After years of using hired premises in schools I would like to convert a classroom in our AE college for our own use.
We have healthy learner numbers and could do much more. I see potential markets for family learning and adults with specific learning needs and disabilities as well as older people and those who wish to extend existing skills.
Work in this area has a huge social potential and links to the health of the nation
Money in ACL is very tight so I will need to secure an outside 'angel'.
Does anyone have a lead I might follow up?
Thanks
Chris O'Brien
4 Responses
have you tried CAF?
Chris
When I was trying to raise funds for a charity drive I found the CAF, Charity Aid Foundation, a great source of potential donors, you can search for charities in geographic area, subject and beneficiary.
I hope this helps
Rus
Funding Sources
Chris
I can’t help you directly I am afraid, but I think you will find that all larger companies have their own Charitable Funds to call upon and dispose of as they think most appropriate, according to their agreed criteria.
I’d warmly recommend you aproach some, not the least because I have had this responsibility for a plc as a recipient of such requests in a previous role. Of course we were inundated with invitations to help, and naturally we needed to know who would do what, why, for whom and how. May this be helpful generic advice?
More specifically, you use terms such as AE and ACL – and as I am not at all sure what these mean, do be prepared to explain them more fully to your target audience also?
Kind regards
Jeremy
Charitable Funding
Providing training is provided free on acccess to people on low incomes or on benefits funding may be available from the LSC or the European Commission
Fundraising for beginners
Applying for grants can be quite daunting if you haven’t done it before.
There’s some useful information on the Fit4Funding Site http://www.fit4funding.org.uk/
You’ll also find two useful pieces of software – “Apply yourselves” and “Budget yourselves” – on the FunderFinder website – . http://www.funderfinder.org.uk/groupsupport.php
Who you apply to for money depends on a number of factors – including the cost of the project and who will benefit from it. Your best bet would be to try and see a funding advisor – your local CVS may have someone who can help. Or you could look for appropriate funding streams here http://www.j4bgrants.co.uk/Logon.aspx?WCI=htmRegister
As another contributor has highlighted – you will need to emphasise the community benefits that will result and provsion should be free or very low cost for those on low incomes. You are unlikely to get a grant for any statutory provision.
It might also be worthwhile contacting local DIY stores to see if they might donate fittings etc. and contact Pro-Help http://www.bitc.org.uk/take_action/in_the_community/community_investment/engaging_employees/prohelp/index.html to see if you can get some free professional advice on planning/architecture etc. – and maybe even a team of volunteers to do some of the work.
Good Luck
Cathy White