On Tuesday, 13th May 2014, the Rainbow Fund will launch its 2014 main grant funding round, thanks to the financial support of Brighton Pride and fund’s other donors. Local eligible LGBT and HIV community groups are being invited to apply for grants of up to £5,000.
Last year £53,550 was distributed by the Rainbow Fund to a range of community groups, hugely benefitting the local LGBT and HIV sector. The deadline for this year’s grant round has been timed to coincide with Pride, and applications need to be made by 5pm on Friday, 8th August 2014. Applications should be made via the Rainbow Fund’s website www.rainbow-fund.org – under the ‘apply for a grant’ section.
Decisions on successful applications will be made by the Independent Grants Panel, which has a majority of independent members on it to ensure an open and transparent decision-making process. Decisions will be made and announced in September. For the first time, a short consultation process in June has been incorporated into this year’s process to allow people to give their views on funding priorities.
This will be reported as part of the decision-making process and help inform the grants process.
The Rainbow Fund provides needs-led grant-based funding to Brighton & Hove-based LGBT volunteer-run groups, providing frontline services in/for:
· HIV/Aids
· Community safety
· Health
· Community development
Funding will not be made available for:
· Groups who cannot demonstrate that they are led, constituted or run predominately for, or by, the LGBT/HIV community
· Projects not considered frontline or not available on a city-wide basis
· Events
· Overseas trips
· Co-ordination or umbrella groups
· Replacement of statutory funding
· Individuals
· Groups who donate to the Fund
Paul Elgood, Chairman of the Rainbow Fund said: ‘We are grateful to our supporting organisations and venues for providing the funding for this year’s main grants round. It is excellent for the local LGBT and HIV sector that we can plan ahead and time our main grants around Pride, making these grants very much part of the outcome of the success of the event. We want to pass through this funding as quickly as possible so that the benefit can be felt in the community as quickly as possible after Pride. We usually find that we cannot fund every application we receive as the money isn’t always available, but we wish the community groups the best of luck in their applications.’
If you are considering applying to the Rainbow Fund, you can discuss your plans at a special advice session during the week of 19th May. For an appointment or more information about the process, please email paulelgood@gmail.com. All groups who apply will need to undertake such a one-to-one session before applying.
