Guidelines

Guidelines for Applicants

Please read these guidelines carefully and only apply if your work falls within our priorities.

Key Points to Note

We wish to work with organisations that can demonstrate impact with ex-offenders, young offenders or young people at risk of offending, either within a local area or nationally.  It is up to you how you persuade us that impact is/will be delivered, but please note that general comments and statistics about the sector are not sufficient to demonstrate impact.

We prefer to fund smaller charities and those instigating bespoke projects.

Applicants must show they have investigated other sources of funding and made plans for future funding.

• Size of organisation
  Whilst the size of organisation is not relevant when making an application, it may be easier for smaller organisations to demonstrate impact.
• Funding levels
  1.  Our Small Grants Programme has a cap of £5,000.
  2.  Our Main Grants Programme is uncapped, but you are advised to research typical grant sizes previously made through our Charity Commission Annual Reports.
• Organisations we will fund
  UK registered charities and charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs).  In exceptional circumstances we may support Community Interest Companies (CICs)
• Application Deadlines
  Please try to submit applications in good time prior to the deadlines as this really helps the Company deal with the usual high number and allows us to administer these correctly.

Priority funding areas

1. Supporting offenders into work

Many offenders and ex-offenders suffer from a variety of difficult, complex problems and are amongst the most vulnerable members of society.  Whilst we fund a variety of work that addresses the social and economic problems faced by this group, our current priority is to support those looking to build skills and capability to get into sustainable work.

2. Helping specific groups within the criminal justice sector

We recognise that certain sectors within the criminal justice sector are less popular with funders than others.  We are committed to supporting charities working with such groups.

Secondary funding areas

1. Supporting young people

We are keen to support projects that work with young people from disadvantaged and socio-economically challenged groups, such as immigrants, to ensure they are given every possible chance to realise their full potential and to participate fully in society.  We normally define young people as being aged up to 25 years.

Work that we fund

• Pump-priming. We particularly welcome applications where our grant would support a project piloting new approaches and where that grant would form a major element of the funding or where it would be matched by other funders.
• Project funding. We prefer to support projects where our grant would be used for an identified purpose.
• Associated costs. If you are applying for project funding, you should make sure you have included the cost of any overheads associated with the work, such as office/secretarial support, so that the project is not under-funded.  It is in your best interest to ensure that you have realistically assessed the cost of the project.
• Core costs. We will consider applications for core funding for new projects, including staff salaries, training and overheads that enable an organisation to develop and maintain expertise.
• Innovative or pioneering work. We like to encourage new ideas and to fund projects that could inspire similar work in other areas of the country.
• Continuation funding. Once a grant has been made you are welcome to make an additional application after the first anniversary of the grant.
• Emergency or deficit funding. In exceptional circumstances, we may provide emergency or deficit funding for an established organisation.  Applicants most likely to be granted emergency funding are groups that we know or have previously supported.

Work that is outside our guidelines

• Universities or colleges
• Physical, mental and developmental disabilities, and medical research or medical conditions, including drug and alcohol addiction
• Environmental projects
• Work in promotion of religious or political causes
• Sponsorship, marketing appeals and fundraising activities
• Endowment appeals
• Work that has been completed, or will be completed, while the application is being considered
• Capital projects to provide compliance with the DDA
• Grants to individuals or to causes that will benefit only one person, including student grants or bursaries
• We will not provide grants to grant-giving charities
• Organisations working outside the UK, and overseas expedition or travel
• Work that should be covered by statutory funding
• Capital costs including building work and renovations
• Immigration legal fees or visa applications

How to Apply

Small Grants Programme

Download the application form, complete and sign it, then post it to The Weavers’ Company.

Once we have received your application form the process is as follows:

1. We will contact you should any further information be required.
2. You may be interviewed by a committee member for additional clarification.
3. You will be advised within 2 weeks of a closing date if your application has been shortlisted.
4. If shortlisted, your application will be presented to the Committee for a final decision.
5. You will be advised in writing of our decision within 2 weeks of the Committee meeting.
6. Whilst no formal progress report is needed, you will be required to report on the funds spent using our template form.

Main Grants Programme

Download the application form, complete and sign it, then post it to The Weavers’ Company.

Once we have received your application form the process is as follows:

1. We will contact you should any further information be required.
2. You may be interviewed by a committee member for additional clarification.
3. You will be advised within 2 weeks of a closing date if your application has been shortlisted.
4. If shortlisted, we will arrange an Assessment Visit (in person or online). The Company representative will discuss your project with you in more detail and will develop a report for the Committee.
5. Following the visit, your application will be presented to the Committee for a final decision.
6. You will be advised in writing of our decision within 2 weeks of the Committee meeting.
7. You will be required to provide our templated progress reports for the duration of the grant.

When to Apply

The Charitable Grants Committee meets in February, June and October of each year.  Because of the various stages involved in the assessment process, it may take up to 4 months for your application to be processed and this should be considered when planning your project

Click on the button below for closing dates and an Application Form.

Apply now

Further advice and information

For further advice and information about the Company’s Charitable Grants or if you would like an application form to be sent to you by e-mail, please contact the Charities Officer, Mrs Anne Howe:

Tel:  020 7606 1155
E-mail:  charity@weavers.org.uk