Funding

The Department of Health is launching a new Volunteer Fund, to support health volunteering.  There are two  2 distinct grant funding schemes: a local grant scheme aimed at supporting volunteering in health and social care and a national portfolio scheme for national organisations invited to apply for more substantial awards or to deliver more strategic or developmental programmes.  Applications for the fund will open in January 2010 with the first round being for local projects, followed by a second round later in the year which will support a national scheme.

The BRIT Trust supports activities that encourage young people in the exploration and pursuit of educational, cultural or therapeutic benefits emanating from music.

The Fund will support charities and voluntary & community groups running projects to help disadvantaged young people in Northumberland to overcome the barriers of a successful transition to adulthood. Projects will be for young people aged 13-19 (and aged up to 25 if special needs).  Priority will be given to projects serving isolated communities.

Young Roots is a grant programme that engages a wide range of young people 13-20 year-olds (up to 25 for those with special needs) with their heritage. Applications are invited from projects that will help young people develop skills, build confidence and connect with their local community.

The Tesco Charity Trust is inviting applications through its Community Awards Programme. This scheme provides one-off donations ranging from £500 to £4,000. The Tesco Charity Trust aims to provide funding for practical benefits, such as equipment and resources, for projects that directly help children, the elderly and those with disabilities.

Round three of One North East's Third Sector Capacity Fund is now open. The fund offers financial support to enable third sector organisations to engage at a strategic level in economic regeneration. The areas of activity that the fund would like to support in round three include financial exclusion, mergers and formal collaboration, and equality of economic opportunity.

The Trustees of the Northern Rock Foundation have recently agreed to a changed focus in their grant giving in response to changing regional circumstances, including the impact of the recession. In addition to their current programmes, there will be increased investment in homelessness projects and a new focus on developing initiatives specifically for those who are financially excluded to address growing need.

A new funding model has been unveiled in a move to widen and strengthen investment in volunteering in health and social care. The new Health and Social Care Volunteering Fund is designed to renew the focus on volunteering projects in the NHS and social care by managing the grants system centrally.