The following websites may be able to help with specific and more general information.
This site aims to provide the latest funding information from Central Government, National Lottery, devolved governing bodies, EU and quangos.
A charity which supports sustainable rural community development. There is a list of publications available to purchase which may be helpful at http://www.acre.org.uk/DOCUMENTS/resources/publicationlist.pdf
A Lottery small grants scheme aimed at local communities.
Click on the Action Network and Where I live links.
Biffaward is one of the landfill tax credit funded schemes. It supports projects which provide and improve public amenities for communities within 10 miles of a Biffa operation.
The Big Lottery Fund is the organisation that hands out half the money for good causes from the National Lottery.
A fund established by the East of England Development Agency making capital grants of between £250,000 and £750,000 to community-owned organisations in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk to help with purchasing and developing assets. Particular support for development of sustainable, catalytic community assets. Fund expected to run until 31st March 2008.
Government site offering practical advice to all small businesses, including a search for local Business Link operators in your area and an interactive tool to help write documents and contracts.
An organisation of UK companies which offers services that may be of use, including ProHelp a national network of over 1,000 professional firms who offer work pro bono to local community groups and voluntary organisations; Rural Action, a campaign for companies to make a positive impact in rural areas; and Volunteering Plus a service to accredit volunteering, so that the learning and development that results from volunteering can be directly linked back to the workplace.
If your rural village has a population of under 3000 you are entitled to a 50% reduction in the rates bill or more if your local authority feels you need it. This applies if you are the only village general store or post office, as long as it has a rateable value of less than £7,000.
The Carbon Trust helps business and the public sector cut carbon emissions, and supports the development of low carbon technologies. This site provides advice and interest free loans.
Created by charities to provide loan finance, support and advice for charitable purposes.
The regulator and registrar for charities in England and Wales.
The rural church building provides a physical focus for many villages, and is often the only building available for community use when school, shop and pub have closed.
Community First is a charity that works at the forefront of community development to help improve the quality of life and economic well being of people and local communities throughout Wiltshire and Swindon
Community foundations are charitable trusts that support local community causes. Their role is to manage donor funds and build endowment as well as make grants to charities and community groups, linking local donors with local needs.
The community Pubs Foundation is an organisation set up with the aim to prevent the loss of, or inappropriate alterations to, a public house of community, architectural or historical importance, to improve the viability of a public house through the provision of community facilities and to protect the future of a public house through community ownership.
The Midcounties Co-operative offers grants through The Co-operative Community Dividend Scheme to local organisations that provide a real benefit to real lives in their local community. Whether you're a youth club, football team, recycling project, a school or centre for the disabled, you could benefit from a grant of up to £1,000.
Provides loan finance to social enterprises.
The Co-op’s Community Support Programme offers grants to help with the improvement of community facilities.
The organisation for UK co-operative enterprise, promoting co-operative and mutual solutions, working in partnership with members to grow a stronger and more successful co-operative movement.
This site brings together different countryside dimensions – economic, environmental, community and enjoyment into a single national body to achieve sustainable development in the countryside. It co-ordinates the Community Renewables Initiative (CRI).
Click on Alcohol & Entertainment link for advice on applying for off licences.
Offers details on the Data Protection Act
Defra works for the pursuit of sustainable development - weaving together economic, social and environmental concerns.
For employer/employee matters and relations.
Includes details about Disability Discrimination Act.
Set up after the 1992 Rio Earth Summit by the government and private sector, it is a non-profit organisation committed to encouraging sustained use of energy and the cutting of CO2 emissions. Offers advice and some funding.
The Enterprise Fund provides loans to entrepreneurs whose businesses are located in the Greater Manchester or Cheshire area who are struggling to raise commercial loans from mainstream lenders.
Village CORE Programme – Introduction page – In paragraph two, please remove the word ‘the’ before Esmee Fairbairn
Please replace the application form on the website with the one attached.
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is one of the largest independent grant making foundations in the UK.
Advice including food hygiene legislation.
Regulator of all providers of financial services in the UK.
Futurebuilders England (FBE) is the Government backed £125 million investment fund to help the voluntary and community sector deliver better public services. Futurebuilders, which opens for applications on May 1st is keen to receive applications from rural based voluntary and community groups.
A new source of online advice for management committees. It includes sections on recruiting new members and model documents.
