Bentley Advancing Life Chances Small Grants Programme
Objectives of Fund
The fund aims to support vulnerable, disadvantaged or under-represented communities in areas where Bentley has a corporate presence by providing small grants to charities working with local people.
Value Notes
Grants of between £150 and £500 are available.
Grants must be spent within 12 months of award.
Who Can Apply
Applications are accepted from charities and not-for-profit organisations including:
- Registered charities, including charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs).
- Constituted organisations and non-registered charities.
- Community interest companies (CICs) and community benefit organisations (where there is a minimum of three unrelated directors).
- Churches and other religious organisations (if the funded activity is not deemed to be proselytising).
To be eligible, organisations must have:
- Been running community activities for a minimum of 12 months in the local area.
- Appropriate insurance in place for activities, staff and volunteers.
- Appropriate information, governance, policies, and procedures (such as Data Protection, Confidentiality and Information Security) that are appropriate for the organisation/activity and comply with all current legislation.
- Safeguarding policies and procedures (including DBS checks for staff, volunteers and trustees) that are appropriate for the organisation/activity and comply with all current legislation.
- Health and safety policies, risk assessments and procedures that are appropriate for the organisation/group/activity and comply with all current legislation.
- Equal opportunities policies and procedures that are appropriate for the organisation/group/activity and comply with all current legislation.
Eligible organisations must be based within a 20-mile radius of the nineteen specified Bentley locations across the UK (see scheme guidance for details).
Restrictions
Funding is not available for:
- Organisations that do not meet the geographic criteria.
- Individuals.
- Statutory bodies such as city and county councils or health institutions.
- Organisations registered outside the UK.
- Grants that are solely for the provision of bursaries to individuals or families.
- Projects or activities that have already been completed or will be prior to receipt of grant offer.
- Contributions towards major capital building work, infrastructure or capital refurbishment work.
- Activities for solely political or religious promotion.
- Activities solely for the benefit of animals.
- Salary costs.
- Costs incurred when putting together an application.
- Third party fundraising.
- Sponsorship or advertising.
- Activities or projects that discriminate on the basis of race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion or national origin.
Eligible Expenditure
In working to advance life chances, the fund's priority is to support organisations working with vulnerable people, disadvantaged and under-represented communities. The programme's areas of focus are:
- Access - Remove the barriers and improve access to services, education and employability.
- Empowerment - Development of the life skills that enable people to be more self-confident, successful and thrive in life.
- Quality of Life - Provide support to live a healthier life both physically and mentally.
- Better Future - Safeguarding the environment, improving nature-deprived areas, drive improvement to 'place' and boosting community spirit.
How To Apply
Applications are reviewed quarterly with applications accepted during the following 2023 application rounds:
- 6 February to 30 March 2023.
- 6 April to 30 June 2023.
- 7 July to 29 September 2023.
- 6 October to 29 December 2023.
An online application form is available to complete on the Charities Aid Foundation website.
The funders aim to make decisions within three weeks of the deadline and applicants will be informed thereafter.
Contact the grants team at Charities Aid Foundation for further information.
