1. GLOBAL GRANTS Tamsyn Hammond LSC Beds & Luton

2. What are Global Grants? Small scale grants for local community and voluntary organisations and other non-governmental, not-for-profit bodies To provide small scale activities to improve the employment prospects of local people

3. Who is involved? Funded by the European Social Fund and project partners Partners include:  Bedford Borough Council  Bedfordshire County Council  Bedfordshire & Luton Learning & Skills Council  Bedfordshire Funding Advice Bureau  Mid Beds CVS  Voluntary Action Luton  Voluntary and Community Action South Bedfordshire  South Bedfordshire District Council  North Beds CVS  Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity

4. How much can you apply for? Between £500 and £10,000 No limit to the number of times you can apply However, you can only hold one grant at a time, and receive no more than 2 in a 12 month period Your organisation must have a governing document and a bank account in the organisation’s name and an Equal Opportunities Policy or Statement.

5. When can you apply? You can submit an application at any time Approval panels meet at quarterly intervals, so plenty of opportunities to apply It is strongly recommended that you submit your application well before the published panel meeting dates. If you would like any assistance in completing the application form, please contact your local Council for Voluntary Service

6. What will Global Grants fund? Projects that support: Unemployed people, especially; –Those who experience long term or repeat periods of short term unemployment –Over 50’s who want to return to work Children and Young People –13 – 17 year olds who have chosen to leave the education system

7. What will Global Grants fund? Communities suffering barriers to employment, especially; –Black & minority ethnic groups –Refugees –Those who live in areas with high levels of people out of work

8. What will Global Grants fund? Other groups suffering barriers to becoming employed, especially; –People with learning difficulties, physical or sensory disabilities &/or mental health problems –Parents & carers who want to return to work –The homeless & rough sleepers –People with substance abuse &/or alcohol & drug problems –Ex-offenders –Lone parents

9. Examples of projects that might be eligible Activities that help to raise the self esteem and confidence of people Activities that help to reduce social isolation in communities Activities such as basic skills training or confidence building

10. Projects that have been funded so far A project which provided ICT training to the local community on a drop in basis with the grant helping to fund a cyber café A project, which worked with people suffering or recovering from mental health problems to access skills training

11. What Global Grants will not fund Organisations that have already received or been awarded European Social Fund money since 1 st January 2000 Capacity building activity Capital items over £1000 Organisations who do not have a bank account, governing document or an equal opportunities policy or statement

12. Monitoring and Evaluation All projects will be monitored & evaluated by the managing agent for each area A monitoring visit will be conducted to a number of projects 6 months after the start date or halfway through the project A final report and expenditure statement will be required at the conclusion of the project

13. Publicity Requirements All projects will make sure that the people they are helping are made aware that they are part funded through the European Social Fund (ESF) All publicity material for the project must include the ESF logo Publicity materials are available from the managing agents in each area

14. Who to contact For projects hoping to run in Luton: Jean Myrie Voluntary Action Luton 15 New Bedford Road Luton Beds, LU1 1SA Tel: 01582 733418 Fax: 01582 733013 Email: jean.myrie@valuton.org.uk For projects hoping to run in Bedfordshire: Bob Hughes BRCC The Barn, Buttercup Farm Hockliffe Road, Tebworth Leighton Buzzard Tel: 01525 878144 Email: bobh@bedsrcc.org.uk