligations’ on the Commission’s website; go to http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk and type “Section 106” in the search box.
 
THE WATERWAYS TRUST
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The latest round of the Small Grants Scheme is open till the end of November with £1,000 grants for schemes that meet one or more of the following criteria:
-           waterway wildlife conservation projects
-           community based projects to improve facilities on canals and inland waterways
-           conservation and community projects along the non-tidal River Thames, Teddington to Cricklade.
Details from www.waterwaystrust.org.uk/grants .

CHARITY TECHNOLOGY EXCHANGE (CTX)
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CTX is a programme developed by Charity Technology Trust (CTT) and TechSoup which distributes hardware and software products from Microsoft and Cisco Systems to charities at knock-down prices. If you are registered with the Charity Commission then you should be eligible, and could save 95% on typical retail prices. CTT and TechSoup are looking to bring other leading IT companies’ donation programmes within the CTX distribution network. Go to www.ctxchange.org  for more.

Andy Screen