The Voicescape Community Fund is NOW CLOSED FOR APPLICATIONS. The deadline to apply was midday on Thursday 1st February 2024. New funding announcements will be published on our website, featured in our newsletter and shared on our social media channels. Click here to sign up to our mailing list. We are delighted to announce that the Voicescape Community Fund in partnership with Forever Manchester is now open for applications from Community Groups in Greater Manchester. The Voicescape Community Fund is offering awards of up to £1,000. We will close for applications at midday on Thursday 1st August 2024. Fund Criteria The Voicescape Community Fund welcomes applications from grassroots community groups based in any of the ten boroughs of Greater Manchester. The Fund will focus on projects which support those most affected by the cost-of-living crisis, as well as projects that provide education and skills development. Who can apply? The Voicescape Community Fund aims to encourage and support grassroots community organisations. This means small, community-based and locally controlled groups that manage themselves, encourage people to get involved as volunteers and who just need a bit of financial help to be able to work with their community in the way they’d like. Applicants must have an annual income of less than £150,000. How much can you apply for? The maximum award request that will be considered is £1,000. What can you apply for? Local groups understand how they can best work in their communities, so we don’t want to limit the type of request you can make as long as they meet one of the following fund priorities: Projects which support those most affected by the cost-of-living crisis e.g. food banks, warm spaces, financial and welfare advice, baby banks etc. Projects providing educational and skills development activities e.g. IT sessions, activities to improve employment opportunities, language classes etc. Is there anything you can’t apply for? Unfortunately, there are a few things that can’t be funded, such as activities that have already taken place or been paid for, contributions to major appeals, activities promoting political or religious beliefs and activity which should be provided by statutory services. If you’re not sure if we could consider your application for funding, please contact a member of the Forever Manchester Communities Team, email awards@forevermanchester.com and we’ll be happy to help. Supporting Documents For help and guidance on your groups’ supporting documents and to see what we require to be submitted alongside your application, please refer to our guidance which you can find here: Supporting Information. Please note that this information forms part of the Fund guidance and should be read in full before you start the application form. Deadline for Applications We will close for applications at midday on Thursday 1st February 2024. Any applications received after this time will not be considered. CLOSED FOR APPLICATIONS How long will a decision take? For this round of the Voicescape Community Fund, we aim to let you know the outcome of your application in mid-March 2024. Please do not plan to start any activity until after you hear if your application has been successful. Our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) provide further information on our funding programmes. We encourage you to have a look if you would like to know a bit more about who can apply and what the application process involves. If you have any questions or have trouble completing your application, please contact us at awards@forevermanchester.com or phone 0161 214 0940. About Voicescape At Voicescape they have been developing technology solutions for over twenty years. Using a combination of technology, expertise and experience, they create customer communications technology that helps increase efficiency, improve service levels and keep their client’s businesses on the front foot by helping to get the best possible results out of customer interaction.
