Festive Fund for Somerset

We can’t give money to:

• individuals or sole traders
• national organisations and groups based outside of Somerset
• activities that have already taken place or purchases that you have already made
• groups that give money to another group, rather than spend it on their own activities
• groups that have more than 12 months running costs in free reserves
• the promotion of religion. But we will give money to faith organisations for projects that deliver wider community benefits
• activities that are about animal welfare.

We can give money to these types of groups, but only in some cases:

• Social enterprises, like a Community Interest Company. Social enterprises must be limited by guarantee and have objects and an asset lock that benefit Somerset communities.
• Statutory organisations, like a parish council or a school. Applications cannot be for statutory duties. This means we will not support educational activities for pupils that take place during the school day. We will also not give money for school facilities, classroom equipment or to train teachers. We would prefer Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) to ask us for money, rather than schools.

We can only consider your group for a grant if:

• it’s based in the county of Somerset (but not North Somerset or BANES)
• it exists to support your community and doesn’t make a profit for any directors, members, or shareholders
• it wants to provide food and/or festive activities for isolated people between December 2024 and January 2025.

That means charities, community groups, sports clubs, and social enterprises can usually apply. But your group must have a:

• governing document or set of rules
• committee of at least three unrelated people
• bank account in its name
• has a safeguarding policy that meets our requirements (visit our FAQs for groups for more information on safeguarding).

If you don’t have these things, then Spark Somerset may be able to support you to put them in place. Or you could talk to another group, or your local parish or town council, who could manage a grant application for you.

This Fund will open to applications on Monday 30 September 2024, with a closing date of Wednesday 30 October 2024.

We have funding available for up to 50 groups (approximately).

We’re more likely to give you money if your group:

• is based in a more disadvantaged community. Our team check the Index of Multiple Deprivation to see if you’re in a richer or poorer part of Somerset. The Government publishes this Index
• works with older people or other groups facing bigger challenges. This might include people with disabilities, or those with conditions like dementia
• actively works with other groups in your area to make sure everyone can benefit from what you provide
• has not received money from us in the last year.

If we can, it will be paid directly to your group by a bank transfer in late November/early December.

You need to spend your grant and let us know how the activity went and how it helped people by the end of January 2025. We’ll tell you more about that if you are successful.

You can apply for a grant by clicking on the button below when the funding programme opens on Monday 30 September 2024.

You’ll need to provide an email address and then we’ll email you a link to an online form. If you don’t see an email from us after a few minutes, then please check your spam folder.

You don’t have to complete the form in one go. Instead, you can complete some sections then click ‘save draft’ at the bottom of the page. Use the link in your email to return to the form at another time.

The form asks you to provide some information to different questions and to attach some supporting documents.

Finally, you must read the terms and conditions and click ‘submit’.

Please contact the funding programme manager, below, if you can’t use the online form, or attach any of these documents. They’ll support you to make your application in another way.