Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire

Randal Foundation Fund

Small grants of up to £3,000 from The Randal Foundation, administered by the Community Foundation, for small grass-roots groups in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin whose work directly saves lives or significantly improves quality of life. Projects must fit one of six themes (extreme poverty, healthcare for the vulnerable, mental ill-health, education for the most disadvantaged children and young people, prisoner rehabilitation, women and children at risk of violence and exploitation) and be fully delivered within 12 months. Applicants must have an average annual turnover of £50,000 or less, and grantees report how many lives were 'directly 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 (CASCs), registered social enterprises and Industrial and Provident Societies that are UK based, based in or working in Shropshire or Telford & Wrekin, and have an average annual turnover of £50,000 or less over the last 3 years
You must provide evidence of need for intervention in the theme you are addressing
The Foundation's core eligibility checklist also applies: established for at least 12 months, at least 3 unrelated people responsible for governance (2 for CICs), at least 2 unrelated bank signatories, and normally no more than two active Community Foundation grants at once with no overdue monitoring
Not eligible: local authorities, parish and town councils, schools, statutory organisations, groups that benefit statutory organisations, national organisations with no local arm, private businesses

What it funds

Projects that deliver direct, measurable impact by saving lives or significantly improving quality of life, aligned with one or more of these thematic areas:

Alleviating poverty, specifically directly and sustainably alleviating extreme poverty
Healthcare for the vulnerable, making lasting change and bringing immediate benefit
Tackling mental ill-health, addressing root causes and supporting long-term recovery
Education for the most disadvantaged, tackling systemic inequalities, releasing potential and creating opportunity for children and young people (excludes education supplementing or replacing state obligations)
Prisoner rehabilitation, reducing reoffending and supporting reintegration into society
Women and children at risk of violence and exploitation, providing protection, support, and pathways to safety and stability
Eligible costs: equipment, capital, training, revenue, project and event costs

projects with proven, effective impact and innovative projects are both welcome. Projects must be fully delivered within 12 months of receiving support.

What it will not fund

Religious projects or projects that promote religion (faith-based organisations can be funded if their services are available to people of all faiths or no faith)
Political campaigning activities specific to any one party
Statutory bodies or provision, including core statutory services or services that carry out a statutory responsibility
Retrospective funding, where the project has already occurred or goods and services were ordered or bought before funding was approved
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 criteria
Register (name and email) or sign in on the Community Foundation's funding portal
Click 'available Funding', find the Randal Foundation Fund and click 'apply' in the far right column
Complete the online form (organisation and lead contact, project questions, beneficiary target numbers, full budget breakdown) and upload all supporting documents at the same time
Applications are considered on submission by an external panel; you are notified on decision and payments are made from the 28th of each month

the lead contact must have authority to sign contracts. The window closes when funds are fully allocated. The Foundation can arrange a call or visit to help with the online form (01743 295900).

Have ready

Governance document (constitution, or Memorandum and Articles of Association), with a dissolution clause
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

applications without these documents will not be considered.

More like this

Other grants open to organisations like yours.