North West

(Bolton, Bury, Cheshire, Cumbria, Knowsley, Lancashire, Liverpool, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, St Helens, Salford, Sefton, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, Wirral)

This regional information includes regional offices of funding bodies, government and agencies. They all have a role which involves the Voluntary and Community Sector. Some offer direct funding. Some act as a coordinating body for provision of regional and local services. Some merely offer help and advice to those providing services. Not all of these will offer funding at any particular time.

There are regional pages for each England region. Where possible regional information is given on each of these pages. Where regional information is complex links are given to websites which can provide information and contacts relevant to your area.

Help and advice in your region

Local Infrastructure Organisation (LIO)

LIOs (Council for Voluntary Service, Voluntary Action, Community Action) give help and support to the Voluntary and Community Sector in local areas of the UK. Most areas are covered by their services. The level of service each LIO offers varies but they will be able to either help you themselves with local funding advice or direct you to services in your area that can help you.

To contact your local LIO go to the NAVCA website http://www.navca.org.uk/liodir/to find their details. Your local LIO or Council will be able tell you how you can find out about grants from local trusts, your local council and other local sources.

Sources of funding

Below are details of regional funding including Regional Government agencies, Lottery and other National Funder's Regional Offices as well as funders based in the Region.

Rural Community Councils

Rural Community Councils (RCCs) are county based charities working to improve the quality of life of local communities and particularly disadvantaged people in rural England. The Countryside Agency funds each RCC to provide direct support and advice to rural communities and organisations.
The Countryside Agency provides funding to each RCC through an annual service level agreement. With this support, RCCs can offer rural communities:

• sources of local funding and advice on how to put together funding bids, including how to bid for Countryside Agency grant programmes such as Vital Villages, Doorstep Greens and the Local Heritage Initiative
• support and advice for village hall committees
• their expertise and practical support to develop community capacity
• help to strengthen parish councils
• share good practice about what other local community successes and activities

Rural Community Councils in the region are:

Cheshire Community Council
96 Lower Bridge Street
Chester
Cheshire
CH1 1RU
Tel:01244 323602
Fax:01244 401036
Website: www.cheshirecc.org.uk

Voluntary Action Cumbria
The Old Stables
Redhills
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 0DT
Tel:01768 242130
Fax:01768 242134
Website: www.ruralcumbria.org.uk

Community Futures
15 Victoria Road
Fulwood
Preston
PR2 8PS
Tel:01772 717461/718710
Fax:01772 900250
Website: www.communityfutures.org.uk

Website: www.countryside.gov.uk/VitalVillages/social_capital/rcc_contacts.asp

Community Foundations

Community Foundations are charitable trusts that support local community causes. Their role is to manage donor funds and build endowment as well as make grants to charities and community groups, linking local donors with local needs. Created by and for local people they help donors express their long-term interest in an area and its needs. Community foundations have been active in the UK since the 1980s and a rapidly growing network of approximately 60 foundations is now established across the country. About 90% of the UK population has access to a community foundation.

To find your local Community Foundation go to the Community Foundations Network Website: www.communityfoundations.org.uk

Community Foundation Network
Arena House
66-68 Pentonville Road
London
N1 9HS
Tel: 020 7713 9326
Fax: 020 7713 9327
Email: network@communityfoundations.org.uk

Government

Local Government

Your Local Authority (Council) will have funds for the Voluntary and Community Sector. This funding is often in small pots within different departments. They may not have a complete picture of what is available and it is best to ask for help within a particular department. Key departments that often have responsibility for funds are Culture & Leisure, Education, Environment, Health & Social Care, Housing, Regeneration.

You can find the Local Authority for you area at Website: www.direct.gov.uk/Dl1/Directories/LocalCouncils/fs/en You will find contact address, phone numbers and links to their Website.

Similarly there are often small pots of funds for the Voluntary and Community Sector held by Town Councils and Parish Councils.

Town Councils

You can also find your town council at Website: www.direct.gov.uk/Dl1/Directories/LocalCouncils/fs/en You will find contact address and phone numbers and links to their Website.

Parish Councils

Parish councils are listed by Tagish at Website: www.tagish.co.uk/tagish/links/parish.htm

Some Parish Councils have Websites. They may be listed at: www.parish-council.com/fulllist.asp or search using Google Website: www.google.co.uk

Local Authorities often have funding advisors or community workers to help you who will know more about the funding available. You can also get help to find local government funding from your LIO (see above).

Local Government is buying in more of its services from the Voluntary and Community Sector under contract.

The Local Compact

The Compact is the agreement between government and the voluntary and community sector in England to improve their relationship for mutual advantage.

By building better relationships the Compact can help government and the voluntary and community sector work better together for the communities they serve.

Local Compacts are being drawn up for dealings between local and regional government and the voluntary sector. These can be downloaded from the regional pages of the Compact Website:
http://www.thecompact.org.uk/information/100024/regions/

Government Office for the North West

The Government Office represents Central Government in the region; it also feeds back the region's views to Whitehall.