Information about all the government grants available to the voluntary and community sector.
Advice on all health and safety issues.
Publications on Health and Safety issues.
Downloadable magazine which offers retail advice.
Set up for independent retailers, but may also be of help to community shops, particularly under Business Support.
This website enables volunteer and community sector organisations to search for government and lottery funding. It is free to access the grant search tool, receive the funding e-newsletter and electronic grant alerts; there is a charge for contact information, full descriptions and eligibility criteria.
The LTCS was designed to help mitigate the effects of landfill upon local communities. It encourages partnerships between landfill operators, their local communities and the voluntary and public sectors. If your village is within approximately 10 miles of a landfill site (distances vary depending on operator) you may be eligible for a LTCS grant. A list of all landfill operators can be found on HM Revenue & Customs website. www.customs.hmrc.gov.uk
This is a small, national charity whose aim is to enable and encourage lawyers to provide free legal help to individuals and community groups in need.
Supports and works in partnership with charitable organisations which help people, especially those who are disadvantaged or disabled, to play a fuller role in communities throughout England and Wales.
Managed by the South West England Regional Development Agency (SWRDA), this is a £28 million initiative to help rural communities in the South West deversify and strengthen their local economies and improve quality of life.
The Local Channel is a national network of over 20,000 community websites templated across England, Scotland and Wales at the first tier of electable government. We provide free help and support to use the site on 0800 38 986 38. To register for a website please email info@thelocalchannel.co.uk with a contact.
Provides loan finance to not-for-profit community organisations.
Website of the campaign behind the proposed Sustainable Communities Bill – legislation to help empower local people improve their local communities.
Lottery Funding is a joint website run by all lottery funders in the UK. This site allows you to search information on current funding programmes across the UK.
Includes a directory and links (where available) to village shops nationwide (both community-run and independent businesses).
Directory and locator of all local government websites.
ORCC employs a full time Village Shops Development Worker and half her time is spent working with community shops. ORCC have considerable experience in community retailing and there is useful information on their web site.
The Plunkett Foundation is an educational charity which supports the development of rural group enterprise world-wide. It promotes and implements economic self help solutions to rural problems.
Represents the interests of sub postmasters.
The main website for the Post Office and Royal Mail.
The watchdog for postal services with regional committees.
Encourages breweries, pub owners, licensees and local communities to work together to help retain and enhance rural pubs by finding additional uses for them within the community.
Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) were set up by Government to promote sustainable economic development in England.
Interested in taking debit/credit cards? Check out this website for further information on how this service may increase your business and convenience for your customers.
RISE aims to support the development of a sustainable social enterprise sector in the South West of England. Good selection of national and local weblinks.
A website about food, where it comes from and why it matters.
Ruralcity Media is an innovative media company dedicated to supporting rural business and communities. They produce a newsletter and an annual directory for rural decision makers.
A rural regeneration charity which promotes a living and working countryside
The gateway for information and services to rural communities in Scotland.
Rural Revival provides packages of assistance to fledgling rural self-help enterprise initiative groups in the form of seed-corn grants combined with advisory support.
The RSA is the only national trade association that operates exclusively for and on behalf of the owners of independent village shops. Its activities include lobbying, legislation advice, sharing ideas and best practice, projects and training.
The trust funds new community projects which use renewable energy sources.
An information resource to help you find the most appropriate social enterprise training, support or relevant publication.
A new grant is now available. It is designed by SEEM and accessed through Business Link East Midlands.
The SEBA grant:
· can be used to purchase specialist business advice, identified as a result of an in depth review with a Business Link adviser
· is 100% funded and is available to purchase specialist business advice up to the value of £1,500
Finances companies, institutions and projects that add cultural value and benefit people and the environment.
Free and easy-to-use website to publicise your enterprise.
Provides banking and membership services to the trade union, charity, voluntary, credit union and membership organisation sectors.
UnLtd is a charity that supports social entrepreneurs. It offers packages of funding and support (level 1 £2,000 average) to start up. Supported by the Millenium Awards Trust.
A joint funding venture between ViRSA, the Esmee Fairbairn Trust and Co-operative and Community Finance, the Village CORE Programme provide a start-up grant of up to £20,000 per community owned village shop, subject to contributions of at least the same value being obtained from the village and a loan of at least the same value being granted by Co-operative and Community Finance.