Newsletter August 2010

Welcome to the monthly e-bulletin for the East Midlands Funding Advice Network
(EMFAN). If you have any comments, please get in touch by emailing
info@emfan.org.uk.

Scroll through for information about county networks, new resources, policy, training for
you, funding fairs and funding news.

Appeal for evidence on online applications

Do you know of groups that have struggled with online applications? Feedback from funding
advice workers in this region is matched by what other regions are saying and so NAVCA have
asked us for specific examples to support lobbying on the issue at a national level. We are sure
that funders, too, would be interested to hear about what is happening so they can improve
the accessibility of their grant application processes. Please send information about specific
examples to info@emfan.org.uk, including 1) ideally the name of the group(s) or at least a
good description of who and where they are, 2) whether they would be willing to talk to
funders and the government about the problem, 3) which online application process they have
struggled with and what the problem was, 4) how the problem affected their ability to apply
and 5) what the outcome was.

EMFAN project update

EMFAN online: using social media
You can now connect to EMFAN by following “EMFANtastic” on twitter.com. It’s a quick and
easy way to keep up to date with the EMFAN project.

For a while we have been using the work-oriented social networking site linkedin.com and we
now have 18 members in our group. If you are looking for ways to network with other funding
advice workers in the region this would be a good place to start:
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?viewMembers=&gid=2437071. The group features a range
of discussions, including those raised at the recent Loughborough event. Please feel free to
post your own comments and add new discussion topics.

EMFAN signposting service launched in September

If you haven’t already completed the form to have your service included in this new web
resource for groups please email info@emfan.org.uk. Many groups aren’t aware of the support
available for them, especially new groups, so this service should help them, as well as helping
funders and funding advisors to source extra help for the groups they are working with.

Venues for funding advice training decided and places filling up

The locations for EMFAN’s How to Excel in Funding Advice courses this autumn will be the
Nottingham Contemporary art gallery on 28th and 29th September and East Northamptonshire
Council’s offices near Kettering on 23rd and 24th November. Course places are filling up so
please get in touch soon to avoid missing out. See
http://www.oneeastmidlands.org.uk/infusions/one_events_panel/event_list.php?cat_id=9.

County networks
Please find below a list of upcoming network meetings near you. To attend these meetings
please contact the chair of the meeting, if you are not already on their circulation list. Please
note these county-based networks are locally led and not EMFAN meetings.

Northamptonshire
Development Worker Network – Tuesday 14th September in Corby. For info please email
jgutteridge@one-em.org.uk – Jonny Gutteridge, EMFAN Manager

Derbyshire
Funding Forum – Tuesday 5th October in Ripley. For info please email
lorna@bolsovercvp.org.uk - Lorna Wallace, Manager, Bolsover CVP (with “Funding Forum” in
the subject line of your email).

Lincolnshire
Funding Advice Network – Tuesday 9th November in Long Sutton. For info please email
karenjohnson@sholland.gov.uk - Karen Johnson at South Holland District Council. (The next
meeting after this one is planned for Lincoln on 18th January).

New resources
New guidance and resources on trading and enterprise
New website www.steppinguptoenterprise.org.uk seeks to provide useful information and
signposting to those that support East Midlands VCOs looking at starting or developing trading.
It should also help VCOs and you identify when pursuing a trading path may be appropriate or
not for the organisation. The site offers assessment tools, resources, case studies and a
directory of support providers. It has been produced as part of a Capacitybuilders funded
project in the East Midlands called ‘Stepping Up To Enterprise’, which is being co-ordinated by
a partnership of High Peak CVS, Enterprise Solutions Northamptonshire and the Development
Trusts Association.

Policy
Big Society
The Government’s aim to build a Big Society could have a significant impact on the voluntary
and community sector and your funding advice service. While some grant funds are
diminishing the Government says it wants civil society to have ‘a bigger slice of the cake’ –
meaning funding for public services – and that means more opportunity for groups you support
to raise money by delivering public services. To find out more, including the official
government policy document, One East Midlands’ briefing materials and how the East Midlands
is responding visit http://www.oneeastmidlands.org.uk/viewpage.php?page_id=22 and scroll
down to Big Society.

