5000th Grassroots Grant

Solihull Community Foundation awarded £4495 to local toddler group Barnys Babs, marking the 5000th grant to be made through the government’s groundbreaking £130million Grassroots Grants programme. The £4495 will be paid over 3 years and will help the group pay for outdoor play equipment and towards rent and costs of outings.
The toddler group gives 25 toddlers from Kingshurst the chance to learn and play in a safe environment, while their parents get together over a cup of tea. It was set up two years ago and is run by volunteers.

Eat Your Burger and Benefit A Local Charity

Solihull Community Foundation is set to benefit from a new fundraising scheme being run by The Handmade Burger Co.'s restaurant in the Touchwood Shopping Centre in Solihull Town Centre. The ‘give back’ burger campaign will benefit ten local Solihull charities. Customers who buy a burger in the ‘give back burger range’ will see 25p from each burger going to a local charity. The campaign runs from February to December 2009. So if you fancy a burger lunch, you could also benefit your favourite local charity.

Grassroots Grants

Over £116,000 in Grassroots Grants has been paid out in the first four rounds of grant making up until the end of April 2009. Thirty six local charities have benefited so far receiving grants from between £250 to £5,000. These funds will help local people including those with disabilities, young disadvantaged, isolated older people and the bereaved. Commenting on the awards, SCF’s Sharon Pinnock said: “We continue to support many local groups including those who have not benefited previously. The grant criteria now allows groups with an annual turnover of £30,000 rather than £20,000 to apply so this means that more local groups will now qualify.” Anyone representing a voluntary group in Solihull who thinks they may qualify should click here for more information or ring Sharon on 0121 700 3934.

Grassroots Grants Endowment Challenge

A Working Party of SCF Trustees has been set up to organise fundraising for the Endowment Challenge whereby the Foundation has to raise £200,000 over the next 2½ years which will then be matched by the Government on a 1 to 1 basis making a total of £400,000 enabling SCF to continue supporting local charities once the Grassroots Grants programme comes to an end. A fundraising lunch was held at the end of May at the Copt Heath Golf Club attended by the Mayor of Solihull Councillor Norman Davies and other local business men and women. 

EU Social Fund

SCF is currently wanting groups to come forward to apply for a grant under this scheme. This fund helps local groups helping workless people move closer to employment and grants of £12,000 are now available. For more information, click here or contact Sharon Pinnock on 0121 700 3934.

Sport Relief

A further £13,000 has been allocated to SCF from Comic Relief
through Sport Relief Grants.  This money is available to projects which use sport and exercise to strengthen communities and provide opportunities for people who are excluded or disadvantaged. Sport Relief 2008 raised in excess of £26 million and offers grants ranging from £1,000 to £5,000 for sports related projects. Any organisations interested should contact Sharon Pinnock on 0121 700 3934