Cuts, volunteers and funding resources
 How the church will embody the vision of the government's Big Society, a summary of the spending review and how to keep your volunteers happy are some of the topics in the latest Community Mission newsletter.
FUNDING
Comic Relief is offering an average of between £15,000 and £40,000 over three years to community projects and charities that help older people to bring positive change to their communities. Successful projects need to help older people use their time, energy and skills to help others. Older people must be engaged in developing, planning and delivering the work. Examples of what they would like to fund includes older people mentoring young people or running a social enterprise but not programmes for purely social benefit such as lunch clubs. The deadline for the first stage application is 17 December. Read the guidelines, apply or discuss whether your project fits the criteria by emailing or by phoning 020 7820 0000.
Youth Music is passionate that all children and young people aged 0-18, particularly those from challenging backgrounds, should have access to high quality music-making activities. Their Open Programme offers £5,000 and £30,000 to projects that run for six to 24 months and provide structured regular music-making activities so that children and young people can progress their musical skills. Projects must work with at least one partner organisation. The next application deadline is 10 December. Read the applicant guidelines, eligibility criteria or apply online. For more information, phone 020 7902 1060 or send an email.
The Church and Community Fund empowers churches across the UK to transform their local communities through effective and innovative community outreach projects. Grants of up to £10,000 are available to Anglican churches or those who are working in close partnership with Anglican churches, such as jointly run community centres. Types of projects supported include salary costs for youth and children’s workers, running costs for homeless centres and funding of street outreach. The next application deadline is 31 December. Read the application guidelines, check your eligibility or apply online.. Grants of up to £10,000 are available to Anglican churches or those who are working in close partnership with Anglican churches, such as jointly run community centres. Types of projects supported include salary costs for youth and children’s workers, running costs for homeless centres and funding of street outreach. The next application deadline is 31 December. Click here for details of how to apply.
The Henry Smith Charity has been making grants since 1628 to combat disadvantage in the UK. Projects must work with groups that are experiencing social and/or economic disadvantage, such as carers, the homeless, refugees as well as those affected by drug abuse and mental health issues. The has been making grants since 1628 to combat disadvantage in the UK. . The main grants programme is for capital or revenue grants of over £10,000 per year and the small grants programme is for county grants (those the charity has a historical relationship with) and small grants of under £10,000 per year. There are no application deadlines.
STORIES & RESOURCES
Sustainable funding will be crucial in the future and NCVO have written a helpful paper looking at The implications of the Big Society for funding on the voluntary sector and how charities can maximise their opportunities and strengthen their case for continued funding. They have also produced a good summary of the spending review which includes an outline of the new government funds connected to building the big society.
Those who lose funding for staff may need to recruit more volunteers. The Dorking Christian Centre runs a community cafe entirely staffed by volunteers and sees their vulnerable volunteers as part of their mission. Read the Dorking Christian Centre story on the Community Mission website. Another cafe, the Brentford Open House community cafe, does pay its all-Christian staff – and maintains its Christian distinctiveness by having a team of church volunteers who are trained to provide a listening service for all customers. Read the Brentford Open House story on the Community Mission website.
Keeping volunteers happy
Understanding their motivation and managing them well is the key to keeping volunteers happy. Check out the handout from the most recent Livability training day Manipulation or Motivation – How to make the most of the time, skills and energy of your volunteer and plan to book yourself onto the next training day on this topic which was also voted a top need in the Livability training survey. For other excellent practical advice on all matters relating to managing staff and volunteers, see the recently updated Church Urban Fund Just employment resource and their Faithfully volunteering paper which are both free to download, though a donation is suggested.
Need Christmas resources for urban children? Children in Urban Situations (CURBS) have a passion for working with children in inner cities and outer urban estates and produce a range of easy-to-use, flexible resources for different settings – including multi-faith situations. Read the story of CURBS and their pioneering Kids Club with mainly Muslim children, on the Community Mission website. Check out their One Day Wonders, with a resource for every month for £12, or their seasonal Christmas Unwrapped resource for only £6.
 Community Mission is a partnership between Tearfund and Livability. Click here to sign up to future editions of their e-newsletter.
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