Newsletter No 6: December 2009 Welcome to the sixth newsletter from the West Midlands Coalfields Regeneration Trust team. In this newsletter we will focus on the Bridging the Gap funding programme and our level 2 capacity building programme. The Coalfields Regeneration Trust The Coalfields Regeneration Trust is an independent grant-making body. We are a registered charity and limited by guarantee, governed by a board of trustees. Our mission is: “Working closely with partners, the Trust is a key agency promoting and achieving social and economic regeneration in the coalfields of England, Scotland and Wales” We run two grant programmes: Bridging the Gap Main Grants These funding programmes both run for three years from April 2008 to March We also run a number of strategic programmes in the West Midlands - Sports Legacy, Debt Management and Family Employment. Bridging the Gap Funding Programme – Grants Awarded The Coalfields Regeneration Trust has recently awarded Bridging the Gap grants to groups towards: - Cricket club pavilion improvements; - Community computer club; - Scout hut new flooring and equipment; - Allotment improvements;

- Disabled access to a community facility; - New mower for a Bowling Club; - Equipment for a community education centre; - Football shelter; - Kitchen for a church; - Equipment for a social history project; - Community hall improvements; - Creation of disabled loo; - Youth training scheme; - Youth club equipment and workshop programme; and - Lunch club. We have funding available in our Bridging the Gap programme but we are fast approaching the final year of our current programme and are therefore urging voluntary and community groups to take advantage of the funding whilst it is still available. The Bridging the Gap grant is available to cover the total costs of a project or as a contribution towards a larger scheme. It covers capital and revenue costs. Groups may apply for grants of up to £5,000. We can support all sorts of voluntary and community sector groups including sports clubs, scouts and guides, residents and community associations, church hall committees, PCCs, lunch clubs, community centres, arts groups, miners welfare and social clubs, allotment associations, play groups, homework clubs, dance groups, keep fit groups, youth groups, social enterprises and more. The Bridging the Gap programme is great for groups who could do with some equipment, wish to make improvements to their facilities, wish to carry out activities, or aim to hold an event. Examples of the types of projects and activities that the Bridging the Gap Programme could support include: - A project that helps people into a job; - A training project that teaches people a new skill or enables them to get a qualification. - Setting up a social enterprise. - An activity that gets people involved in physical activity or addresses a local health issue. - Improvements to a community facility. - The establishment of a much needed new service or activity in the community. - Setting up a small transport scheme that enables people to access opportunities difficult to access because of their location. - The provision of places for after school clubs, holiday play schemes, playgroups or nurseries. - Activities that promote volunteering and get new people involved as volunteers.

Projects must benefit people in the most deprived wards in Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Tamworth, Cannock, North Warwickshire, Staffordshire Moorlands, Nuneaton and Bedworth and Lichfield. Please contact us at the regional office to check if your project benefits an eligible area. Thank you to all the groups that have applied for Bridging the Gap funding over the last year. Please do not be shy to come back if you have a new project that you would like funding for and please tell other groups about our funding. Level 2 Capacity Building Programme The Coalfields Regeneration Trust would like to support the development of skills and capacity in voluntary and community sector organisations. If you are an organisation that we have funded in the past (or one who was eligible but your application was unsuccessful) and you would find training for some of your committee members and volunteers useful then please contact us at the regional office. The level 2 training courses that are on offer are: - Managing Volunteers - Food Safety in Catering - Health and Safety - ASDAN Certificate in Community Volunteering - Preparing to Teach in Lifelong Learning - Child Protection - Community Development - Managing your Community Building We would be looking for participants to undertake these courses between January and April 2010.

The Regional Office Team Programme Manager – Suzanne Clarke Support Worker – Noelle Hillman To contact us: Tel: Mobile: Fax: Address: Lymedale Business Centre Hooters Hall Road Lymedale Business Park Newcastle-under-Lyme Staffordshire ST5 9QF Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Suzanne and Noelle