access-funds.co.uk

This site contains grants information for the British charitable and non-profit sector.  The site aims to provide the latest funding information from Central Government, National Lottery, devolved governing bodies, the EU and quangos.  Access Funds has a range of services to help you fundraise that include email services and training courses.  The site also contains directories of funding progammes and guides to funding. 

http://www.access-funds.co.uk/directories/char_trust/a_e.htm

Caithness.Org

This is a frequently updated site that directs visitors to funding for charities and provides annotated information as well as links to funding sources.

http://www.caithness.org/links/fundingforcharities.htm

CharitiesDirect.com

CharitiesDirect.com is the home of the National Charities Database providing regularly updated information on over 10,000 charities. 

http://www.charitiesdirect.com/

Charity Fund Raising

This site provides listings in categories of grant giving trusts and their contact details.

http://www.datadawn.net/HTML/Business/productsbusiness/arts.htm

County Councils

• Bedfordshire Financial assistance is available from members of a new partnership of local authorities and primary care trusts for local voluntary, community or charitable organisations seeking funding.  Mid-Beds District Council operates a separate grant scheme.  Contact Bedfordshire County Council, County Hall, Cauldwell Street, Bedford MK42 9AP.  Tel: 01234 363222.  Email bedsonline@csd.bedfordshire.gov.uk or visit http://www.bedfordshire.gov.uk
• Cambridgeshire  The Council invites annual applications for grants to voluntary organisations.  For arts bursary information contact the county arts officer at Cambridgeshire County Council, Shire Hall, Castle Hill, Cambridge CB3 0AP (tel 01223 718 134), or visit http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/arts
• Essex The Council produces a quarterly newsletter which includes advice on funding, and hosts a 'funding forum' with respresentatives from both district and borough councils.  Contact Cultural Services Manager, Essex County Council, FREEPOST CL 3636, Chelmsford, CM1 1XZ Tel: 08457 430 430 (Helpline).  Email corp.comms@essexcc.gov.uk or visit http://www.essexcc.gov.uk
• Hertfordshire  The Council provides advice online about external sources of funding, as well as a network for individuals seeking external funding via the Hertfordshire External Resources Network (HERN). A funding and grants prospectus can be downloaded from the funding website http://www.hertsdirect.org/funding and http://www.hertsdirect.org/hern, or email: funding@hertscc.gov.uk. Contact Hertfordshire County Council, New Barnfield, Travellers Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL10 8XG Tel: 01923 471 333. Email cidb@hertscc.gov.uk or visit http://www.hertsdirect.org.uk
• Norfolk  Contact Norfolk Arts Service.  Norfolk County Council, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 2DH.  Tel 01603 222269.  Email sophie.emery.art@norfolk.gov.uk ro visit http:www.arts.norfolk.gov.uk.
• Suffolk Contact Suffolk County Council, County Hall, St Helen Street, Ipswich IP4 2JS. Tel: 01473 583 000 (County Hall) / 01473 584 346 (European Funding) / 01986 798 220 (Arts Grants).  Email infocentre.ipswich@libher.suffolkcc.gov.uk or visit http://www.suffolkcc.gov.uk

EU Funding

Regional Programmes
Within the region, ESF co-financing prospectuses with invitations to tender have been launched by the Learning & Skills Council; East of England Development Agency and Jobcentre Plus and the results of the first round can be expected in the next month.  Look out for a range of new projects, being delivered by regional agencies – there will be lots of ways in which you, your partners or your constituents can gain from subsidised training and personal development.  For more information go to the LSC’s website – go to  http://www.lsc.gov.uk/regions/eastofengland/   for a direct link.  For general information on jobcentre plus go to http://www.jobcentreplus.org.uk/. 

EEDA has also launched its ERDF Competitiveness and Innovation programme.  For a direct link to EEDA’s web page on Funding click  http://www.eeda.org.uk/192_193.asp.

Cross Border & Inter-regional Programmes
There are several interesting developments within the Interreg programme at cross border, inter-regional, and pan-European levels.  The cross border programme (Interreg IVA) is particularly interesting for East of England since it hasn’t had such an opportunity before;  Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex (and Cambridgeshire as an ‘adjacent’ county)  can all participate.  There are two relevant programmes at cross border level:  the Channel Programme (for southern and East Anglian counties to partner with northern French ‘departments’) and the 2 Seas Programme (for southern and East of England counties to partner with north eastern departments of France and border regions of Holland and Belgium).  Partnership projects with other European countries are possible through Interreg IVB and IVC.  For a good introduction of the Interreg programme you could try http://interreg.culture.info/

Other Funding Opportunities
There are many other funding opportunities available to small businesses who are keen to innovate and share knowledge.  For an overview of SME funding you might want to try http://www.londonchamber.co.uk/docimages/2929.pdf    (4 pages in PDF format).  It was produced in November 2007 and provides some useful guidance on the range of programme available.

Contact
If you have any particular queries please contact Tim Heathcote tim.heathcote@mlaeastofengland.org.uk