Access Grants

The following organisations, with a turnover from the previous year of less than £75,000, are eligible to apply:

• Registered, exempt or excepted charity
• Charitable incorporated organisation (CIO)
• CIC limited by guarantee
• Charitable company (limited by guarantee)
• Registered charitable industrial and provident society, or charitable cooperative (Bencom)
• Faith group, where the activity is not promoting religion
• Registered Community Amateur Sports Club
• Constituted but unincorporated club or association
• Constituted Tenants and Residents Associations, and Tenant Management Organisations
• Constituted community group

If you are applying for a grant and are not registered at either the Charities Commission and/or Companies House, you will be required to provide a reference to your application from a registered organisation.

This funding should be used to cover costs for delivery of the activity as part of the Festival of Ideas, the following is not eligible for funding:

• Activity outside of the festival themes and timeline
• Core Costs e.g. rent, utility bills etc.

This funding must be used to organise an event or activity in response to the festival theme of Building Strong Communities. This might be events, conversations, celebrations or conversations, have a look at our toolkit for more information and examples of activities.

The following costs are eligible for funding:

• Equipment costs - phone bills, specialist physical or virtual equipment, or other associated equipment needed to support access to events.
• Translation and interpretation costs.
• Volunteer costs – including expenses, essential training such as safeguarding, volunteer supervision, volunteer wellbeing costs, and other costs not normally incurred.
• Costs associated with making your event fully accessible e.g. BSL sign language or a hearing loop.
• Contributions to staff or freelancer costs where they are not already funded.