GrantRadar

Sussex Community Foundation

The Chagossian Fund

The Chagossian Fund is a grants programme funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and managed by Sussex Community Foundation, for not-for-profit organisations supporting Chagossian people living in Crawley and other parts of Sussex. Small grants are £1,000 to £10,000 and large grants (above £10,000) usually go only to established organisations with a track record of managing grants. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and grants must be spent by 31 March 2028. The fund has given over £680,000 to 17 organisations so far.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
From £1,000
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Not-for-profit organisations such as charities, community organisations and social enterprises supporting Chagossian people living in Sussex
  • Applicants need not be charities but must have: an entirely voluntary governing body of at least three unrelated people; their own bank account with at least two unrelated signatories; a constitution or governing rules; accounts or records of expenditure; and relevant policies (equal opportunities, child protection, vulnerable adults, health and safety)
  • CICs and companies limited by guarantee doing charitable activities may apply if they have at least three unrelated directors (majority unpaid, none registered as Persons with Significant Control), clear public benefit, non-executive approval of any paid directors' pay, and (for CICs) a charitable asset lock body
  • Applicants should be based in Sussex or show they can work locally through established networks or local partners
  • Individuals cannot apply
  • Large grants (over £10,000) usually go only to established organisations with evidence of managing grant funding; less experienced organisations should apply for a small grant first

What it funds

Projects supporting Chagossian people in Sussex under one or more of the fund's criteria: education, health, employment, social care and culture. Examples given by the funder:

  • English language lessons, digital inclusion or tutoring
  • Health and wellbeing initiatives such as cookery classes, sport and leisure
  • Employment and training through mentoring, training and advice (CV writing, job applications, digital skills)
  • Advice and support on immigration, welfare benefits, housing, financial management and domestic abuse
  • Music, arts, culture and heritage projects

Applicants must have consulted the Chagossian community and show how the project meets its needs.

What it will not fund

  • Organisations or activities that don't benefit Chagossians living in Sussex
  • Organisations that discriminate unlawfully under the Equality Act 2010
  • Organisations where the service is used as a vehicle to promote religious beliefs
  • Political activities
  • Small contributions to major capital appeals or campaigns
  • Grants used to make awards to a third party
  • Projects which only benefit animals
  • Organisations that have not returned monitoring reports from previous grants, or returned poor-standard ones
  • Retrospective funding for activities already taken place
  • Applications from individuals

How to apply

  1. Read the Criteria and Guidance note (also available in Mauritian Creole)
  2. Speak to Lucy Rayner, Grants Officer for the Chagossian Fund, for advice before applying
  3. Consult members of the Chagossian community about the proposed project
  4. Complete the Chagossian Fund online application form on the Sussex Community Foundation fundseeker portal, with the required documents

Crawley Community Action (Karl Parks) offers capacity-building support to Chagossian groups, and RPD Foundation (Daran Bennett) helps with the financial elements of applications

Successful applicants must submit an end-of-grant monitoring report before any further grant can be awarded

Have ready

  • Signed copy of latest annual accounts or record of expenditure
  • Bank statement from the last three months
  • Evidence of appropriate insurance for any funded events or activities
  • Written estimates or catalogue pages if buying equipment
  • Signed constitution or set of rules (CICs also supply their CIC 34 report)
  • Names of management committee members, with cheque signatories identified
  • Equal opportunities policy covering the Equality Act 2010 and the nine protected characteristics
  • Other relevant policies, e.g. child or vulnerable adult protection, health and safety, environmental or sustainability policy

The constitution, committee list and policies are required from first-time applicants only

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