There are funds which may be useful to your group which we will highlight from time to time, so keep checking these pages.

WMDC Community Chest
Each of the Wards in Wakefield has an allocation of £10,000, bids are invited for the grant from 'not for profit' voluntary, community and recreational groups working in the Wakefield District area. Grants are available for the purchase of specific items or towards the cost of projects that improve the quality of life in local neighbourhoods. Criteria have been set by which each bid will be assessed and these are described in more detail in the Guidance Notes for applicants.

Every effort is made to ensure the application forms and process around the Community Chest Fund is open, transparent and user-friendly for community groups. The application pack is available through Elected Members or by contacting the Community Engagement Team Tel: 01924 305817 Email: engagement@wakefield.gov.uk

The Community Foundation
The Community Foundation is a grant giving organisation. It seeks to support charitable work and projects in the Wakefield District. They have funds available to support projects throughout most of the year. Fill in an expression of interest form available on their website at www.communityfoundationwakefield.co.uk and they will see what is available that they can invite you to apply for. If your project doesn't meet the criteria for any funds that they hold they will let you know and point you in the direction of help.
Contact the foundation via the website or on 01924 306758.

Grassroots Grants
The Grassroots Grants programme is designed to support locally-based community and voluntary groups. Groups can apply for grants between £250 and £5,000 any time up to December 2010. The grants are intended to benefit the community so can be very wide-ranging, including: the purchase of equipment, support for community events, training and staffing costs, overhead and rent costs etc. The small grants scheme (£250 to £900) is a rolling programme, with no grant deadlines, so you can apply at any time. The standard grants scheme (£901 to £5,000) has a deadline every two months. The next deadlines for receipt of completed applications is Thursday 12 March 2009. Contact the Community Foundation www.communityfoundationwakefield.co.uk or telephone 01924 789166 for information and an application pack.

Keepmoat Fund
The Keepmoat Foundation has been established by the Keepmoat Group who have set up a number of special geographical funds in towns & cities where the majority of their work takes place. One of those locations is in the Wakefield district. The Keepmoat Fund will make grants of between £500 and £1,500 which can be for capital costs (e.g. buying equipment) and / or running costs (e.g. room hire). We will prioritise projects that support people in greatest need, are locally led and run and respond to local communities' needs. Groups must also be based in, or working for the benefit of communities in the following areas: · Pontefract: Featherstone, Harewood Park and Kirkthorpe · Normanton: Alftofts and Beckbridge · Knottingley · Castleford: Ferry Fryston · Wakefield: Belle Vue Contact the Community Foundation www.communityfoundationwakefield.co.uk or telephone 01924 306758 for information and an application pack.

Active Life Fund for Older People
Grants of up to £500 are available for community projects which benefit the over 60s. Grants can cover a range of costs including equipment, tutors, room hire and transport. The fund is administered by Wakefield District Primary Care Trust and Help the Aged. For more information and an application contact Therese Manship from the PCT on 01924 361212 ext 222, or Barbara Burnley from Help the Aged on 01924 824284.

Awards For All Update
Following a review of the Awards for All England programme, changes are to be made to the small grants scheme's existing format when it comes to an end in March 2009. Currently Awards for All England is a joint Lottery grants programme supported by Arts Council England, Big Lottery Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund and Sport England. From 1 April 2009 each of the lottery distributors supporting the scheme will have their own small grants programmes up and running. Applications can still be made under the current arrangements until 31 March 2009. information and application packs for Awards For All are available from www.awardsfor all.org.uk or 0845 600 2040.

Wakefield District Youth Opportunities Fund and Youth Capital Fund
Are You 13 to 19 Years old? Well this money could make your good ideas happen! What's this all about? The Government is giving LOADS OF MONEY to young people in Wakefield District to spend each year on things in their communities that will make young people's lives better. The money can be used to pay for things like equipment or buildings, and to pay for running costs like youth workers and energy costs.

What's the catch?
You can't spend it on partying, but you could spend it on getting a youth shelter, or getting more van sessions in your area, or doing up a sports facility, or improving something else that groups of young people use a lot. How can you get involved? There are three ways you can get involved:
1. You can be a member of the decision making panel, and help assess the bids coming in and decide who gets the money.
2. You can come up with ideas of what you would like to do in your area and make an application.
3. You can use the facilities on offer in your area as a result of the funds. Where can you go for more information?
For more information about the funds and how you can get involved please contact Dosh Donors on Telephone 01924 303600 or email doshdonors@wakefieldyps.org.uk or visit the websites www.wakefieldyps.org.uk or www.wakiesworld.com