v Match Fund for Youth Volunteering Projects
v, the organisation that champions volunteering, has announced that voluntary organisations and charities using or planning to use young volunteers have the opportunity to double the amount of funding generated from the private sector (a profit-making business; and / or a grant making trust or foundation; and/or an individual) through the V Match Fund. Successful applicants will need to develop innovative and inspiring volunteering opportunities that engage young people (16-25 year olds) in volunteering. Following consultation with young people, v has developed a set of core themes for the Match Fund: health and well being; environment; supporting children and young people; community cohesion; poverty; and human rights. In addition priority will be given to projects that recruit at least 50% of young people who have not volunteered within the last 12 months or are completely new to volunteering and that who are disengaged and from disadvantaged communities. Visit v website for full details. Next deadline for the Application Form: 5pm on Friday 31 October 2008 (for projects starting in April 2009). Organisations can submit once eligibility has been verified online by v.

Big Lottery Fund's Young People's Fund 2
Between £10,000 and £500,000 grants were up for grabs for young people in the South West to help fund local activities and services in their area that address the needs of young people. Importantly, projects needed to be led by and for young people and help achieve at least two of five Every Child Matters outcomes - being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving in life, making a positive contribution and having improved economic well-being. Groups could work alone on their applications or in partnership with other groups, companies and local authorities. The programme aimed primarily to fund local activities and services, but will also make grants of up to £50,000 available for youth-based projects to develop sites and buildings. Mark Cotton, BIG's head of South West region, said: "Young people are best placed to know what kinds of activities and services they want and need in their local area, and this funding is designed to empower and support them to make those ideas a reality. Now is the time for young people to lobby their local youth support services to apply for funding. It will not only have a positive impact on their own lives and that of their friends, but also the wider community. Deadline for applications was Thursday, 16 October 2008 via BIG's website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk or by calling (08454) 102030.

Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowships
Individuals can now apply for 2009 Fellowships from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust which aim to provide the opportunity for British Citizens resident in the UK to conduct projects overseas and, in the process, learn about the life, work and people of other countries. Every year the Trust awards some 100 Travelling Fellowships to individuals from all walks of life, from the broadest of backgrounds regardless of educational or professional qualifications, and from all over the UK. For 2008 the average grant is £5300 to cover all travel expenses for a stay overseas of 4-8 weeks (minimum 4 weeks), but it can be longer. The application categories for 2009 include sport, adventure, the arts in secondary schools, business and manufacturing in the engineering industry, environment, food and rural affairs, mental health care, science and technology, treatment and rehabilitation of traumatic injuries, writers and journalists people between 18 and 25 with a worthwhile project to benefit the UK community and their personal development. This could be you! Travel and living expenses are all paid for. View further details of fellowships and the work of the Trust, and details of the 2009 Categories. For more information visit www.wcmt.org.uk . The closing date for applications is 14 October 2008.

Small grants for voluntary organisations to hold good practice events
GoldStar called for applications for small grants to hold good practice events in the community. They welcomed applications from organisations (or groups of organisations), that could demonstrate specialist expertise in working with volunteers from one of more of the following target groups, Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME), disabled people or people with limiting long term illnesses; and people with no qualifications. The events should be to promote and share good practice amongst other organisations. Successful organisations  receive a small grant of between £100 and £3000, and there is a "good practice events management toolkit" available free to everyone, which is full of hints and tips and templates to help organisations to manage events. Closing date for applications was 26 September 2008, with successful applicants informed two weeks later. View full application information.

Caudwell Children ‘Enable Sport’ programme
A national children’s charity are seeking the country’s gifted and talented disabled children to apply for adapted sports equipment. Caudwell Children in partnership with Barclays Wealth have launched a three month initial programme to fund adapted sports equipment for disabled children to participate in competitive sport. Children with sporting potential across the UK will receive donations such as individually adapted sports wheelchairs worth around £3,000 and other equipment like hand bike tricycles worth around £1,000. By providing the sport specific equipment they will assist disabled children develop sporting skills and hopefully increase the participation of disabled youngsters in athletic activities at a national even worldwide level. To receive an application pack please contact the charity on 0845 300 1348 or email charity@caudwellchildren.com.

