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 About Abbey website

AWARDS FOR ALL

Funding: The amounts on offer are different for each country. In Northern Ireland and Scotland grants of between £500 and £10,000 are available, in Wales between £500 and £5,000 is on offer, and in England the scheme hands out between £300 and £10,000.

Funder: Awards for All is a Big Lottery Fund grants scheme designed specifically for local communities. Although grants are available to organisations across the UK, there are different schemes for each of the four countries. The awards mainly focus on sports, heritage and arts activities.

Aim: The schemes will fund a huge range of activities including those promoting health, education and sport. Money can be spent in a variety of ways, including training, research costs and updating equipment to comply with health and safety regulations. Each of the schemes has its own priority areas but encourages any group who thinks it qualifies for funding to apply.

Who can apply?: Each of the four nations' schemes require that organisations applying for funding must be not-for-profit, have a bank account that requires two signatures for each cheque or withdrawal and spend the money given within one year. The English, Scottish and Welsh schemes will consider applications from parish and town councils, schools and health bodies.

http://www.awardsforall.org.uk/

AWARDS FOR BRIDGING CULTURES

Funding: Winning organisations get £10,000 while three commended entries in each category receive up to £5,000 each.

Funder: The Awards for Bridging Cultures were launched in 2008 by the Institute of Community Cohesion, funded by the Baring Foundation.

Aim: To reward local projects that help build bridges between communities and cultures.

Who can apply?: Voluntary organisations linked to schools, such as Parent Teacher Associations or out-of-school clubs set up as charities, are eligible.

Deadline: 14 September.

Contact: www.bridgingcultures.org.uk, 024 7679 5768 or email awards@bridgingcultures.org.uk.