Earlier this year, Guernsey’s Social Investment Fund (SIF) launched a new small grants programme aimed at charities and non-profit organisations which support Bailiwick residents. £220,000 was distributed to nineteen different organisations.
Applications for another Small Grants Programme are now open, for registered charities or NPOs operating within or to benefit the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Applications should be focused on people in our Bailiwick 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 salaries or running 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
The first round of small grants funding saw a wide range of applicants receive support, for grants of hundreds of pounds up to larger grants of £25,000 to support the running costs of charities providing key services such as the Cheshire Home, Mencap and Relate Guernsey.
Many of the smaller grants supported equipment, development of services or training courses.
The programme replaces the Christmas lottery grants which used to be distributed by the Association of Guernsey Charities. SIF now has access to all the Guernsey lottery net proceeds, which means there are more funds available for charities which apply to SIF than in the past.
Chair of the Social Investment Fund Jurat Stephen Jones, OBE said: “We are pleased to launch another round of small grants funding now that there is a larger pot of charitable funds available from the lottery. With the Christmas lottery draw coming up soon, we hope that the prize will continue to increase so that there will be even more money available. The charitable sector supports so many areas of our lives and these small grants together can make a large impact on our community. We encourage charities small and large to apply for funding.”
For this programme, 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 new grant application portal. Organisations can review full information about the grants programme, along with the link to the application form. You can also contact the Guernsey Community Foundation on [email protected] or 01481 259523 for any queries about the programme.
Complete applications must be received by 5pm on Wednesday 26th January 2022.
Applications for grants in excess of £25,000 can be made to SIF’s Major Grants Programme, which will open again for applications in early 2022.
