What will it fund? There are four priority aims: to challenge discrimination faced by disabled people; to promote the inclusion and integration of recently established communities; to strengthen "mother tongue" and supplementary schools in providing creative learning opportunities; and a fourth category of "new and emerging needs". Disabled young people are a further priority under the first aim and the fund will support work that encourages them to have a stronger voice, provides opportunities for mutual support, campaigns to improve quality of life and self-advocacy groups. Costs covered can include rent, volunteers' expenses, running costs and small capital items.
Who can apply? Small, constituted voluntary groups benefiting communities in London and run by volunteers or by paid staff that between them work no more than 35 hours a week. Groups should have a high level of user involvement, including representation on management committees. Groups are likely to have been established for at least a year, and long-established groups will need to show how they are addressing new needs.
How much is available? The maximum grant is 15,000, with the average being 8,000. About 50 grants are made each year under the main open programme.
Application procedure: Stage one is to send in a brief proposal describing the organisation, the proposed work, how it meets priorities and the costs involved. Proposals are then reduced to a shortlist after three deadlines each year. Shortlisted groups will be visited and advised about making a final application. The next deadline is 30 May with further dates set for October and February.
- Further guidance is available on www.cityparochial.org.uk/tfl.
