Deadline: 5 October 2009

Are you passionate about writing? Can you write in a variety of styles? And about issues of our time?

My Voice is looking to help nine 13 to 19 year old writers develop their skills. Bursary winners will be mentored by professional writers, have a chance to share their own writing to a large audience, receive book tokens and work with local libraries to help select great books for young people.  

For more information visit: www.myvoicewriteorwrong.org

Mediabox, a DCSF fund to enable disadvantaged 13-19 year olds the opportunity to develop and produce creative media projects, has announced that its Mix Mediabox funding scheme will open for applications on the 10th August 2009.

Mix Mediabox grants of £5,000 to £20,000 are available to organisations that bring together young people from diverse economic backgrounds, faiths or geographic areas to work on a media project. This grant scheme supports projects that enable young people to work with older members of their community, to create media projects that encourage communities to gain a better understanding of each other and promote community cohesion.

In addition funding is also currently available through the Mini Mediabox scheme. This provides grants of £1,000 to £5,000 and is open to grassroots and community youth organisations for youth led media projects.

For more information, visit: www.media-box.co.uk/funding.php?ID=1

The European Commission has announced that it is inviting applications from non-profit organisations such as non-governmental organisations (NGOs), networks and public bodies under Action 4.4 of its Youth in Action Programme (2007–13).

This action seeks to support projects that encourage creativity and innovation in non-formal education and youth work. In 2009, priority under this call will be assigned to projects focussing on the themes of media literacy of young people and e-youth work.

Projects must involve partners from at least four different Programme Countries (including the applicant organisation), of which at least one is a Member State of the European Union. The total budget allocated to the co-financing of projects under this call for proposals is estimated at €1. 2 million and the maximum grant available is €100,000.

The closing date for applications is the 30th September 2009. For more information visit: eur-lex.europa.eu

The Google Grants UK beta programme supports organisations sharing Google’s philosophy of community service to help the world in areas such as science and technology, education, global public health, the environment, youth advocacy, and the arts. Designed for registered charities, Google Grants provides free advertising on Google AdWords, to charities seeking to inform and engage their constituents online. Google Grants has given free AdWords advertising to hundreds of charitable groups whose missions range from animal welfare to literacy, from supporting homeless children to promoting HIV education.

As a result of this free advertising many charities have experienced an increase in the recruitment of volunteers and sponsorship. Applications can be made at any time.

For more information, visit www.google.com/grants

Enhancing Communities is the name of SITA Trust’s funding programme for community improvement projects. They can support projects in any of 90 funding zones around qualifying waste processing sites owned by our donor, SITA UK. The programme offers two schemes providing both small and large grants

A fast-track process for applications for funding of up to £10,000. The overall project cost must no more than £20,000. There are 6 funding rounds each calendar year for the small grants scheme.

Welcomes applications for funding between £10,001 and £50,000. The overall project cost must be no more than £250,000. There are 3 funding rounds each calendar year for the large grants scheme.

www.sitatrust.org.uk/community-funding

Deadline: March 2011

So far, Grassroots Grants has funded thousands of projects, from sports for the disabled to arts for older people, activities for young people, counselling services, employment programmes, food parcel services, music groups and village halls. It is these small, volunteer led groups that make a real difference to the lives of local people, and often a small amount of money can go a long way.

 Applying for Grassroots Grants is quick, easy and help is available. You can apply for money until March 2011. If your group ticks all the boxes, then you could apply for a Grassroots Grant of £250 - £5000

- A not-for-profit voluntary or community group in England

- Led by volunteers

- Active in local community 12 months or more

- Average income (over three years) of less than £30,000 per year

- Works for the benefit of your local community

 If you have any questions, please contact the Grassroots Grants helpline:

T: 01223 400 331

E:grassroots@cdf.org.uk

To find out about how to apply for a Grassroot Grant visit www.cdf.org.uk/web/guest/grassroots-grants

Arts Council England’s £500,000 initiative to help artists turn vacant high street shops into artistic and vibrant places is now open for applications.

Artists are able to apply for grants to support artistic activity that will transform empty retail units into creative spaces - anything from an art gallery to recording studios or family arts workshops - which the whole community can enjoy.

 The programme, ‘Art in empty spaces’, which was announced in April, will run in partnership with the Department for Communities and Local Government’s scheme ‘Looking After Our Town Centres’ which will invest £3 million to reinvigorate ailing town centres during the recession.

More information about the scheme and how to apply can be found at

www.artscouncil.org.uk/artinemptyspaces

WCAVA (Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action) may also be of interest to you – you can search for funds free of charge on both WCAVA’s website www.wcava.org.uk/funding & on Warwickshire County Council’s website www.warwickshire.gov.uk/grants

Want to deliver an arts project? Need help with fundraising or
planning for you organisation? Empart has over fifteen years
experience in delivering community arts, crafts and drama projects for
young people and community groups. We work with voluntary
organisations, statutory agencies and communities to deliver high
quality art programmes and help raise funding for organisations and
projects. Please visit our website www.empart.co.uk or email
jane@empart.co.uk or phone 07905 116 272 to see how we can help you
today.

Last week bidding opened for the £1 billion Future Jobs Fund that aims to create 150,000 jobs for long term unemployed young people and others who face significant disadvantage in the labour market.

The Fund was announced in the Budget last month. Plans for the culture and creative sectors will include working with orchestras, arts organisations, heritage bodies and the music industry. Already UK Music has been working with Government to explore how creative industries can help get young people into work. Following negotiations with the live music industry, UK Music has developed a programme, working with Jobcentre Plus, to offer 200 jobs to young unemployed people around this summer’s music festivals.

For more information, and to find out how your organisation can apply, visit www.dwp.gov.uk/futurejobsfund. Applications can be submitted at any time. All bids submitted by 30 June 2009 will be considered for the first allocations of funding to enable the first jobs to begin in October or earlier.