External funding and project opportunities

What is external funding
Find out about external funding.
How to find funding
Information about how to find funding and register to access the funding database.
Current funding opportunities
Information on European Funding, National Lottery, and other project opportunities.
Funding support
Help and advice on external funding and ongoing funding projects.

What is external funding?

External funding is money that is available to organisations from a range of sources, including Europe, central government, the National Lottery and grant making trusts and foundations. Funding is usually for specific projects or work programmes which have to fit the funder's specific criteria. It is always additional to the Council’s annual allocations from central government. Funding is secured through a competitive bidding process.

External funding is an important source of additional resources to help meet local priorities set out in Ealing’s Community Strategy (pdf), and to run new and innovative projects that benefit young people and local communities.

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How to find funding

Ealing Council external funding team administers a comprehensive funding database called J4B Advisor. LA staff responsible for sourcing external funding will be given access via a login. The key features include:

a comprehensive and up-to-date funding database, covering government, EU, lottery and non-government grants
the latest funding information and personalised email bulletins on new developments
the possibility to create funding reports (in word format)
access to guidance notes and application packs
the option to save searches and reports in personalised folders

Prior registration is required to gain access to the funding database. To apply for a login account complete the registration form (word) and return to the external funding team (contact details below).

In addition to the J4B funding database, three open access funding portals provide access comprehensive funding information, with a 60 second funding search facility. Staff are encouraged to visit the sites and promote them to community partners.

Access the links below:
Ealing4Community
A free funding search portal for voluntary and community organisations based in Ealing.

Ealing4Social Enterprise
A free funding search portal for social enterprises based in Ealing.

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Current Funding Opportunities

European Funding

Schools, training providers, and voluntary and community organisations can now apply for funding from the EU’s new 2007-2013 programmes for education, training and youth. Most, if not all of these funds require transnational links and so projects must involve partnership with organisations in one or more of the other member states.
For detailed information and guidance on EU funding opportunities please download:
European Funding for Education, training, youth and culture 2007-2013 (word)

National Lottery

There are 15 Lottery distributors in the UK that support good causes in the arts, heritage, film, health, education, environment, sport, community and charity sectors. Search all the current grants available across the UK at Lottery Funding Website.

The BIG Lottery Fund is the largest distributor and runs a number of education and youth related programmes.

Schools are now eligible to apply for the Lottery’s Awards for All programme that provides grants of between £300-£10,000 for people to take part in art, sport, heritage and community activities, and projects that promote education, the environment and health in the local community. You can apply at any time and get a decision in 8 weeks.

The Heritage Lottery Fund’s Young Roots Programme (link opens in a new window) aims to increase opportunities for young people to learn about heritage. It offers grants of between £5,000 and £25,000 to involve 13-20 year-olds (up to 25 for those with special needs) in finding out about their heritage, developing skills, building confidence and promoting community involvement.

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Other funding opportunities etc.

Funding Support

Ealing Council’s external funding team provide advice and support to council departments and partners (including schools, and local community and voluntary organisations) when applying for funding opportunities for new or on-going projects. The level of support provided will vary, depending on the department's needs and the priority of the project. The support offered will include:

reviewing and identifying suitable funding opportunities
providing tailored funding information through briefings and funding seminars
bid development and submission
giving general advice and guidance on funding applications
coaching for bid selection panels

If you need help and advice on external funding, or are looking to develop a project which will require external funding support, please complete our External Funding Enquiry Form (word). Please note the team does not administer any grants, whether from the council or external sources.

We will respond within 5 working days of receipt of your form to discuss how we can support you.

Please send completed forms by post or email to:
External Funding Team
5th Floor, Perceval House
14-16 Uxbridge Road
W5 2HL

The funding team, Perceval House, fifth floor, SE (purple area). Email: externalfunding@ealing.gov.uk

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