Local voluntary and community groups are being reminded that time is running out for applications for a share of £80,000 under a new grant scheme launched in July by the Isle of Wight Foundation.
The Isle of Wight Foundation, a charitable trust, funded by the partners of Island Roads, launched the annual grants scheme to benefit community projects that tackle social exclusion across the Island.
The grants of between £3,000- £16,000 per project will be awarded to those not-for-profit organisations that have projects which help tackle social exclusion either by:
– Providing people with better chances to access training and development to improve their life skills and opportunity for employment
– Helping to build stronger communities with more active citizens working together to minimise social exclusion.
In addition to the financial help on offer, Island Roads employees will also be able to provide additional support for projects through a staff volunteering scheme which gives employees a number of paid working days per year to volunteer for community projects and a chance to lend practical support and expertise to the selected projects.
Phil Jackson, Chair of the Isle of Wight Foundation board said:
“We’ve been encouraged by the applications coming forward so far but would like to remind those who haven’t yet applied of this significant opportunity to secure funding and support to help make a real difference to the lives of people living on the Island.
“Whilst our preference is to support capital projects we’re happy to consider all forms of support whether for new projects or opportunities to extend existing projects thereby providing support to more people. The key for us is ensuring the funding can make a measurable difference to the lives of those who find themselves excluded from society perhaps because of disability or lack of opportunity.”
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Applicants from the charity, voluntary and not-for-profit sector on the Island are invited to submit applications with details of their projects before the deadline of 12 noon on Sunday 12th October 2014. These will then be shortlisted and visits undertaken to discuss the projects in more detail before the final grant awards are determined in December. The financial support provided must be able to be used within 12 months of the award.
Unlike many other grant schemes, the Foundation prefers to provide financial support for ‘capital’ projects rather than ongoing running costs.
For more details on the Isle of Wight Foundation, the areas of support, key criteria for applications and to apply for a grant visit https://www.islandroads.com/137-iw-foundation.html or contact the Foundation via Island Roads on 01983 822440.