Listen Value Invest

As part of One East Midlands on-going commitment to support the third sector in the region,
we our backing the Listen: Value: Invest campaign, originally started in the North West, which
calls upon decision makers to commit to listening, valuing and investing in the sector. The
campaign is asking all those connected with the voluntary and community sector to sign the
Listen: Value: Invest declaration, which calls for the coalition government and other decision-
makers to commit to listen to, value and invest in people, communities and the Third Sector.
For more information visit www.oneeastmidlands.org.uk/listenvalueinvest

Training events for funding advice workers

EMFAN Training: How to Excel in Funding Advice
28 & 29 September, 23 & 24 November 2010
If you have a job or voluntary role which involves you in providing funding advice or
information to voluntary or community groups then this training could be for you. For more
information visit
http://www.oneeastmidlands.org.uk/infusions/one_events_panel/event_list.php?idx=812

Financial Awareness & Investment Readiness (FAIR) Learning Programme

5 & 6 October, 2 & 3 November, 30 November & 1 December 2010
The programme has three strands and each strand will encompass 2 days of learning, which is
mapped against the Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative Business Support
standards. For more information visit
http://www.oneeastmidlands.org.uk/infusions/one_events_panel/event_list.php?idx=820

Procurement & commissioning training – Winning a Bigger Buck for your Bang
7 October, 4 November, 9 December 2010, 13 January & 3 February 2011
Winning a Bigger Buck for your Bang consists of 5 separate events that will provide
participants with the wide range of skills that are needed to successfully support third sector
organisations to bid and win contracts from the public sector. EMFAN would like feedback on
how useful you think this course would be to you. Please email your thoughts to
info@emfan.org.uk. For more information visit
http://www.oneeastmidlands.org.uk/infusions/one_events_panel/event_list.php?idx=814

ICT Workshops for Development Workers

15, 20 & 29 September, 5 October 2010
The purpose of these workshops is to enable development workers to be more skilled and
confident about supporting organisations with their ICT needs. For more information visit
http://www.oneeastmidlands.org.uk/infusions/one_events_panel/event_list.php?idx=801

Communication & Social Media Workshop

13 October 2010
Good use of social media can offer ways to strengthen how development workers work with
local groups, how organisations reach volunteers, or help communities campaign more
effectively. For more information visit
http://www.oneeastmidlands.org.uk/infusions/one_events_panel/event_list.php?idx=813

Funding fairs
If you know of a funding fair or funding-related event please let us know as we would like to
establish a ‘funding fair diary’ for the region. Please email info@emfan.org.uk or call Jonny
Gutteridge on 0115 934 8436 to help us build up this service.

7 September 10am to 12noon

Derbyshire Dales CVS is organising a networking event in Tideswell with input from funding
organisations. Email jonathan@ddcvs.org.uk or call 01629 812154 for more information.
7 September 9.45am to 1pm
Newark and Sherwood Funding Issues Group is organising a funding applications
workshop at Kelham Hall. Contact Katie Wilson at RCAN by email at kwilson@rcan.org.uk or
call 01623 727600 for more information and to book (booking essential for groups).

3 November
Voluntary Action East Lindsey will be hosting a funding fair at Minting Village Hall. Booking
is essential for groups. Email events@vael.org.uk or call 01790 720000 for more information
and to book (booking is essential for groups).

Funding news from One East Midlands website

Please click on a headline to read the full article.

Blueprint being drawn up for Big Society Bank

Heritage Lottery Fund seeking applications in East Midlands
Consultation on the change of direction for the Big Lottery Fund
Government plans £40m fund to support charities working against poverty
BSVC Chief Executive circulates letter on dealing with funding cuts
Prince’s Trust provides practical and financial support to young people
Voluntary sector asked for their ideas on how to do more for less
Zurich offers cheaper public liability insurance to community groups
Personal development budgets for infrastructure bodies
David and Elaine Potter Foundation encourages a fairer civil society
Big Lottery Fund announces areas that can apply for Big Local money
Grants available from the Leche Trust
Percy Bilton Charity offers grants to registered charities
Communitybuilders resumes distribution of funds
Cracking the Code bursary scheme to improve governance
Dragon’s foundation supports education, health and charitable causes
Moto grants to benefit their surrounding communities
The Prince’s Trust distributes £1million of RBS community grants
Biffaward awards grants of up to £50,000 to community and environmental projects
Communitybuilders offers feasibility grants of up to £75,000
Clothworkers’ Foundation offers one-off grants for capital costs
Next funding round of Young Person’s Volunteering Fund announced
2011 IMPACT awards offer funding and training for health charities

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EMFAN, C/o One East Midlands, Nottingham Voluntary Action Centre, 7 Mansfield Road,
Nottingham NG1 3FB

EMFAN exists to make sure voluntary and community groups get the best possible funding
advice, to encourage investment in civil society in the East Midlands. One East Midlands is the
regional voluntary and community sector infrastructure organisation for the East Midlands.
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