New Beginnings Fund

About the Fund:

New Beginnings has already had a successful ‘pilot’ stage. The fund began when a consortium of funders noticed that the increase in migrants to the UK was putting strain on community groups.

They also noticed that more people in the UK wanted to support refugees and asylum seekers.

The funders felt that the best way to help was to fund small community groups. 45 groups were funded by the pilot. These were either refugee-led groups or local residents working to welcome refugees and asylum seekers. 

The aim of the fund is to increase community-based support for refugees and asylum seekers.

 

PLEASE NOTE: This round of funding is currently only available to organisations in the GREATER MANCHESTER area.

How much is available:

• The New Beginnings Fund will provide funding of up to £10,000 for each project.
• Partnerships can bid for up to £20,000.
• Bids for lower amounts are welcome.

 
Who can apply?

• New Beginnings’ is a fund to help refugees and asylum seekers feel welcome in UK communities.
• The funding is for projects that bring refugees and asylum seekers together with other people in the local community.
• The funding is for community groups working in the UK.
• Community groups can be refugee-led or not.
• Partnership projects are welcome to apply. However, we are not encouraging new partnerships to be set up in order to bid for New Beginnings.
• We want to fund some groups that work with asylum seeker children and young people. This might include unaccompanied children. 
• We are looking for projects and activities that bring people together. The funding is not to start new services.

 
Examples of what can be funded:

• Projects led by refugees and asylum seekers.
• Projects that involve people with direct experience of being a refugee / migrant.
• Projects led by community groups that want to support new arrivals.
• Groups that involve refugees and asylum seekers and other local people in planning which activities are needed and in delivering the project.  
• Activities for the wider community and refugees and asylum-seekers to do together.
• Activities run by refugee-led groups in partnership with other local groups.
• Refugees leading activities in their community.
• Projects that get people volunteering and sharing their skills. For example, asylum seekers teaching languages, refugees leading activities in the community, local residents demonstrating how to mend cars, mentoring young people.
• Projects that link refugees and asylum seekers to good opportunities, advice and counselling.
• Projects that include refugee and asylum seeker children and young people (18 years old and younger).

We aim to strengthen planning and communication skills so that people can support integration effectively. We can provide advice on how to do this.

All projects should support human rights and equality.

Before applying:

Before you apply to the New Beginnings Fund please download and read carefully the full criteria of this fund HERE 

How to apply:

The New Beginnings Fund is initially seeking Expression of Interests only .

The deadline for Expressions of Interest is Midnight on Sunday 30th October 2016

Groups who fit the full criteria will be invited by email notification to make a full application on the 7^th November 2016 and will be asked to submit their application by 11th December  2016.  

Notifications of the outcome of applications will be mid January 2017.

 

IMPORTANT: Submit your form to the Community Foundation for Lancashire if you are based in:

• Bolton
• Bury
• Manchester
• Oldham
• Rochdale
• Salford
• Tameside
• Wigan

 

If you are the sole organisation applying, please complete the Expression of interest form available HERE.

If you are working in a partnership, please complete the Expression of Interest form available HERE

 

IMPORTANT: Submit your form to Cheshire Community Foundation if you are based in:

• Stockport
• Trafford
• Cheshire West and Chester
• Cheshire East
• Warrington

 

Please go to Cheshire Community Foundation website to access the relevant Expression of Interest Forms for any of the 5 areas above by clicking HERE

NB Applications will be assessed by the Community Foundations covering their areas listed above.  

  

Useful Documents:

Examples of grants awarded at the pilot stage 

Documents and Policies checklist 

New Beginnings Round two questions 

Resources and information for groups working to welcome refugees