Liverpool ONE FoundationFund guidelines

We are pleased to announce the launch of the new Liverpool ONE Foundation grant-making programme. Liverpool ONE, with support from the Community Foundation for Merseyside,have taken time to review their giving and the needs in the local community and following this plan to take a more dynamic and less conventional approach.

Adopting a long-term approach, the aims of the Liverpool ONE Foundationis to demonstrate a decrease in children and young people suffering mental health problems in Merseyside. As part of their wider plans the Foundation wishes to deliver a pilot open-grants programme demonstrating how voluntary and community sector organisations can support the prevention of mental health problems in children and young people and improve their mental well-being. The Foundation will be looking to support projects that decrease the number of childrenand young people suffering mental health problems, raise awareness of mental health issues and projects that help to remove the stigma currently associated with mental health problems or the promotion of mental well-being.

What is the focus of the fund: The Liverpool ONE Foundation aims to help the lives of local children and young people up to 21 years of age. The main focus of any potential projects should be on the prevention ofmental health problems.

Fund priorities: The Foundation is keen to fund projects that help support children and young people develop methods to equip them with the skills necessary to prevent mental health issues occurring.

Examples of the sorts of projects that may be funded:

  • Projects developing children and young people’s resilience to mental health problems, eg teaching children and young people methods and techniques to equip them with the skills necessary to prevent mental health issues and focus on their mental well-being
  • Parenting support to help prevent the development or escalation of mental health problems in children and young people
  • Peer mentoring projects
  • Alternative approaches such as mindfulnessclasses or meditation to help children and young people combat feelings of anxiety and worry
  • Projects that look to achieve a positive mind-set change around mental health eg, awareness raising projects that look at the impact of bullying

How much is available:

  1. Grants are available for project related costs for up to £5,000
  2. Grants are available for upto £20,000 a year over a period of three years to support running costs for projects that are currently focusing on the prevention of children and young people mental health problems and the promotion of mental well-being.

Which areas are covered:Merseyside and Halton

Any special criteria:

  • Both programmes are targeted at grassroots groups, however priority for the larger grants will be aimed at those with an income of under £500k (larger charities may still be considered but priority will be given to those with an income of under £500k)
  • Liverpool John Moores University Public Health Institute (LJMU) will continually assess the overall impact and success of the Foundation. Applicants will be expected to work with LJMU to determine the impact and outcomes of their projects and costs for applicant’s time can be included
  • As part of their wider strategy theLiverpool ONE Foundation plans to develop a community/statutory forum aimed at those working on the front line with children and young people. The purpose of the forum will be to provide opportunities to share best practice, identify gaps or duplication in provision and set some key aspirations for mental health and mental well-being. As a condition of grant successful applicants will be invited to participate in the forum which will take place approx. 4 times per year.

The closing date is18th August 2017. The total budget available for this funding round is £80,000 and the Foundation envisage awarding two larger grants (projects of upto £20,000 over a period of 3 years) and £40,000 to support project related costs of upto £5,000. We recommend you apply as soon as possibleas if we are significantly oversubscribed we will close the fund earlyso we don’t disappoint too many applicants. We will publicise this via social media channels and our website to let you know.

How to apply?

Please visit the Community Foundations for Lancashire and Merseyside’s website - and complete an online application form. Once you have submitted the online application you will need to send the documents listed below. If relevant documents are not submitted within 7 days your application will be withdrawn. Please attach your documents to your online application or email them to l

Documents which need to be included with your application:

1. Asigned and dated copy of the group’s rules or constitution

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

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

4. A signed and dated 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 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

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 recent set of annual accounts and 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/autonomy

•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

•Organisations that are established for the benefit of animals or plants: environmental groups 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

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 approx. 8 weeks after the closing date.

For further information please contact:

Tina Kennedy, Community Philanthropy Manager

Community Foundations for Lancashire & Merseyside

Third Floor,Stanley Building,43 Hanover Street,Liverpool,L1 3DN

T: 0151 232 2444

Email: l

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