Birmingham
About this Event
About this event

Overview

Funding opportunities are competitive, and completing the application form may only be the first step. There is a lot more to it. We’re here to help people understand how funding for social enterprises and community organisations works.

Our series of FunderMentals programmes are designed to enhance your chances to deliver competitive and higher quality bids for funding.

Programme Description

We offer to share expert experience via this 2 hour on-line workshop. Our content is designed to improve your confidence and enhance your awareness of the right bids for your circumstances.

We also offer 1 day and 2 day courses within the programme that will include in person, experiential , more in-depth learning.

Two days
This two day course covers what you need to understand about the mindset for developing bids and the mindset of the opportunity giver (the funder/assessor).

On the first day you’ll explore the themes the themes below time for discussions, peer learning, top tips from our experts and tasks and activities to embed the core practices into your organisation.We’ll share our expertise with you on key things you need to do before you apply for funding, how to apply for funding and insights into what you can do to give yourself the best chances of being successful in your bids.

1. Overcome the fears - Our content aims to help develop your mindset to overcome fears, challenges and anxieties in applying for bids. We will help you understand how to afford the time to submit bids regularly and with frequency. Offering top tips and practical examples you can use.

2. Turn ideas into bids - We help you organise your thoughts and ideas into bids that help funders understand your value and impact. Equipping you with skills and knowledge to practically employ what you have learnt and refresh your funding journey.

3. Mindset of the funder - Understand how funding opportunities work and how funders assess applications. Delving into the processes, systems and typical application forms, giving insight into how you can effectively prepare for bid writing success.

4. Building trust with funders – Learn the key factors that reduce rejection and builds trust between you and a funder. Exploring how you can showcase your talents, build positive relationships and become a ‘go to’ person in your field.

On day two you’ll have an opportunity to work on a funding bid with our expert team to support you. This gives you the chance to implement what you have learnt in day one, in a safe space, with support from our team. We will be able to support with a fresh application or reviewing and improving on an existing one - offering information, advice and guidance.The day will be interactive with the opportunity to trial a pitch suitable for bridging organisations or communications.

Who should attend?

FunderMentals: An Introduction To... is an introductory course providing key principles to those who would like to write successful grant and funding proposals. It will benefit:

- Board members or trustees of charities, volunteers, schools, associations or non-profit organisations writing their own bids, to grow their grant income.

- Bid writers and partnership managers looking for a refresher or confidence boost.

- Social enterprises in need of mindset based guidance and practical advice to improve grant submissions.

- Self-trained bid writers that value professional development.

- Leadership teams that need to understand what their bid writer does or need ways to motivate them.

Still not sure if this is for you? Contact us on [email protected] and we can help you understand what you will need. Additional Full day and 2-day courses are available for those seeking in-depth technical training and development.

Cost: £400 per person

Dates:

29th October, 10am - 4pm

30th October, 10am - 4pm

Why Us?

Our Presenters

Stacey has 20 years of management experience ranging from coordinating projects for communities to Deputy Chief Executive of a charity. Whilst this experience has mostly been in the charitable sector she has also worked in Public Health (NHS) and a Local Authority.

With a track record of taking on underperforming national targets and achieving them, supporting organisations to grow, notably being part of the leadership team that doubled income (£1m to £2m+) and the staff team (48-100+) for a large charity - Stacey’s expertise is in understanding the foundations of what needs to be in place for growth, impact and sustainability.

Mary has 25 years of experience of physical regeneration, neighbourhood partnerships and community engagement in relation to community safety and reducing crime. She has been responsible for attracting million pounds of inward investment from government through to the assessment of smaller tendered contracts and hundreds of applications submitted to community grant schemes.

She brings her experience from a commissioning role, sharing how information you provide can help convince the funder they are investing in a sustainable organisation .

Our team will give their strongest intel and insights into successful bids for grants. We are pooling a range of knowledge in bid writing by professionals that have won grants for social enterprises, local authorities and community led initiatives. Our partners combined, have experience of raising over £1m in grants and investment capital.

Payment & Bookings (FAQs):

What are the best ways to pay?

Bookings can be made using a debit or credit card through the online booking system. We’re unable to take bank or cheque payments.

I want to use my own card, not my organisation’s – is this possible?

In cases where your organisation’s business card is not available, a personal card can be used – some clients get their reimbursement by using the information on the booking confirmation e-mail which is your receipt and evidence of purchasing the ticket, then send to your organisation.

I am no longer able to attend, what are my options?

We work hard to ensure we can accommodate as many people as possible. If you are not able to attend on the date booked you may send someone else in your place – please notify us by email up to a week before the event.

How late can cancellations be made?

We understand that circumstance change. Our workshop bookings are non-refundable 14 days prior to the event date.

Change I change dates?

Changing your booking to a later date is permitted. This can only be done once.

Other FAQs:

Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?

This programme is appropriate for anyone with maturity and a serious interest in applying for bids. We have helped 14 year olds to access funding for their projects and initiatives. We have organisations in our network that fund 13 year olds upwards.

What are my transport/parking options for getting to and from the event?

This 2 hour training is online.

How can I contact the organiser with any questions?

Please email through the event platform or contact us through our social media platforms @a4ucic.