🔍
☰
The Bernicia Foundation is currently accepting applications for its Inclusion Grant Program 2025. Interested applicants are encouraged to click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
The Inclusion Grant supports initiatives that advance economic and social inclusion within communities. The fund aims to remove barriers to employment, training, volunteering, and access to essential services while reducing child poverty, tackling fuel poverty, improving financial wellbeing, reducing isolation, promoting independence, and building confidence and citizenship.
Benefits for Communities
Financial Support: Provides funding to cover essential costs like overheads and staff salaries.
Wide Reach: In 2024/25 alone, £247,000 was awarded, benefiting around 8,000 people.
Sustained Impact: Over £1.3 million has been awarded to date, showing long-term commitment to community development.
Stability for Services: Grants act as a lifeline for organizations, helping them continue operations during difficult times.
Benefits for Individuals
Economic Inclusion: Helps people access opportunities that reduce inequality and hardship.
Social Inclusion: Supports initiatives that bring people together, strengthen communities, and reduce isolation.
Youth Empowerment: Through related programs like the Inspiration Grant, young people are supported to pursue talents and reach potential.
Registered charities.
Constituted voluntary or community organisations.
Organisations previously awarded funding, regardless of when the grant was received.
Community Interest Companies (CICs): Only eligible when funding is strictly for charitable costs related to establishing the enterprise, developing new goods/services, or entering a new market, supported by a sound business plan.
Must be based in or operate within Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham, or Teesside.
Annual income under £750,000 and no more than six months’ running costs in reserve.
Must hold a governing document and have a governing body of at least three unrelated individuals.
Must operate an independent bank account and maintain a safeguarding policy where relevant.
Confirm eligibility based on organisation type, location, income, reserves, and governance requirements.
Identify a project that aligns with economic or social inclusion objectives.
Prepare a clear project plan including objectives, target groups, activities, expected outcomes, and budget.
For CICs, include a detailed business plan explaining charitable purpose, development of new goods/services, or entry into a new market.
Submit the application with supporting documents, including governance information, safeguarding policy, and bank account details.
Demonstrate how the initiative will provide measurable community impact and address identified barriers.
