Women's Fund

Please read the Essential Information before applying. 

Background Information: The Fund ​aims​ ​to​ ​support​ ​women​ ​who​ ​are​ ​most​ ​marginalised​ ​to​ ​overcome​ ​barriers that​ ​prevent​ ​them​ ​from​ ​fulfilling​ ​their​ ​potential. ​ The​ ​programme will benefit women and girls, investing in a wide variety of projects, that make a tangible and long-term difference to health, well-being, confidence and social/economic activity, as well as addressing equality gaps.

 

This​ programme aims to fund ​small​-scale interventions, ​​which​ ​will​ ​make​ ​a​ ​considerable difference to the lives and happiness of women and girls by raising their aspirations and combating the influences that affect their confidence.

 

Any special criteria: 

Organisations applying should be women-led, e.g.

• Founder/CEO

OR

• Majority of Board of Trustees/Directors/Management Committee

Organisations also need to demonstrate that they have a track record of delivering projects and services for women or that provision for women is a key charitable objective of your organisation.

 

Fund priorities:

 To support projects that meet the below themes:

• Confidence, Aspiration & Self-Belief
• Domestic Violence & Abuse
• Mental Health & Wellbeing
• Social Isolation

 

Examples of the sorts of projects that may be funded:

• Supporting women coming out of domestic violence and abuse
• Providing counselling support
• Providing access to education and skills
• Supporting women to start up their own businesses or go into employment
• Projects to support women to gain confidence and self-belief and have aspirations

 

Which areas are covered: All boroughs of Merseyside

How much is available:  The maximum amount you can apply for is £7,000.

Merseyside budget available is £43,000.

 

Community Foundations for Lancashire and Merseyside are a Real Living Wage employer therefore we encourage applications that include staff costs at the current Real Living Wage of £12.00p/h as a minimum.

What is it? | Living Wage Foundation

 

The closing date is 4pm on 20^th December 2023. Decisions will be communicated by end of February 2024.

 

Documents which need to be included with your application:

1. A copy of the group’s constitution, governing document or rules

2. A copy of the group’s latest annual accounts or income/expenditure document

3. A list of your current Trustees/Directors/Management Committee

4. A copy of a recent bank statement for your group

5. A copy of the group’s current Safeguarding Policy. All applicants must ensure that they hold relevant policies and procedures in place to undertake activities, such as Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks and/or a health and safety policy, depending on proposed activity. If unsure about what you need, please contact the Community Foundation for help (details below)

NB: If you have received a grant from us in the last 12 months and have already submitted copies of the above documents, you do not need to send them in again. However, a bank statement is required with every application.

The following items cannot be supported via the fund:

• Statutory organisations or work that is their responsibility
• National organisations that cannot demonstrate local governance and control of local finances
• Private Businesses or Companies Limited by Shares
• Organisations with fewer than three unrelated Trustees/Directors/Management Committee members
• Commercial ventures
• Purchase/maintenance of vehicles
• Activities that will have already taken place before we offer you a grant
• Politically connected or exclusively religious activities
• Projects for personal profit
• Trophies and medals
• CCTV/Security measures
• Organisations that are set up for the benefit of animals or plants: environmental group that work with animals or the environment (such as city farms) are acceptable
• Groups comprising just one family
• Debts and other liabilities
• Reclaimable VAT
• Travel outside UK
• Gifts or projects exclusively for the purpose of entertaining – social events can be funded where there is a clear community benefit

What happens next?

Completed applications are considered by Community Foundation staff to check eligibility. You may be contacted for more information after applying and a decision-making panel will make recommendations based on the fund’s criteria and the budget available. You should expect to hear the outcome of your application by end of February 2024.

For further information, please contact:

Community Foundation for Lancashire and Merseyside 

Third Floor,

Stanley Building,

43 Hanover Street,

Liverpool,

L1 3DN

T: 0330 440 4900

Email: applications@cflm.org.uk