Funding and eligibility criteria

The following funding criteria provides you with an overview on what types of applications we are looking for.  Funding criteria

The overarching aim of the Fund is to support models that encourage social action: enabling people to come together to support each other and improve the quality of life in their community, now and into the future. 

Within this aim, the OCS has identified priority themes.  To be eligible for SAF funding proposals must be able to demonstrate that they fit within one of the following themes:

• Local focus: this theme focuses on scaling up models that encourage people to come together in their locality to support each other.  This could be through reciprocal help, or time-banking for example.  The aim is to scale these models to regional or national levels, or to replicate them in other localities. Activity could enable co-production of public services, but must deliver a clear public benefit which complements (rather than replaces or duplicates) local public services.  Priority will be given to models that encourage those who do not traditionally become involved as volunteers. 
• Life stages of giving: this theme focuses on increasing social action within a specific group of people.  Applications are sought for proposals which focus on increasing social action opportunities and programmes that target the following will be favoured:

-       School children and university graduates: For school children specifically to build a culture of participation among school children.  We are most interested in funding existing programmes that can be scaled up for delivery nationwide. For university graduates to encourage new social action among graduates or to continue action started as students.  Preference will be given to schemes that create incentives for involvement, for example reward points or travel discounts

-       Professionals and newly retired professionals: to encourage professionals and those who have retired or are about to retire to use their skills and experience, in particular to give technical assistance to local charities and voluntary groups, to train volunteers and to provide support in providing and managing volunteering opportunities.

-       Young people having completed National Citizen Service: models to inspire and support NCS graduates who want to continue contributing to their communities through social action projects

In all cases, organisations will need to demonstrate their track record in engaging with the target group and of delivering social action within the group, as well as strong links to the networks and associations needed to implement action on a large-scale. 

Eligibility Criteria

Your Organisation

There are two stages to our eligibility check, which consider:

• Whether the organisation is eligible to apply
• Whether the proposal meets the fund eligibility criteria

Organisation eligibility 

To be eligible for funding your organisation must:

• Have a track record of delivering programmes to increase social action in England
• Be one of the following types of organisation: 

1. Properly constituted Civil Society Organisations (this could be an unincorporated association, company limited by guarantee or CIC for example) which may, or may not, be a registered charity.
2. Public sector bodies, for example hospital trusts, schools, universities
3. Businesses with a social mission or clear objectives in their corporate social responsibility policy towards increasing social action, or a business involved in the delivery of public services.  This could be private companies, public companies, or Limited Liability Partnerships.  We will not accept applications from sole traders or small partnerships.

• Have been in operation for at least 2 years and be able to supply audited accounts for 2 years
• Show income of over £100,000 in the last set of approved annual accounts
• Be in a position to accept a grant offer by 8 March 2012.  N.B.  this will require your Board to accept the grant, as evidenced by a Board resolution, and to return the grant offer letter signed by individuals approved by the Board, as shown on the Board Resolution.  There will be a very tight turnaround for this information and you are advised to build this in to your project planning. 
• Confirm that any grant from us would not breach State Aid rules, detailed guidance on these rules is provided in Appendix B. 

Match Funding

Evidence of cash or in-kind match funding will strengthen any application but there will need to be proof that it is in place.