How to find funding for your green space

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?