Viv Cole

Warley Woods Community Trust

Viv Cole

Trust Manager

Warley Woods Community Trust

How to find funding for your green space

How to find funding

• Warley Woods – just some background

• Why do it?

• Potential Sources of Funding

• Places to find out more

• What to ask for and how to ask

• Potential Pitfalls

• Top Tips

Warley Woods

Where does our money come from? (2010-11)

• 47% from green fees

• 31% from Sandwell MBC

• 5% unrestricted grants

• 4% golf shop sales and hiring

• 3% other trading

• 9% public donations/events

• 1% other sources

47%

31%

5%

4%

3%

9%

1%

Green fees

Sandw ell MBC

other grants

shop sales

other trading

public

other

Why look for money?

• It makes things happen

• You can access funds the local authority can’t

• Brings an extra dimension to what you do for your space

• Create pride, satisfaction.

• Creates a place that people can see is thriving and will want to be part of

Potential Sources

• Statutory

• Lottery

• Trust and Foundations

• Landfill Tax

• Companies

• Your community (individuals)

• Trading

• Odd bods

Statutory

• Other local authority pots

• Health PCT/Mental Health Trusts

• Forestry Commission

• English Heritage

• Government initiatives: play, communities

Lottery

• Awards for All

• Heritage Lottery

• Big Lottery – changing initiatives

• Sport England

• Third Party (Big Lottery really)

Trust Foundations and Landfill Tax

• Personal Trusts

• Company Trusts

• Landfill Trusts

Companies

• Company Trusts/Foundations

• Sponsorship

• Marketing and Communications

• Corporate Responsibility

• Matching staff contributions

• Collecting tins in shops

• Volunteering

Your Community and Trading

• Traditional fundraising by volunteers

• - raffles, tombola, quiz nights, cake sales

• Membership, charging at events

• Monthly donations, tree sponsorship, legacies, donating a bench in memory

• Online – Lifestyle

• Gift Aid

• Selling things at a profit – site related

• - just for cash

Odd bods

• News paper appeals

• Competition appeals

• Big Tree Plant

• FSI Raffle

• The Big Give website

• Projects led by young people

Research

• Internet, Charity Commission

• Register for emails and updates

• Local voluntary sector councils

• Grant net/Funder Finder databases/books

• Keep a file of potentials even if they don’t match your current ideas

Useful Websites/emails • www.how2fundraise.org (ideas)

• www.green-space.org.uk (Community Update email)

• Local voluntary sector council website

• www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/greenspacefunding (ideas and other sites)

• www.greenfunders.org – look at who is involved

• www.grantfinder.co.uk

• www.fundingcentral.org.uk

What to ask for and how

• Think about what you want to raise money for. Capital, activities, general?

• Think of its attributes – social, training, environmental, health, young people, heritage, nature, physical improvements

• Decide what you have capacity to do well

• Match this with potential funds/methods

Avoiding Pitfalls

• Don’t be scatter gun – do research and make your time count

• It is a competitive process

• Read guidelines, use forms, check address and requirements

• Ensure you are able to meet their terms and conditions

• Don’t chase the money

Top Tips

• Make the application about people and about changes

• Use pictures – your space is inspiring and they have never been there

• Even if you write alone, let others comment

• Keep forming project ideas for the future

• Remember fundraising is personal

Next steps

• Full of ideas?

• Not sure where to start?

• More detail in the workshop

• Hopefully inspired with possibilities

• Think of what you could achieve

• Not inspired?