1. Are you fit for funding? Angela Richardson Cheshire Community Foundation WARRINGTON THIRD SECTOR ASSEMBLY North West Funders Forum

2. Mission and Purpose To maximise the value and impact of funding to the Third Sector, across the North West region, for the benefit of all communities. Membership Membership is open to any organisation providing funding to benefit the Third Sector in the North West at either regional or sub-regional level. NORTH WEST FUNDERS FORUM North West Funders Forum

3. Who are we? >£7.5m of charitable donations since 2011 £2.3m new donations in 2015 £4.2m in endowment funds (from 0 in 2012) £900k in managed funds for corporate, individual and charitable trusts Total funds under management = over £5m £1.8m awarded in grants since October 2012 456 grants awarded CHESHIRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION North West Funders Forum

4. Grants Programmes Up to £1000 – CCF Express Grants Programme – rolling programme Average grant £7,500 to £10,000 – CCF Main Grants Programme - Warrington Older Peoples Fund CHESHIRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION North West Funders Forum

5. Are you fit for funding? North West Funders Forum

6. Governance Constitution Financial systems Resources (People and time) BEFORE YOU START North West Funders Forum

7. 1. Establish the need for your project North West Funders Forum

8. What are the problems / specific need you have identified and collect evidence to support this: Statistics – be specific to the problems you state Compare local Stats with regional and national Evaluation – from your own existing work – waiting lists Consultation with young people, community representatives, key stakeholders (through-out the life of the project) EVIDENCE OF NEED North West Funders Forum

9. Some useful websites - figures, strategies & similar projects Census statistics: www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.ukwww.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk Community Health Profiles: www.communityhealthprofiles.infowww.communityhealthprofiles.info Association of Public Health Observatories: www.apho.org.ukwww.apho.org.uk Local Authority website Big Lottery Fund: www.biglotteryfund.org.ukwww.biglotteryfund.org.uk North West Funders Forum

10. Are you clear about the difference your project will make 2 - OUTCOMES North West Funders Forum

11. Outcomes The difference you intend to make for your beneficiaries Aim The overall aim of their project Activities What those working on your project will actually do, week by week. NEED North West Funders Forum

12. 75 years old, lives alone with no family nearby, sits at home isolated from peers, feels depressed, has poor health and has no car so struggles to attend health appointments EXPLAINING OUTCOMES North West Funders Forum

13. Activities: Monthly social outings with peers Weekly trips to shops/post office Dial up booking to enable access to health appointments Weekly trips to leisure centre, ‘Silver Surfers’ sessions and bingo 75 years old, lives alone with no family nearby, sits at home isolated from peers, feels depressed, has poor health and has no car so struggles to attend health appointments EXPLAINING OUTCOMES North West Funders Forum

14. Project outcomes: Feels less isolated Increased independence Improved physical and mental health 75 years old, lives alone with no family nearby, sits at home isolated from peers, feels depressed, has poor health and has no car so struggles to attend health appointments Activities: Monthly social outings with peers Weekly trips to shops/post office Dial up booking to enable access to health appointments Weekly trips to leisure centre, ‘Silver Surfers’ sessions and bingo EXPLAINING OUTCOMES North West Funders Forum

15. Programme outcomes: Healthier and more active people People having better chances in life Links to 75 years old, lives alone with no family nearby, sits at home isolated from peers, feels depressed, has poor health and has no car so struggles to attend health appointments Project outcomes: Feels less isolated Increased independence Improved physical and mental health Activities: Monthly social outings with peers Weekly trips to shops/post office Dial up booking to enable access to health appointments Weekly trips to leisure centre, ‘Silver Surfers’ sessions and bingo EXPLAINING OUTCOMES North West Funders Forum

16. GROUP ACTIVITY North West Funders Forum

17. GROUP ACTIVITY North West Funders Forum Three Activities your project will deliver What positive difference will these activities make (what will they increase, improve or reduce) How will you know if the project is working – what are the indicators of success What simple tools will you use to capture the difference the project is making?

18. GROUP ACTIVITY North West Funders Forum How does your project fit with the aims and objectives of the Funder’s Programme

19. Know how it links to your organisation and your aims 1 – PLAN YOUR PROJECT North West Funders Forum

20. A project… is work that is defined at the outset will achieve something specific is work that has not yet started and has a clear end is additional to your day-to-day work WHAT IS A PROJECT? North West Funders Forum

21. Activities which contribute to outcomes Detailed information about what, you will do, where, when, and who for Specific and measurable What skills do you need and where will they come from? What partners will you work with? What resources are needed to deliver (staff, other resources, management ) PROJECT PLAN North West Funders Forum

22. Detailed accurate costs Based on quotes, calculations, or advice Consider all the cost headings Are all the costs you want to include eligible? Are there rules about competitive quotes or tendering? BUDGET North West Funders Forum

23. Member’s are encouraged to have a plan to deliver their project beyond the life of their grant, or have an exit strategy Other Funders Fundraising activities Sponsorship Income from Membership Development of volunteers / utilising resources Social Enterprise Model SUSTAINABILITY North West Funders Forum

24. If the project is time limited and will not continue beyond the grant period, think about: How you will close the circle with Beneficiaries What you will do with any resources Sharing good practices EXIT STRATEGY North West Funders Forum

25. Plan it in now Monitoring & Evaluation budget Important to: Learn from what you are doing  Shape your future projects  Demonstrate to stakeholders and funders the impact of the project – help to raise profile and secure additional funding PROVING IN PRACTICE WHAT YOU’VE PROMISED ON PAPER North West Funders Forum

26. Be clear about how will you measure and evaluate the impact of the project? Methods: relevant to beneficiaries and outcomes of project E.g. Case studies, focus groups, feedback from agencies; Sportworks; questionnaires; registers.. Useful Websites: http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/research/making-the-most-of-funding/impact- and-outcomes http://www.ces-vol.org.uk/about-performance-improvement/about-monitoring- evaluation/index MONITORING & EVALUATION North West Funders Forum

27. Not reading funders guidance or help notes General lack of detail Lack of clarity about the project and its outcomes Organisations not meeting the funders specifications e.g. structure of organisation, turnover etc. Poor value for money Lack of sustainability Not showing the need for the project Funder being over-subscribed COMMON REASONS FOR REJECTION North West Funders Forum

28. Make this your checklist TOP TEN TIPS North West Funders Forum

29. It’s written for the benefit of the applicant 10 – READ THE GUIDANCE NOTES North West Funders Forum

30. Know your budget 9 - GET YOUR FINANCES SORTED North West Funders Forum

31. Insurances, policies and procedures 8 – GET YOUR GOVERNANCE SORTED North West Funders Forum

32. It’s not just about what you think 7 – EVIDENCE THE NEED North West Funders Forum

33. They can be more honest Help you to put info. across simply 6 – FIND A CRITICAL FRIEND / SUPPORT AGENCY North West Funders Forum

34. Consider the time you will need to allow 5 – BE AWARE OF TIMESCALES North West Funders Forum

35. They will be fundamental to the design of the project 4 – INVOLVE YOUR BENEFICIARIES North West Funders Forum

36. Are you clear about the difference your project will make 3 – OUTCOMES North West Funders Forum

37. Know how it links to your organisation and your aims 2 – PLAN YOUR PROJECT North West Funders Forum

38. Funders can tell if you’re forcing your project to fit 1 – DON’T CHASE FUNDING STREAMS North West Funders Forum

39. ANY QUESTIONS? North West Funders Forum