GrantRadar

Foundation Derbyshire

The Ashby Fund

Grants of up to £2,500 from Foundation Derbyshire for a broad range of community and voluntary groups across Derbyshire, aimed at improving quality of life and tackling inequalities and disadvantage in local communities. It covers capital, revenue and one-off events or projects, and often supports applications that fall outside the Foundation's other funds because of geographic or thematic restrictions. There is a preference for groups in rural areas and heritage or arts and culture projects. No closing dates; a panel meets four times a year.

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

  • Derby and Derbyshire-based not-for-profit community groups, registered charities, Community Interest Companies and CIOs
  • There are no restrictions on income level or how long the group has been established, and registration as a charity is not required, but groups must have a formal structure: a constitution (or equivalent governing document) setting out governance, financial processes and not-for-profit status, an identified management committee that meets regularly, documented financial controls and a bank account
  • CICs must meet the Foundation's additional CIC policy
  • National charities are rarely funded unless a small, self-financing local branch meets a distinct local gap
  • Groups that received a Foundation grant in the last 12 months or have outstanding monitoring are not eligible

What it funds

  • Capital costs (any items of equipment) including refurbishment and building work - for large-scale building or refurbishment you need to identify a specific item the grant would buy or contribute towards
  • Revenue costs (any non-equipment costs) including ongoing running costs for a project or group
  • One-off events and one-off projects

Priority is given to groups operating in rural areas and to heritage and arts and culture projects.

Examples of past grants: £2,000 for central heating in a village hall, £1,000 for toys for a rural parent and toddler group, £1,700 for heritage walk guide booklets in the Peak District, £2,000 for ICT training for a mental health support group, and £1,800 for transport costs for a disability group.

What it will not fund

  • Profit-making organisations, businesses or sole traders
  • Medical equipment
  • Animal charities
  • Projects promoting faith or refurbishment/building of places of worship
  • Statutory bodies such as schools, hospitals and police
  • Projects that replace statutory obligations
  • Activities benefiting people outside Derbyshire
  • Projects promoting political parties
  • Retrospective funding (activities already completed)
  • Sponsored or fundraising events
  • Groups with an active grant or a grant from the Foundation in the past 12 months
  • Groups with incomplete monitoring from previous grants
  • Individual applications (currently on hold while the Ashby family reviews the fund's priorities)

How to apply

  1. Check the Foundation's criteria and contact the grants team (01773 525 860 or hello@foundationderbyshire.org) if unsure whether you fit
  2. Read the Foundation's 'Your Journey' and Grants Success Guide
  3. Complete the single online application form (a valid email address is needed; a paper form can be posted on request)
  4. Upload the supporting documents
  5. The Foundation matches your application to the appropriate fund, and the Ashby Fund decision panel (meeting four times a year) decides

Individual bursary applications to the Ashby Fund are on hold; individuals may be eligible for the John Weston Fund instead.

Projects over £10,000 in total need a pre-approval call.

Have ready

  • Constitution or governing document (e.g. Memorandum and Articles, Trust Deed or club rules)
  • Management Committee List and Financial Controls form (Foundation template, including home addresses)
  • Annual accounts or balance sheet for the last 12 months (or projected income and expenditure for groups under a year old)
  • Last 3 months of bank statements

Management committee minutes are also required from first-time applicants or groups under 12 months old.

More like this

Other grants open to organisations like yours.