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The Community Facilities and Activities Programme (CFAP) is a grant scheme operated by the Welsh Assembly Government to help community and voluntary organisations provide facilities or carry out activities that will promote the regeneration of communities.

The programme is open to voluntary and community groups and provides funding for the provision of local community facilities. Financial support is available for a range of facilities and activities including:

• Creating or refurbishing facilities, which must be available to the community as a whole, or adapting them to ensure equal access to disabled people, as required by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995;

• Providing facilities or activities which aim to reduce poverty, inequality, discrimination and social disadvantage;

• Encouraging training that targets vulnerable and excluded members of the community.

Grants are distributed on a quarterly basis and range between £2,500 and £100,000 per year and will also consider funding projects spread over 3 years. Application forms can be obtained from:-

The Welsh Assembly Government Regeneration Unit.

Contact - Lisa Clarridge or David Edwards

Telephone 029 2080 1041

or e-mail: cfaphelp@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Support for Wiltshire and Swindon

Community First Is a council run grants scheme that offers support for local communities in Wiltshire and Swindon on projects concerned with village/community halls. Grants are available for capital expenses and salaries associated with new initiatives between £5,000 and £25,000. Grants will also require varying amounts of matched funding.

Applications may be submitted at any time. No specific application form is available. An initial discussion is encouraged before applying Send applications to:

Community First
Wydhams
St. Joseph's Place
Devizes
SN10 1DD
Tel: 01380 722475
Email: acrawford@communityfirst.org.uk
Website: www.communityfirst.org.uk

Funding for projects

This fund supports individuals who wish to get involved in community activity and those who have already shown leadership. Grants are available (max £2000) and the scheme ends at the end of March 2006.

The Community Champions Fund has been set up by DfES to help support and develop the work of local people who are involved in, or who want to be involved in, changing their communities for the better.

The purpose of the fund, worth £9m over three years, is to support individuals who have already shown leadership in stimulating community activity, or who have ideas for encouraging greater community activity. The Fund will also support small-scale community inspired projects as part of supporting potential champions who have not previously sought funding. The Community Champions Fund offers small grants (usually of up to £2000) to individuals who want to make a difference in their communities.

For further information and an application form visit www.dfes.gov.uk/communitychampions/

Email: community.champions@dfes.gsi.gov.uk

Telephone: 0114 259 4113

New government initiative

In 2002 the Government announced a £125 million programme to support the voluntary and community sector (VCS) entitled futurebuilders. The Treasury is about to appoint an institution or consortia to act as a fund manager for the scheme whereupon further advice and information will be available.

The Programme will include capital grants, around 80% of the £125 million with the remainder set aside for revenue. Capital grants could include buildings and possibly minibuses. It is not immediately clear whether Scouting can benefit from the Fund as many details are still to be agreed. However, it does appear that Groups in rural areas may be best placed to access the funds as part of a co-ordinated venture with other VCS members.

For further information go to:

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ and click on futurebuilders or contact the Fundraising & Sponsorship dept on 020 8433 7231.

This scheme encourages and enables landfill operators to support a wide range of environmental projects. Community groups can apply to their local operator for grants if they are within 10 miles of a landfill site. To find out if there is a landfill site near you go to the Environment Agency's website at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk and click on 'What's inyour Backyard'. (England and Wales only)

For further information regarding the scheme please visit http://www.ltcs.org.uk

www.communityfoundations.org.uk

Community Foundation Network incorporates the Children's fund, which offers grants to community-based groups for projects that tackle child poverty.

To find out further information please visit above website, or call 020 7713 9326.

This scheme is part of the Government's new commitment to Neighbourhood Renewal. The Government will support a wide range of community self-help and mutual support activities at a local or neighbourhood level through enabling local and voluntary groups in England's 88 most deprived areas to access small grants. These grants are likely to be between £50-£5000.

For further information telephone 020 7944 8383 or visit their website at http://www.neighbourhood.gov.uk/getinvolved.asp?pageid=3

This fund is "a Lottery Distributor created to award grants to health, education and environment projects throughout the UK." Many of their grant programmes "focus particularly on those in society who are most disadvantaged". (http://www.nof.org.uk)

For information please call 0845 000 121.

Supporting rural communities

Vital Villages is a Countryside Agency Funding Programme, through which grants are available across England to support rural communities. Under this heading there are four grant schemes.

The four grant schemes are as follows:

• Community Services Grant Scheme.
• Parish Transport Grant Scheme
• Rural Transport Partnership
• Parish Plan Grant Scheme

For further information on any of these grant schemes please telephone Jane English on 0117 974 6265 or visit http://www.countryside.gov.uk/vitalvillages/

This scheme provides grants to small, local community groups in England to support vulnerable children and young people aged 19 and under. The Fund aims to counter child poverty and youth disadvantage by providing opportunities for children and young people to achieve their potential.

The minimum grant available is £250 and the maximum is £12,000 with the average being £5,000. Some Scout Groups have already received funding from this scheme and it runs until 2006.The Fund has four themes, two of which fit very well with Scouting:

Aspirations and experience: activities that give children experiences, or help them achieve goals that other children may take for granted.

Children's voices: activities that give children and young people the chance to express their opinions and give advice on matters of concern to them.

For further information and an application pack telephone 0845 113 0161 or go to www.cypu.gov.uk