Stars to help young people in £3m mentoring programme
Culture Secretary Andy Burnham has confirmed that hundreds more young people will have the opportunity to be mentored by elite sports stars, musicians and top media players. The scheme offers one-to-one and group mentoring for young people who most need it. Mentors play a significant part in the young person's life, acting as a role model who can offer professional advice, insight and encouragement on a shared interest, with the ultimate aim of helping young people on the path to success in life. Each strand of the programme (media, music and sport) will receive £1million over three years in order to run the mentoring scheme. Sport England and the Youth Sport Trust are responsible for delivering the sport element of the project entitled the Respect Athlete Mentoring Programme (RAMP). Sport England is responsible for the community element, and the Youth Sport Trust is responsible for the educational element. Read press release and for more details about sport mentoring schemes please contact katie@creatingexcellence.co.uk

£1 million for volunteering projects
vinspired, the volunteering web site for young people, is giving away £1 million to 16-25 year olds in England who want to set up their own volunteering project in their community... and you could get your hands on up to £2,500. The funding called vcashpoint can be utilised for sports events and projects. vcashpoint funds new projects that are led by young people and really make a difference to the community. Your project should create at least three new opportunities for young people to volunteer.  Click to bring your ideas to life and transform your community.

UnLtd Sport Relief grants of up to £500 for 11-16 year olds
Do you know anybody aged 11-16 who wants to make a difference in the area where they live? UnLtd Sport Relief have grants of up to £500 to give to individuals or small groups who come up with an idea to bring people together through sport or recreation. Possible examples of projects include engaging young people from different backgrounds by organising an indoor cricket mini world cup, a skateboarding competition aimed at reducing tensions between local groups or workshops in music and drama that explore different cultures. Applicants will need to have a project advisor who assists them with the application process and supports them with their project; this could be a teacher, youth worker parent etc. UnLtd also provide support to successful applicants and offer opportunities such as training and networking events.  UnLtd are currently focusing their attention on trying to encourage 11-16 year olds to apply to the scheme as they have had a shortfall of applications in this age group. If you know anybody that you think fits this bill then please tell them about the Awards. They are happy to provide pre-application support if wanted and to answer any questions that you may have. Visit www.unltd.org.uk/sportreliefawards or email sportreliefawards@unltd.org.uk  or tel. 0207 566 1142

Grassroots Grants
The Community Development Foundation has been appointed as lead national partner in delivering the scheme. ‘Grassroots Grants’ will launch in 2008 and  run until 2011. The fund will include an £80 million small grants fund for community organisations; and a £50 million endowments programme. View news release.

New link between schools and the dance world
Body popping, polka and pirouettes will be available for many more young people across England, under plans to develop stronger links between schools and dance providers, Culture Minister Margaret Hodge  has announced that more than £100, 000 has been set aside to enable Youth Dance England to continue their work as part of the PE and Sport Strategy for Young People, providing greater dance opportunities for young people. The Dance Links Scheme enables more schools and specialist colleges to link with local dance schools and professionals to provide a variety of dance experiences for their pupils. Read announcement

Sport England investment in South Wiltshire sport
Sport and recreation across the district is to get an injection of over £31,000 thanks to a Sport England Community Investment Fund grant. The funding is part of a £105,000 package designed to create more opportunities for sport and active recreation in south Wiltshire and increase the number of people taking part by 1% per year. Whilst Sport England is providing £31,000 over two years, the balance of £74,000 has been committed to the project from members of a new community sport network, the Salisbury Sport and Physical Activity Alliance (SSPAA). This includes a recent Awards for All grant awarded to Salisbury Area Sport for the delivery of a key element of SSPAA's action plan. Read more

West Wiltshire Develops new CSN
Wiltshire District Council’s Leisure team is working with Sport England to develop a Community Sport Network (CSN) for the West Wiltshire area, after receiving £46,500 in funding from the Sport England lottery fund.  The new CSN will become part of a national network developed by Sport England, which aims to ensure those involved in grass roots sport, active recreation and physical activity have a forum to meet and exchange ideas and shape the development of sporting opportunities in the district. Read press release.

