Community Foundation for Staffordshire & Shropshire (on behalf of The Randal Foundation)

The Randal Foundation Fund (Shropshire)

Small grants of up to £3,000 for grassroots groups in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin with an average annual turnover of £50,000 or less, for projects that save lives or significantly improve them. Projects must fit one of six themes: alleviating extreme poverty, healthcare for the vulnerable, tackling mental ill-health, education for the most disadvantaged children and young people, prisoner rehabilitation, or women and children at risk of violence and exploitation. It is an open round with applications considered on submission until the funds are fully allocated, and projects must be delivered within 12 months. Grantees must report how many lives were saved or significantly improved.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Up to £3,000; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Moderate; full application with documents

Who can apply

Registered charities, constituted community or voluntary groups, Community Amateur Sports Clubs, registered social enterprises and Industrial and Provident Societies that are UK based, operating in the UK, and based in or working in Shropshire or Telford & Wrekin
Average annual turnover over the last three years must be £50,000 or less, and applicants must evidence a need for intervention in the focus area
The Foundation's core criteria also apply: established for at least 12 months; at least three unrelated people responsible for governance (two for CICs); at least two unrelated signatories; normally no more than two active grants with the Foundation at once, and no overdue monitoring
Not eligible: local authorities, parish and town councils, schools, statutory organisations, groups benefiting statutory organisations, national organisations with no local arm, and private businesses

What it funds

Projects with direct, measurable impact through saving lives or significantly improving quality of life, aligned with at least one theme:

Alleviating poverty (directly and sustainably alleviating extreme poverty)
Healthcare for the vulnerable (lasting change and immediate benefit)
Tackling mental ill-health (addressing root causes and supporting long-term recovery)
Education for the most disadvantaged (tackling systemic inequalities and creating opportunity for children and young people, excluding education that supplements or replaces state obligations)
Prisoner rehabilitation (reducing reoffending and supporting reintegration)
Women and children at risk of violence and exploitation (protection, support and pathways to safety)

Both proven and innovative projects are welcome.

Eligible costs: equipment, capital, training, revenue, project and event costs.

Projects must be fully delivered within 12 months.

What it will not fund

Religious projects or projects that promote religion (faith-based organisations can apply if services are open to people of all faiths or none)
Party political campaigning, including political demonstrations or material supporting or opposing a party or government
Statutory bodies or statutory provision, including core statutory services
Retrospective funding for projects already held or goods and services already ordered or bought
Education that supplements or replaces state obligations
Local authorities, parish and town councils, schools and statutory organisations
Groups that will benefit statutory organisations
National organisations with no local arm
Private businesses

How to apply

Check your organisation meets the Foundation's core eligibility checklist and the fund's criteria
Register on (or sign in to) the Community Foundation's funding portal
Click 'Available Funding', find The Randal Foundation Fund (Shropshire) and click 'apply'
Complete the form: organisation and lead contact details (the lead contact must be able to sign contracts), project questions including how it will save or significantly improve lives and which theme it addresses, target beneficiary numbers, and a full budget breakdown
Upload all required documents at the time of application
Applications are assessed during the open window, with due diligence on documents, and decided by an external panel on submission
If funded, deliver the project within 12 months, credit the Randal Foundation in publicity, and report numbers of lives saved or significantly improved

The window closes when funds are fully allocated.

Call 01743 295900 if you would like help with the online application; the Foundation can arrange a call or visit.

Have ready

Governance document (constitution, or Memorandum and Articles of Association)
Accounts: audited, independently examined, or a financial forecast
Bank statement no older than 3 months, showing the account name (matching the application), number and sort code
Safeguarding policy
Equality policy
Insurance document
Quotes for capital items

All documents must be submitted with the application or it will not be considered; the bank statement must be a statement, not a screenshot of online banking.

More like this

Other grants open to organisations like yours.