Greater Reach Fund from FRG

First Recruitment Group is working with WVA to provide community grants to VCSE organisations that support local people.  The purpose of this grant is to allow your group to diversify your reach and encourage a broader range of the community to access your services. Diversifying your service is about seeing the gaps (e.g. men, young people, disabled people) and seeing if there are activities or equipment you need to host or encourage those groups to attend.  Please consider though, that this is not inclusion for inclusion’s sake, this is if you have a service or activity that this group will benefit from but are currently not attending.

The purpose of the grants is to enhance and support existing activities and services and with a little extra or new equipment can encourage dynamic and innovative ways to support the people you work with.  

Funding Available

We expect that grants will be up to £500 per group. 

All activities must be completed, and monies spent by 31st March 2025

Funding Criteria

Eligible Organisations

Organisations must be Warrington-based and deliver activities in Warrington.

We welcome applications from Voluntary and Community Organisations including:

• Constituted organisations and non-registered charities.
• Registered charities, including charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs)
• Community Interest Companies (CICs) and community benefit organisations (where there is a minimum of three unrelated directors and no shareholders)
• Faith organisations (if the funded activity is not deemed to be proselytising)

Not Eligible Under This Programme Are

• Statutory or NHS organisations
• Schools / PTAs
• Individuals cannot apply.
• Grants that are solely for the provision of bursaries to individuals or families cannot be awarded.
• Grants for renovations or adaptations to buildings/property

We will not fund food parcels or food hampers - contact Caitlin - [email protected] if you are unsure what that means for your activity

Activities

Examples of projects which could receive grant funding:

• Specific activities which diversify your existing user base - this could be more men, young people, people with long-term conditions etc.
• Equipment to let your users do more - this could be more of what you have or some new things to take your activities that stage further.
• Additional tools to help people with barriers attend – motor skill support tools, projectors, portable hearing loops etc.
• A project or piece of work that focuses on diversifying your group – encouraging more male carers to attend the parents/tot’s group for example.

These are just some examples we would also welcome any innovative and engaging ideas as well as your current offer.

What Can Be Funded

• Equipment
• Guest practitioners
• Publicity
• Memberships / Subscriptions

This isn’t an exhaustive list and final decisions are at the discretion of the panel.

What Can’t Be Funded

• Staffing costs
• Room/space rental

The Process

Complete the online application (link below)

Once submitted, your application will be processed by WVA, and you may be asked to provide documentation in support of your application. 

This information will go to a panel of representatives from FRG, and you will be informed of the decision as close to the closing date as possible.

We will not ask for heavy monitoring but some photographs of the project in action are likely to be requested.

If suitable, an invite to the reps from FRG to see the project in action would be gratefully received.

Things To Think About

Be clear about the mission of the fund – be mindful of the inclusion/diversification purpose of the money.

Quote true costs – don’t quote sale prices or discounts, the sale may be over by the time you get your money.

Don’t round up your figures, provide as accurate costs as possible.

Keep it simple, don’t feel you have to tell sob stories or lay on the drama.

Be prepared to publicise – this is donor money and thanks are always appreciated.