Grants and Awards
The 2012 Olympics - Not Just for London
The
overall Vision for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics Games
is to make them for everyone and to extend them beyond London,
sport and 2012.
The ' Cultural Olympiad' is an integral part of this vision,
allowing people to take part in cultural events and celebrations
all around the UK. It will begin in August 2008, directly
after the end of the Beijing Games, and last for four years.
Voluntary Arts Network has just launched a special briefing
- the first of a new series to keep you up to date with developments
within the Cultural Olympiad. In it you'll find out what's
in it for voluntary groups and different ways to get involved.
The briefing has been approved by the London Organising Committee
of the Olympic Games and Paralympics Games.
The briefing is available to download for free at www.voluntaryarts.org/12092 or for a hard copy, tel: 02920 395 395.
Scottish Government launches New Strategy to Attract Volunteers
The Scottish Government has launched a new action plan to attract more volunteers to youth work and improve their levels of support. Delivered by Youth Scotland, the volunteering Action Plan aims to improve the recruitment process, training and development for people giving up their time to boost young people's lives. Read more about the new strategy, or visit the Youth Scotland website, or tel 0131 554 2561.
Everyclick.com - Fundraising Competition
Everyclick.com and Clear Channel Outdoor have teamed up to offer charities the opportunity to boost their fundraising efforts with a competition running from January to March 2008, which offers the chance to win a free national advertising campaign. Charities are challenged to raise as much monet as possible for their cause over a three month period by inspiring their supporters to use Everyclick.com's search engine, which gives money to charity every time a search is made. The average amount raised by each supporter will then be calculated to find the winner in each category. A panel of independent sector experts will then select one of these finalists to win the overall prize of a free national outdoor advertising campaign. The two runners-up will receive free advertising on Everyclick.com. the Challenge starts on 14 January 2008, the charities can register for the challenge at www.everyclick.com.
Age Concern Grants
Voluntary Organisations
working for the benefit of older people in Scotland m,ay
be eligible to apply for funding through the Age Concern
Scotland Grants scheme. Through its grant making programme,
Age Concern Scotland will make grants to both organisations
that are members of Age Concern Scotland and those organisations
that have the potential to become members. For member organisations,
grants of between £500
to £5000 are available to develop new projects that
will benefit older people, to purchase equipment in order
to support activities for older people and for conferences
and training. For organisations that have the potential to
become members, grants of up to £500 are available
to help small, local groups purchase equipment or materials
in order to support activities for older people. All grants
are assessed by Age Concern Scotland's Grants Committee,
which meets every two months. Applications will be accepted
at any time.
For more information on criteria and application procedures
visit www.ageconcernscotland.org.uk
Lloyds TSB Funding Surgeries
Lloyds TSB hold regular funding surgeries across Scotland, giving people the opportunity to discuss their funding application before it is submitted. With over 80 surgeries held each year, to get face to face support with your application, as well as the option of speaking to someone by phone, they are committed to making themselves available to as many people as possible. You don't need to go to one of their surgeries to apply for funding - it's not something they take into account when they assess your application - but generally people who have been to a surgery complete better applications and so are more likely to receive an award.
To find out where and when the funding surgeries will be taking place during 2008, visit www.ltsbfoundationforscotland.org.uk
Creative Corners Global Arts Project
If you can act, play guitar, juggle, sing, tell stories, dance, paint, build, teach circus skills, sculpture, design, puppetry or even if you are a photographer, jewellery or film maker, keen gardener or DIYer Creative Corners needs you. Why not devise a play in a Bolivian orphanage, teach photography to street kids in Honduras, singing to teen mums in Nicaragua, share some movies in a Brazilian social circus, redecorate a children's home in Guatemala or design a garden in a Peruvian orphanage ?
Creative Corners gives 100% of profits Back to the projects for orphans, abused, abandoned, street and at risk children in the 7 countries they work in to build music and arts centres. They are looking for volunteers from as little as two to twelve weeks and beyond, depending on the project and how long you've got to spare. Creative Corners' Global Arts Project is a new, unique not for profit agency for cultural sector volunteering created especially for artists. Volunteers worldwide with creative skills can apply for a range of projects in South and Central America.
For further information please contact Monique Julian at monique@creative-corners.com or visit www.creative-corners.com
Free Website Building for Volunteer Groups
The Community Website Builder allows registered UK charities, non-profit making organisations and volunteer led groups or organisations to build and maintain their own website free of charge. In under 5 minutes, you can have an easy to edit website up and running. With no special software, skills or knowledge required, it's easy, quick and fun to set up and maintain your own web presence.
The scheme is operated by BT Better World and ik Software Limited. To find out more, visit www.communitykit.co.uk.
Nomination for Individual Honours
In the United Kingdom, honours are awarded twice a year, in June and at the New Year; about 1,500 awards each time. Most are made in the Order of the British Empire with some 15% at the highest levels (CBE and above). They are awarded for all types of service including to:
• arts practitioners and administrators - actors, musicians, painters etc;
• industrialists and trade unionists;
• journalists and broadcasters;
• the Armed Forces;
but by far the largest number of awards go to those providing services to their local communities, mainly volunteers.
Individuals may be nominated for an honour by anyone, and we encourage neighbours, work colleagues etc to put forward those they admire for their achievements. Please go to page: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/ceremonial/nominations/how_to_nom.asp where you can print off the application form.