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Funding Play

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Our Hot Tips

Fundraising can be hard work and soul destroying. It can also be highly rewarding.

So.....

  1. Always read the guidance thoroughly first. You know it's boring and that you don't want to, but it's vital if you want to make sure that you are meeting the funder's criteria from the outset.
  2. Attend workshops where the funder is giving information or presentations - this will give you a real flavour of what the funder is looking for. If you work in Hackney attend one of HCVS's free funding workshops, www.hcvs.org.uk.
  3. Learn more about how to plan your Aims, Objectives, Outcomes and Outputs - this will really help you to be clear. Why is your project needed? Who are the beneficiaries? How will you know if it works? Read Your Project and its Outcomes by the Charities Evaluation Service.
  4. Be imaginative - how can your project deliver their objectives?
  5. Be realistic - think about your budget. How much will it really cost? Do you have any match funding?
  6. Build an evidence base - consult with your users and potential users about their needs; find local statistics on poverty and deprivation; use evidence gathered in local strategies and policies, use national research on play and children.
  7. Always assume that the funder knows nothing about your organisation or activities - Who are you? What do you want to do and why? What are the benefits of play?
  8. Get free help. Ask someone from a friendly organisation to read it through for you.
  9. Make sure you are clear what the deadline is and that you are going to make it on time. Check what documents you need to get signed by trustees or photocopied and prepare these in advance if you don't want to be chasing your trustees around Hackney on the morning of the deadline (we've been there).
  10. Always respond promptly to phone calls and requests from funders. Make sure you always supply monitoring and evaluation data on time and in the form requested.

And... if you don't succeed, don't be downhearted. Take a deep breath and ask the funder for feedback - it will come in useful later. Get on to the next application.

Funding Links

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Hackney Play Association, Shakespeare Walk Adventure Playground, Shakespeare Walk, London, N16 8TB, 020 7729 4664.