Solihull Community Foundation (SCF) has enjoyed great success as a grant-giver for the past 12 years distributing over £900,000 to 150 community groups and projects.

There are over 500 voluntary groups in Solihull, most of which are small. Their work is invaluable and their achievements hugely significant but it’s these groups that often need help when it comes to fundraising, or need small grants to make new projects happen. That’s where we come in. Many groups have recently benefited from a grant from SCF but particularly those for young carers, young homeless, isolated older people, people with disabilities and sports clubs.

The Grassroots Grants programme, funded by national Government, is our latest grants fund which aims to help small, volunteer led organisations to flourish, continue or expand work they currently do. SCF has been awarded £250,000 to make grants over the next three years from between £250 to £5,000 in a straightforward and easy way to voluntary and community groups with annual incomes of less than £30,000. SCF is currently accepting applications for the Grassroots Grants Fund for grants to be distributed in March 2009 onwards.

Businesses, fundraising groups and individuals across Solihull are also invited to get involved through investing in the Grassroots Endowment Challenge - the first of its kind in England. Government has set aside a £50 million pot from which it will match endowment investments - offering the chance to contribute directly to supporting and sustaining voluntary groups in Solihull. SCF has a match fund target of £200,000 which it must reach in order to release an endowment allocation of £200,000 from the Government, making a total of £400,000 enabling SCF to continue to support community projects in Solihull. SCF will be organising fundraising events throughout 2009. Any business or individual interested in becoming a donor or supporting a fundraising event for the Endowment Fund, please click here. SCF is happy to discuss specific requirements for any business or individual regarding a donation and will look at dividing monies for an immediate grant and long-term giving to the Endowment Fund.

SCF also administers grants on behalf of the European Union and Sport Relief. The European Social Fund (ESF) is a European Union scheme which aims to extend employment opportunities to everyone.Some workless people are a long way from the job market, and are not ready for the mainstream education and training programme funded by ESF. The scheme, therefore, includes a small grants programme, Community Grants, which will help local groups deliver basic employment skills and experiences to these people. This means voluntary sector organisations with an annual turnover of less then £100,000 can apply for up to £12,000 to run projects.

SCF has been entrusted to distribute £15,000 on behalf of Sport Relief 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.

Our role is to match funds with the many local organisations who notify us of specific charitable projects which need financial support. The Foundation is a well structured, business-like operation that’s ideally placed to efficiently administer and monitor charity giving. It’s critical that we demonstrate fairness and accountability in the way we handle other people’s philanthropy. That’s why we set up a panel of advisors, drawn from all parts of the community, to carefully monitor the way each grant is spent and we can ensure that the grant aid goes to where it is most needed.

For more information on all of the above grants and application forms where applicable, use the links below