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Eligibility    Inclusion Grant Programme

What’s the maximum amount of money my organisation can get when applying for a grant?

The Bernicia Foundation tends to give grants between £5,000 and £10,000 – although we will consider amounts outside these guidelines where they demonstrate significant community value.

Which organisations are considered for the Inclusion Grant Programme?

Examples of eligible groups include:

• Constituted voluntary or community organisations
• Registered charities, including charitable companies
• Social enterprises like  co-operatives and Community Interest Companies (CICs).  This is subject to normal funding restrictions for the costs of continuing services (often called core running costs).  Bernicia Foundation will not fund the costs of continuing services.  These should be financed by the sale of goods and services in line with the governance model chosen.  Social enterprises/CICs that are not charities can apply for the charitable costs of;
  • starting up the enterprise
  • setting up to trade existing goods in a new market or developing new goods and services to trade in line with a sound business plan which must be included with your application

We will fund core costs for eligible charitable organisations (excluding non charitable social enterprises – see above) to help them recover from the impact of Covid-19

In addition applicants will only be considered if they;

• are based or working in Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, County Durham and Teesside
• have an annual income under £750,000
• have no more than 6 months’ running costs in reserve
• have a governing document (a constitution, rules, articles of association etc.)
• have a governing body of at least three unrelated individuals
• have their own bank account
• have a safeguarding policy in place (where working with vulnerable people or children)

Our Inclusion and Inspiration Grant Programmes will not fund:

• Organisations with an annual income of over £750,000
• Organisations with unrestricted reserves that exceed 6 months running costs
• Contributions to general appeals or circulars
• Religious/political activity, which is not for the wider public benefit
• Routine building or equipment repairs and maintenance
• Activities that have already taken place/retrospective funding
• Grant-making by other organisations/third – party funding
• Privately owned and profit-distributing companies or limited partnerships
• Projects and initiatives operating outside of the North East
• CICs and other non-charity enterprises with the costs of continuing services, which should be financed by the sale of goods and services in line with the governance model they have chosen.

See our Application Guide for more details