They aim to work with regional partners and local people to increase the prosperity of the region, promote sustainable development and tackle social exclusion.

They will be able to put you into contact with those agencies which deal with local European funding schemes such as Global Grants and Co-Financing and Government funding such as Community Champions, Community Learning Chests and Neighbourhood Renewal Community Chests. (See also www.governmentfunding.org.uk )

They have offices in Liverpool and Manchester.

Cunard Building
Pier Head
Water Street
Liverpool
L3 1QB
Tel: 0151 224 6300
Fax: 0151 224 6470

City Tower
Piccadilly Plaza
Manchester
M1 4BE
Tel: 0161 952 4000
Fax: 0161 952 4099

Part of their work is to co-ordinate funding from the European Community. Contact them at:

Communications (European Programmes Merseyside) Team
Government Office for the North West
Cunard Building
Pier Head
Water Street
Liverpool
L3 1QB
Email: gonweufunding@gonw.gsi.gov.uk

Website: www.go-nw.gov.uk Their website provides links to many other agencies serving the North West.

Northwest Regional Development Agency

The Northwest Regional Development Agency is responsible for the sustainable economic development and regeneration of England's Northwest and has 5 key priorities: Business, People and Jobs, Skills & Education, Infrastructure and Quality of Life.

HQ
PO BOX 37
Renaissance House
Centre Park
Warrington
Cheshire
WA1 1XB
Tel : 01925 400100
Fax : 01925 400400

Merseyside Office
Mercury Court
Tithebarn Street
Liverpool
Merseyside
L2 2QP
Tel: 01925 400100
Fax: 0151 236 3731

Greater Manchester Office
Giants Basin
Potato Wharf
Castlefield
Manchester
M3 4NB
Tel: 0161 817 7400
Fax: 0161 831 7051

Lancashire Office
13 Winkley Street
Preston
Lancashire
PR1 2AA
Tel: 01772 206000
Fax: 01772 200049

Cumbria Office (Penrith)
Gillan Way
Penrith 40 Business Park
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 9BP
Tel : 01768 867294
Fax : 01768 895477

Cumbria Office (Workington)
Unit 1
Lillyhall Business Centre
Jubilee Road
Workington
Cumbria
CA14 4HA
Tel : 01900 734000
Fax : 01900 606572

Cheshire Office
Brew House
Wilderspool Park
Greenalls Avenue
Warrington
WA4 6HL
Tel : 01925 644220
Fax: 01925 644222
Website: www.nwda.co.uk

Social, Health, Education, Training and Employment

Connexions

Connexions is the government's support service for all young people aged 13 to 19 in England.

Connexions brings together all the services and support young people need during their teenage years offering differentiated and integrated support to young people through Personal Advisers (PAs). For some young people this may be just for careers advice, for others it may involve more in-depth support to help identify barriers to learning and find solutions brokering access to more specialist support, eg drug abuse, sexual health and homelessness. PAs work in a range of settings including schools, colleges, one-stop shops community centres and on an out-reach basis.

Connexions is delivered through a range of local partnership arrangements based either on Local Authority boundaries or Regional boundaries. Funding is through a grant from the Secretary of State for Education and Skills.

You can find details of your local partnership at Website: http://www.connexions-direct.com/index.cfm?go=localServices

SureStart

Sure Start is a Government programme which aims to achieve better outcomes for children, parents and communities by:

• increasing the availability of childcare for all children
• improving health and emotional development for young children
• supporting parents as parents and in their aspirations towards employment.

They will achieve our aims by:

• helping services development in disadvantaged areas alongside financial help for parents to afford childcare
• rolling out the principles driving the Sure Start approach to all services for children and parents.

Regional and local services are dealt with by regional Government Offices and Local Education Authorities.

Sure Start Unit
Department for Education and Skills and Department for Work and Pensions
Level 2
Caxton House
Tothill Street
London
SW1H 9NA
Public Enquiry Unit Tel: 0870 0002288
Email: info.surestart@dfes.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.surestart.gov.uk/surestartservices/

Children's Fund

The Children's Fund was launched in November 2000 as part of the Government's commitment to tackle disadvantage among children and young people. The programme aims to identify at an early stage children and young people at risk of social exclusion, and make sure they receive the help and support they need to achieve their potential.

The Children's Fund provides a responsive approach to developing services that address the difficulties faced by some children and their families. It encourages voluntary organisations, community and faith groups to work in partnership with local statutory agencies, and children, young people and their families, to deliver high-quality preventative services to meet the needs of communities.

To find out about the Children's Fund partnership in your area contact your regional Government Office or Local Authority.

More information is on Website: www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/strategy/childrensfund/

Health and Safety Commission

The Health and Safety Commission is responsible for health and safety regulation in Great Britain.
Regional Offices can be found at website: www.hse.gov.uk/contact/maps/index.htm

HSE Infoline Tel: 0845 345 0055
Website: www.hse.gov.uk/

Skills Funding Agency

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) is one of two successor organisations that will emerge from the closure of the Learning and Skills Council (England's largest Non-departmental public body or quango).