Futurebuilders announces additional investment
The additional £65m investment is aimed at voluntary sector organisations taking on the management of statutory sector services including sport and leisure. Futurebuilders is actively seeking applications from third sector organisations working across all public service areas who are looking to win contracts with statutory bodies such as local authorities, primary care trusts and learning and skills councils. With the invitation to apply now extended to organisations working across all areas of public service delivery including sport, recreation and leisure, environmental projects, waste and recycling, legal aid and the arts, it is expected that there will be a significant increase in applications, and ultimately in third sector organisations delivering public services. View press release. Click for information on Bristol event (Monday 28 April  2008, venue: Jurys Hotel, Bristol)

Community Foundation: Express Grants of up to £2000 (South West)
The Quartet Community Foundation which supports local causes in Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire has announced that the Express Grants programme is now awarding grants of up to £2000. Express grants are available to local voluntary and community groups in need of immediate funding, working with people who are disadvantaged or isolated due to poverty, disability, age, location or culture. The maximum grant is £2000. However, older people's groups addressing issues around health and wellbeing may be eligible for grants of up to £2500. Sports projects must have a community or charitable element. Example grants have included £1,000 towards the cost of a skateboard park in a rural area of South Gloucestershire. Applications can be made at any time and are considered as and when they are received. Applicants should be notified of the outcome within six weeks. Visit www.quartetcf.org.uk for more guidance notes and an application form.

People's Millions SW
The Big Lottery Fund is giving community groups in the region the chance to win the public's support and share in up to £250,000 of Lottery good cause money. Five awards of up to £50,000 will be up for grabs to carry out projects that improve and enrich local communities. Organisations had until the 15 May 2008 to enter the contest. The finalists will be screened on ITV West evening news later in the year when people in the region will be able to cast their vote for the projects they want to win the Lottery good cause cash. Application packs are available by calling the hotline: 08450 10 11 12 (calls cost maximum of 4p per minute from a BT landline. Calls from mobiles and other networks may be higher) or by visiting www.peoplesmillions.org.uk.  

2012 legacy trust offers £1.61 million
The Big Lottery Fund, the Arts Council and the Department of Culture Media and Sport have endowed Legacy Trust UK with £40m. The fund will use the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to promote culture and sport among young people and communities. £1.61m will come directly to the South West for innovative projects that encourage participation in culture, knowledge, sport and well-being. Visit www.legacytrustuk.org

Still running! UnLtd Sport Relief Awards
UnLtd Sport Relief Awards provide opportunities for young people to bring communities together, to help them promote understanding and solve conflict through sport and being active. This UK wide funding programme is for 11-21 year olds, who are prepared to go the extra mile and use their passion for sport to bring respect and understanding to their communities by setting up their own projects. Funding of £250-£5,000 is available for entrepreneurial young people who have great ideas and who want to make a difference. UnLtd Sport Relief will offer Award Winners a range of support in addition to funding, including face to face meetings, information on other funding sources and practical training in areas such as conflict resolution. Click to find out more, download flyer or call the Sport Relief helpline on 0845 3670770 or write to sportreliefawards@unltd.org.uk

Sports Apprentices get into Starting Blocks for 2012
More than one hundred new Sports Apprenticeships are to be made available in 2008 as the South West begins its warm up for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. The investment means the South West is now one of the fastest growing regions for sports apprentices in England. Young Apprenticeships in Sport Management, Leadership and Coaching – funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) – will enable 125 more students (aged 14 to 16) to learn the practical skills and knowledge required by employers from the sports or leisure industry while studying for relevant academic qualifications. Download LSC press release.

Government launches £140million cycling fund
£140 million of government investment in cycling has been announced in Jan 2008 by Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Transport.  The investment aims to help half a million children cycle safely and a generation of adults rediscover their bikes. Read more on Exeter's part in and new bids for the Cycling Demonstration Town programme, and find outabout the Bikeability scheme.