posted by Rhonda McFarlane, Funding Officer, Economic Development
Grants to Enable Disabled People to Play Tennis (UK)
Special schools as well as coaches, clubs, disability groups, associations and individuals can apply for grants from the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust for equipment and specialist wheelchairs to enable disabled people to play tennis. Funding of up to £1,500 is available for groups and clubs and up to £500 for individuals. Individuals can receive support for a sports wheelchairs, tennis rackets, coaching lessons with an Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) licensed coach or course fees for official LTA development/Coaching courses. Groups can apply for wheelchairs, court hire, coaching fees and equipment packages which will include, rackets, balls, mini net, and coaching aids such as cones and throw down marker lines. In the case of wheelchairs a deposit will be required; for individuals the amount of deposit required will depend on the wheelchair type requested, clubs will need to provide a deposit of around £250 per chair. The next closing date for applications in this round is the 29th July 2019.
Funding for Community Sports (North-East Scotland and The Highlands)
Grants of up to £500 are available to sports clubs, schools, religious organisations; and Scout and Guides groups, etc in North-East Scotland and The Highlands to run sporting activities for the benefit of people in the local community. The funding is being made available through the Aldi Scottish Sport Fund and applicants need to be based in the vicinity of an Aldi supermarket. In 2017 the Fund awarded a total of £50,000 to 115 projects. The Fund operates on a regional basis in Scotland with each region having their own deadline. Previous projects supported include Glasgow Panthers Wheelchair Sports Club, which promotes Rugby 7’s to disabled and able-bodied players of all ages. With the help of the Aldi Scottish Sports Fund, the club were able to pay their hall hire fees for 10 weeks and set out a 5-year plan for the sport in Scotland. The deadline for this funding round is the 29th April 2019.
Funding to Support the Education of Young People with Physical or Learning Disabilities (Scotland)
The John Watson Trust has announced that the next closing date for applications is the 24th May 2019. Schools, charitable organisations and other groups supporting young people under the age of 21 who have a physical or learning disability or who are socially disadvantaged can apply. Previous awards of around £1,000 have been made to schools for items such as dyslexia tuition or books and equipment. For example, Castleview Primary School, Edinburgh received a grant of £1,000 to support field trips and days out for eligible pupils; and Women’s Aid East and mid Lothian received £1,000 towards their summer programme.
Free Trees for Community Groups and Schools (UK)
Schools across the UK, nurseries, colleges, universities, and other groups such as resident associations, sports clubs, parish councils, scouts, guides are amongst the organisations eligible to apply for up to 420 trees to improve their local environment. Tree packs available include hedging, copse, wild harvest, year-round colour, working wood, wild wood and urban trees. The Woodland Trust is currently taking applications for trees to be planted in November 2019.
Funding to Engage People with Science and Technology (UK)
The Spark Awards programme has re-opened and will close at 4pm on the 2nd May 2019. Grants of up to £15,000 will fund high quality programmes of novel public engagement that inspire and involve audiences with stories of science and technology. Activities must focus on astronomy, solar and planetary science, particle physics, particle astrophysics, cosmology, nuclear physics or accelerator science. Well-planned proposals for novel or innovative approaches towards engagement are welcomed. Grant funded researchers, STFC scientists and engineers, facility users, schools, museums, science communicators and amateur astronomy groups are all eligible to apply to the Science & Technology Facilities Council.
Funding for School and Community Projects in Rural Areas (England, Scotland and Wales)
Grants of up to £5,000 are available to support school projects in rural communities in an off-grid location (any location that is not connected to a mains or natural gas grid and uses an alternative energy source). Grants can support a wide range of projects. Previous initiatives supported have included East Worlington School Garden project and Spaxton School Outdoor Environmental Learning Area. The funding is also available to other organisations such as youth clubs, sports teams or scout groups. The funding is being made available through the Calor Rural Community Fund and initial applications are followed by a public vote. The 2019 competition is now open for applications and voting for projects start on the 2nd May 2019.
