Foundation Derbyshire

The Derbyshire High Sheriff Fund

Grants of up to £2,500 across Derby and Derbyshire for work that tackles crime and substance misuse, or that makes neighbourhoods safer. The panel gives priority to projects reaching children and young people affected by or at risk from these issues, and to solutions to anti-social behaviour. One of around 60 funds that Foundation Derbyshire matches applicants to from a single common application form.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Up to £2,500; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Moderate; full application with documents

Who can apply

Community groups based in Derby and Derbyshire, registered charities, CICs and CIOs
Groups that are not registered charities are accepted provided they can demonstrate a formal structure; CICs are held to specific governance expectations
The Foundation places no restriction on an applicant's size, income, or how long it has been established — it describes its speciality as helping smaller groups of limited means
National charities are unusual for it to fund, unless the applicant is a small self-financing local branch addressing a distinct Derby or Derbyshire need that local groups cannot cover
A 'one group, one bid' rule applies: an organisation cannot have two applications in at once, and may reapply once a year has passed since its last award

What it funds

Revenue costs, including continuous running costs — but only where the grant applied for covers a specific and identified element of those costs, such as rent and refreshments. Capital costs, meaning buildings and equipment. Project work, both new and established projects. One-off events and activities. The fund states it has no other specific priorities beyond its three strands:

Improving understanding of crime, alcohol, drug and solvent abuse
Creating safer communities and preventing neighbourhood crime
Anything else the panel considers worthwhile at its discretion

How to apply

One online application form covers every Foundation Derbyshire fund; the Foundation then matches the application to whichever fund fits best, so applying to this fund specifically is not required
A handwritten hard copy will be posted out on request
The Foundation encourages a call or email before applying, and recommends reading its 'Your Journey' and 'Successful Grants Guide' pages first
The High Sheriff panel meets twice a year and publishes no dates, so it asks anyone with a time-sensitive project to check with the grants team that this fund is a viable route

Have ready

Documents evidencing the group's legitimacy, governance, financial need and ability to manage a grant; the Foundation's Grants Success Guide lists the specifics.

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