Launch of the 2012 Santander Social Enterprise Development Awards

The Santander Social Enterprise Development Awards aim to recognise and support social enterprises and Community Interest Companies in the UK that are working to grow their business and improve their local community but require additional financial assistance to help them realise their ideas.

Launched for the 2012 round today, the Development Awards have been split into segments to make sure a range of enterprises benefit:

• Segment A provides a prize of £50,000 to social enterprises with a turnover of £250,000 - £500,000.
• Segment B provides a prize of £30,000 to social enterprises with a turnover of £100,000 - £250,000.
• Segment C provides a prize of £15,000 to social enterprises with a turnover of less than £150,000.

In addition to the cash prize the winning social enterprises will have access to a range of other opportunities:

• Monitoring and evaluation support so the success of the business can be measured.
• Access to bespoke university training courses.
• Opportunity to have a three month intern working in the business to help implement growth plans.
• Networking with other Santander Social Enterprise Development Award winners.
• The chance to showcase the business and the community supported by hosting a Development Award visit.

The types of costs that relate to the following are eligible:

• Improving Social Inclusion
• Supporting Disadvantaged People
• Creating a Greener Environment

The Development Awards are targeted at established social enterprises in the UK with two or more years of trading, which have ambitions to develop their business but need a financial boost to help them realise their ideas.

The deadline for receipt of applications is 2 July 2012.

http://www.santanderseda.co.uk/

(Source:  Grantfinder)

Gorsedd y Dreigiau (Bard of Dragons) Competition - 2012 Round Open

The Gorsedd of Dragons Competition is based on the popular television series, Dragons' Den.  It invites entrepreneurs to put forward business propositions to a panel of Welsh 'dragons' in a battle for investment and professional business advice.

The aim of the competition is to support new business ideas (start-ups) and existing new businesses that have a chance of succeeding and demonstrate the entrepreneurial spirit of the people of Wales during a difficult economic climate.

The competition offers two prizes in 2012:

• £5,000 for the winner to help establish or develop the business idea.
• A Young Person prize of £2,000 for people aged between 16 and 25 (who will also be eligible for the main prize).

Professional business advice will also be provided to help turn ideas into reality.

The competition is open to Welsh speakers who wish to live and work in Wales.  Any sort of business idea, invention, product or service is eligible.  Entries may come from individuals, partnerships or groups of people - but there must be one named contact person.

Entries may be from new businesses established during the last five years or from those that have yet to be established.

The closing date for entries to the 2012 competition is 6 July 2012

http://www.menterabusnes.com/

(Source:  Grantfinder)

CAN DO COMMUNITIES OPEN

Up to £2000 per group will be available for supporting identified local need and activity, for small scale capital projects, that will make a big impact.

Groups wishing to apply will go through a funding health check with a PAVO Development Officer.

Groups will be expected to find match funding of 33%

·        Go to:            www.pavo.org.uk

·        Call the:         PAVO Helpdesk on 0845 009 3288

·        E-mail:           info@pavo.org.uk

First Deadline is: FRIDAY 29TH JUNE 2012

Arts and Business Cymru launch new Arts and Kids Investment Fund

Arts & Kids Invest is a new investment programme provided by Arts & Business Cymru (A&B Cymru). Through scheme, A&B Cymru aims to encourage new sponsorship and grow established business engagement with the arts for the benefit of future generations in communities across Wales.

The focus of the programme is on children and young people experiencing disadvantage. It will support projects that aim to combat this disadvantage and make a real difference to young people's lives through engagement with the arts.

Examples of such disadvantage include:

• Illness, distress, abuse or neglect.
• Any kind of disability.
• Behavioural or psychological difficulties.
• Living in poverty or situations of deprivation.

Funding levels are dependent on the length of time the business partner has been supporting the arts in Wales. The minimum business investment required is £1,000. The maximum Arts & Kids Invest funding is £15,000. The minimum is £500.

Eligible projects must identify new business money over and above any existing commercial relationship between the partners.

The scheme is open to not-for-profit arts organisation partnering with businesses in Wales. The arts organisation must be the lead applicant.

The deadline for applications is Monday 18 June 2012.

Go to:  http://www.artsandbusiness.org.uk/

(Source:  Grantfinder) 

Invitation to Tender

PAVO are inviting tenders from suitably experienced voluntary organisations for the delivery of a befriending service in the Brecon area.

The contract is fixed term, price and funded via BIG lottery under the AdvantAGE programme. The contract will start 2^nd July 2012 and will end October 31^st 2016

Closing date for submissions is 6^th June 12 noon

Requests for application packs should be made to:

Mandy Phillips

PAVO

Marlow

Llandrindod Wells

LD1 5DH

01597 822191

Mandy.phillips@pavo.org.uk

2012 Eco-Innovation Call for Proposals

Got a great business project that could make Europe greener but don't know how to get it off the ground? The 2012 Eco-innovation call for proposals may be for you!

The European Commission grants up to 50% co-funding to finance green ideas: the total budget available for the 2012 Call is 34.8 Million Euros.

The call will close on 06 September 2012 at 17:00, Brussels local time.

It’s primarily aimed at SMEs, including social enterprises, in five priority areas:

-       materials recycling

-       water

-       sustainable building products

-       green business

-       the food and drink sector

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eco-innovation/index_en.htm

(Source:  EU)

Hay on Earth - the Dragon Series 5-9 June 2012

Hay on Earth - the Dragon Series 5-9 June 2012

The Deadline for applications to this years Hay on Earth Green Dragon Series has been extended to 5.30pm on Thursday 17th May.

In 2012, the Green Dragon’s Den event will be running for the third year, with up to £40,000 grant funding from Welsh Government available to help winning projects in Wales (up to £10,000 maximum for the winning project in each of the four categories). Each day has a different theme, featuring specialist speakers, practical workshops, networking, learning and action, with the opportunity to contribute ideas and help others develop theirs. 

We are looking for projects that demonstrate one or more of the following elements:

• Introduce and prove new concepts that increase sustainability action
• Link projects, organisations and solutions in more effective ways
• Make inspired use of seed funding

Please email your completed application form to Darren Gibbs at TYF: 
hay-on-earth@tyf.com 

You can bid to the Dragons in one of the following categories:
1. The Power of Youth - Under 25s
2. Innovation for Sustainability
3. Sustainable Work & Travel
4. Sustainable Community Futures