How to

apply

Our Mission

To positively change the lives of disadvantaged children and young

people in the UK

What we do

BBC Children in Need is the BBC’s own charity and is a grant maker. Our fundraising culminates in a national event every November on TV, radio and online

Every penny counts – We

never spend donations on running the charity. These costs are funded by the interest on our bank account

Within 12 months of the appeal broadcast every penny will be awarded to 1,500 projects working directly with disadvantaged children and young people in the UK

For every penny raised a

penny will go to helping

disadvantaged children and

young people in the UK

The Central team

Regional Manager

Melinda Connelly

Birmingham

Regional Officer

Vacant

Nottingham

Regional Officer

Jessica Light

Norwich

Regional Support Asst

Christina Read

Birmingham

Grants programmes

The main grants programme is still running but

new Small Grants programme has been

developed for applications for £10k a year and

under

– Main grants programme – long-running programme, wide range of grants and grant amounts, for grants of

over £10k a year

– Small Grants programme – for grants of up to £10k a

year, starts 2010, same criteria and time frames as

main grants, simpler application and assessment

– Applicants can only apply to one of these grants

programmes

Small Grants• Grants of £10k a year for 1, 2 or 3 years –so

£30k maximum

• New programme launching next year

• First application deadline – January 15th –subsequent deadlines fall in line with main grants programme

• Will run in tandem with our main grants programme and applicants can only apply to one of the programmes.

• Same criteria as main grants programme

• Simpler application form and ‘lighter touch’ assessment – but follows same process as main grants programme

• Ideal for small organisations and new groups

Who do we fund?

• Not for profit organisations

• (i.e. voluntary organisations, registered charities or self-help groups)

The organisation must have:

– A constitution or governing document

– A management committee

– A bank account with two unrelated cheque signatories

– Annual accounts

– A written child protection policy

What type of work do we fund?

Projects that make a positive difference to the

lives of disadvantaged children and young

people in the UK.

The children must be:

- Aged 18 years and under

- Living in the UK

- ‘In Need’ - disadvantaged

BBC Children in Need has the following disadvantage criteria:

- Illness, distress, neglect, abuse

- Any kind of disability

- Behavioural or psychological difficulties

- Living in poverty or situations of deprivation

Applicants for CIN funding must be able to explain how the children and young people they are working with

are disadvantaged

Disadvantage criteria

Child focus

• We only fund child – focused projects

• The project/service should have clear positive outcomes for the child

• If you’re seeking funding for a salary, the post should be focussed on delivering outcomes for disadvantaged children for at least 70% of the time

What do we fund?

– Youth Clubs

– Holiday Playschemes

– Mentoring and

befriending

– Play opportunities

– Afterschool clubs

– Arts activities

– Outdoor play

– Play groups

– Family support

– Sports activities

• Range of costs including revenue and capital

costs – salaries, training, volunteers’ expenses,

travel costs, venue hire, equipment

• Range of projects, activities and services:

• Range of grants – 1-3 years

What don’t we fund?

• Retrospective funding

• The relief of statutory responsibility

• Medical research or pregnancy advice

• Projects unable to start in the next 12 months

• Distribution to other organisations

• Organisations with a current BBC CiN grant

• Promotion of religion

� New Application process launched 2009 –

following period of consultation and review

� New deadlines: Jan 15th, April 15th, July 15th, Oct

15th

� Application available from our website NOW

� Online only application form – signposting and

support available

� Whole process takes 3-4 months – e.g. decision

at end of April for applications to Jan 15th

deadline

� Two-stage application process – organisations

will be informed if their application has not

passed the first stage

The Application Process

• Online applications only

• Save your application and return to it later

• Quick & easy

• Helpdesk –0345 609 0015

Apply Online!

Application process continued

• Applications reviewed by:• BBC Children in Need Staff

• Freelance assessors – telephone assessment

• Regional Advisory Committee

• Trustees

• Applicants informed of outcome in writing

• Grant contract issued with outcome letter – to be signed and returned to CIN

• Additional Terms & Conditions for some applications

If you are successful…

• If successful, at end of each grant year and the

organisation completes a standard grant report

• Project visits – CIN staff may visit your project to

check progress, learn about the work and

possibly highlight it for Appeal coverage

• Changes – inform CIN of any changes and some

may need CIN trustee approval

• Can apply for further CIN funding in final year of

grant

• Ineligibility:

– Missing information

– Insufficient evidence that the majority of the children are disadvantaged

– Doubt that majority are aged 18 and under

– Project is of more benefit to adults/families

• Organisation

– Insufficient management skills and experience within the organisation to deal with significant growth

– The organisation has high levels of free reserves

– Poor child protection policy and process –important that child protection is active within the organisation

Common Pitfalls

• Project:

– Insufficient evidence of need or disadvantage

– Not clear what the project actually does

– Not focussed on children

– Project duplicates other work in the area

– Not ‘additional’ to statutory responsibility

• The bigger the application the higher the

standard expected - there is greater competition

for larger grants

Common Pitfalls

� 3 STAGES:

– Spend time planning your project

– Don’t rush filling out the application – there are more

funding rounds now so take your time

– Prepare for the Assessment - have all documents ready

� Ask for HELP

– From Children in Need, CVSs, Voluntary Actions and other voluntary organisations

– Build links with relevant bodies

Some Final Tips

CONTACTS

General Helpline:

0345 6090015

Regional Office:

Level 10, The Mailbox

Birmingham, B1 1RF

0121 567 6707

Website: bbc.co.uk/pudsey

Email: pudsey@bbc.co.uk

Finally…