Funding finder

ABBEY CHARITABLE TRUST

Funding: Since it was formed in 1990 the trust has made £20m in grants. It focuses on areas where it has established Community Partnership Groups - these are Camden, Glasgow, Bradford, Milton Keynes, Sheffield, Northern Ireland and Teesside. Outside of these areas grants can be from £250 to £2,500 but within them the ceiling is £20,000, although most grants will range from £1,000 to £4,000.

Funder: The charitable arm of the former Abbey National Building Society. The trust was set up in 1990 with an endowment from the company, from which it also receives annual grants.

Aim: To support disadvantaged people in local communities through three main approaches: education and training that may lead to a recognised qualification or be part of a wider approach to lifelong learning; local regeneration based on partnerships such as intergenerational work or diverse ethnic communities working together; and helping disadvantaged people to take more control of their money through financial education.

Who can apply?: Only projects with charitable status. It favours small, local charities and also prefers to fund a complete project rather than make a partial donation to a fundraising campaign.

Deadline: Ongoing.

Contact: (tel) 0870 608 0104 or (web site) http://www.abbeynational.com/

ACTION EARTH SCOTLAND

Funding: Small grants up to £50. A total of 150 grants.

Funder: Scottish Natural Heritage administered by Community Service Volunteers.

Aim: To involve voluntary organisations, schools, businesses and community groups in projects of environmental benefit.

Who can apply?: Anyone, but the focus is on areas of social disadvantage and those which have not previously been involved in environmental work. While CSV runs schemes in England and Wales, funds are exhausted.

Contact: (tel) 0121 328 7455 or (email) naseem@csvenvironmental.org.uk or (web site) http://www.actionearth.org.uk/

ALEC DICKSON TRUST

Funding: Most grants are below £250.

Funder: The trust was formed in 1994 as a memorial to Alec Dickson, the founder of Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) and Community Service Volunteers (CSV). In keeping with the trust's aim of supporting youth volunteering, all of its trustees are under 30, and are committed to volunteering.

Aim: The trust aims to fund projects that use volunteering or community service to support young people, particularly the most marginalised.

Who can apply?: People under 30 can apply for money to carry out voluntary projects in the UK.

Deadline: Trustees meet twice a year to consider applications.

Contact: http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/alecdicksontrust/index.htm

AWARDS FOR ALL SCOTLAND

Funding: £13m in 2006-07. Grants of between £500 and £5,000 are available.

Funder: Scottish Arts Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Sportscotland and the Big Lottery Fund.

Aim: To fund projects that actively involve people in their local community, bringing them together to take part in heritage, charitable, health, educational, environmental and other community activities.

Who can apply?: Not-for-profit groups, parish/town councils, schools or health bodies. Applicants must be able to spend the grant within one year.

Contact: (tel) 0870 240 2391 or (web site) http://www.awardsforall.org.uk/