The Social Investment Fund has launched a new round of applications for its Small Grants Programme aimed at charities and non-profit organisations which support Bailiwick residents.
Since the programme was launched in 2021, 64 small grants have been awarded, totalling over £678,000.
Applications are now open to registered charities or NPOs operating within or to benefit the Bailiwick of Guernsey and applications should be focused on people in our community, on the services and support they need, or are of benefit to our community.
Under the programme, organisations can apply for a grant of up to £25,000 to put towards one-off projects or ongoing expenses of a year’s duration, such as running or capital costs.
Applications must support one of the following outcomes:
- Improving the lives of people with specific needs, disadvantages or vulnerabilities
- Employment, education or training opportunities
- The protection of our natural environment, culture and heritage
- Improved health and wellbeing for our community
- An inclusive community, which challenges the barriers causing disadvantage or discrimination
In the last round of small grants, 15 charities received a total of £168,608, across a wide range of causes.
Bright Beginnings (pictured) was awarded £20,000 towards the costs of a new building for a private consulting room, small office and staff room. £24,660 was awarded to Amherst Primary School Parents Teacher Association, towards replacement equipment and essential repairs to the playground equipment. A further substantial grant of £23,910 was awarded to Guernsey Beach Wheelchairs for a new swim chair, new hut, insurance, website hosting, new sign writing on hut, hoist and fitting.
£1,450 was awarded to Guernsey Volleyball for running a coaching course to enable players to qualify as coaches, with Guernsey Community Savings receiving £6,960 for premises costs for one year. Sark also benefited from a small grant, with La Société Sercquaise being awarded £2,148 for fireproof storage for significant historic documents.
Grow Ltd was awarded £7,500 to provide an enrichment programme for the Crew during the period prior to relocation back to the Coutanchez site; £12,500 was given to Guernsey Friends of Maggie’s for cancer support specialist time (x250 visits) and property costs; and Guernsey Counselling Service received £15,000 towards costs of supervision, office administration and general running costs for 2023.
Sadie Siviter de Paucar, Lead Officer of the Social Investment Fund, said: “This is our second round of small grants funding in 2023 and we encourage any charities which are finding it hard to meet costs this year to apply for support. Small grants are vital for funding the work of charities, enabling them to cover costs that they might otherwise struggle to pay, for small projects or supporting new initiatives.”
For this programme, the Social Investment Fund (SIF) works with the Guernsey Community Foundation which provides administrative support in coordinating applications.
Charities can complete and submit an application form online through SIF’s grant application portal. Organisations can review full information about the grants programme, including the full list of recipients and a link to the application form here.
You can also contact the Guernsey Community Foundation by email or 259523 for any queries about the programme.
Complete applications must be received by 12pm on Wednesday 9th August 2023.