The Skills Funding Agency, established in law by the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 will work alongside the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) and Regional Development Agencies (RDAs). The YPLA will be created as a nondepartmental public body, with a non-executive Board, sponsored by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.The Skills Funding Agency will be an agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

The Learning and Skills Council hands over its responsibilities from 1 April 2010.

Website: http://www.skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk

Primary Care Trusts (PCTs)

The main function of a PCT is to provide health services locally by integrating primary, secondary and community health services and social services.

PCTs commission general and acute services, invest in primary and community care and work to improve the health of the local population in partnership with local borough councils and others.

Trusts hold contracts with Personal Medial Services, (PMS), providers to provide a wide range of primary and community services to the general public.

To find your local PCT look at website: http://pctdirectory.com/ and for more information use the National Health Service website: http://www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories/Pages/PrimaryCareTrustListing.aspx

Local Education Authorities (LEAs)

Local Education Authorities oversee education services in Local Authority areas. There is a trend for for services to schools and colleges to become their own responsibility. Funding for these is more often being directed through schools and colleges themselves. If you wish to provide a service related to education you may have to negotiate that with each school or college.
Schools and colleges will be listed on your local authority Website (see above).

You can find details of your LEA at Website: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/_contacts/

Environment and Heritage

English Heritage and other environment and heritage agencies can be found in the national Government and Statutory pages.

Arts

Arts Council of England - North West

Arts Council England is the national development agency for the arts in England, distributing public money from Government and the National Lottery.

Manchester House
22 Bridge Street
Manchester
M3 3AB
Tel: 0845 300 6200
Fax: 0161 834 6969
Textphone: 0161 834 913
Website: www.artscouncil.org.uk/regions/homepage.php?rid=5

Sport

Sport England in the North West

Sport England in the North West is committed to creating opportunities for people in the North West region to start in sport, stay in sport and succeed in sport.

They are committed to the national vision: making England an active and successful sporting nation.

Sport England provides the strategic lead for sport in England, and is responsible for delivering the Government's sporting objectives.

Astley House
Quay Street
Manchester
M3 4AE
Tel: 0161 834 0338
Website: www.sportengland.org/northwest_index.htm

Lottery

Sport England and Arts Council England details are above.

Other Regional Lottery contacts

Big Lottery Fund

The Big Lottery Fund has offices in the nine England Regions, staffed by a team who work with those who have a key interest in making sure our money goes to the people and areas that need it most. Their regional staff offer outreach services to potential grant applicants by organising funding advice events and holding before you apply sessions.

Contact the Big Advice Line for further details of events happening in your region Tel: 0845 4 102030 Each regional office has its own enquiries line.

Ground Floor
Dallam Court
Dallam Lane
Warrington
WA2 7LU
Tel: 01925 626800
Minicom: 01925 231241
Fax: 01925 234041
Email: enquiries.nw@biglotteryfund.org.uk

Awards For All (changed arrangements from April 2009)

The BIG Lottery Fund launched its own new version of the highly popular Awards for All small grants scheme in England and Wales from 1st April 2009. BIG's Awards for All programme is the Fund's biggest-ever commitment to a small grant scheme supporting community projects, offering a more easily accessible programme with even quicker decision times

A total of 45 million is available in England offering Big Lottery Fund grants of between 300 to 10,000 to grassroots groups in the community and voluntary sector, health bodies, schools and parish or town councils. In Wales grants of between 500 and 5,000 are available with a total of 2.4 million available.

The programme aims to make a difference to communities and the lives of those most in need and will focus on social and environmental projects that benefit local communities.

The new easy-to-use application form, can be downloaded, filled in and emailed direct to the Big Lottery Fund as well as being available in hard copy.

The Big Lottery Fund's Awards for All programme will build on the features that made the previous scheme so popular. A simpler application process and a maximum turnaround time of six weeks for a decision are among the changes to the programme which will make it much easier for applicants to successfully apply for small pots of funding that can have such a big impact on local communities and lives.

The other Lottery awarding bodies will now operate their own small grants schemes for England and Wales.

Application forms are available from Website: www.awardsforall.org.uk Tel: 0845 4 10 20 30.

Heritage Lottery Fund

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage. From museums and historic buildings to parks and nature reserves to celebrating traditions, customs and history.

9th Floor
82 King Street
Manchester
M2 4WQ
Tel: 0161 831 0850
Website: www.hlf.org.uk/English/InYourArea/NorthWest/

Lottery Funding

Lottery Funding is a joint website run by all Lottery funders in the UK. This site allows you to search information on current funding programmes across the UK. The funding search will help you to find the funding programmes that best match your project. It will search programmes offered by Lottery funders that are currently open to applications. The funding search will take you through a series of four questions about: the location of your project; about you as an applicant; about the project itself; and about the amount of money you are applying for.
Tel: 0845 275 0000
Website: www.lotteryfunding.org.uk

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