We have been invited by Comic Relief to distribute some of the funds raised through Red Nose Day and Sport Relief through our network of local community foundations.

Community foundations across the UK are inviting applications for grants up to £10,000 from a fund of over £5 million that they are distributing on behalf of Comic Relief, using money raised from Red Nose Day and Sport Relief – up to 31 March 2011.

What are the grants for?

Comic Relief grants of up to £10,000 support community groups who are using a range of activities, including sport, to:  

Increase access to sport and exercise for people who face social exclusion and isolation  Help people who are experiencing difficulties in their lives to regain their confidence and self-esteem Build skills of local people Increase community cohesion Respond to local economic needs

Who can apply?

Groups need to:

• Be working in a disadvantaged or deprived area
• Be small, locally based groups or organisations who have a clear understanding of the  needs of their community
• Have limited access to other sources of income

The kinds of groups that can apply are:

• Community groups
• Resident associations
• Community centres
• Social enterprises / Community Interest Companies
• Credit Unions

Following a number of enquiries, Comic Relief has decided that grants to directly support the beneficiaries of work and projects delivered by Community Interest Companies are eligible for support under the current 2009-2011 programme.

  
Exclusions

They will not give grants to: 

• Individuals
• Statutory organisations, including schools
• Fund trips abroad
• Fund buses, mini buses or other community transport schemes (other than transport costs forming part of a project)
• Fund building costs, including access adaptations to buildings.
   

How do we apply?
 

The following community foundations or local funders are managing Sport Relief and Comic Relief funds. Please contact them directly - not CFN. Click the foundation's name to send an email to the foundation.

East Midlands

Derbyshire Community Foundation 01773 514850
Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Community Foundation 0116 229 3088 
Lincolnshire Community Foundation 01529 305825
Northamptonshire Community Foundation 01604 230033
Nottinghamshire Community Foundation 016236 20202

East of England

Cambridgeshire Community Foundation 01223 410535
Essex Community Foundation 01245 355947
Norfolk Community Foundation  01603 623958
Suffolk Foundation 01473 734120

London

North East

North West

Cheshire Community Action 01244 323602
Cumbria Community Foundation 01900 825760
Community Foundation for Greater Manchester  0161 214 0940
Community Foundation for Merseyside 0151 966 4604

Northern Ireland

Community Foundation For Northern Ireland  028 9024 5927

Scotland

Scottish Community Foundation 0141 225 6670

South East

Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation 01767 626459 
Berkshire Community Foundation 0118 930 3021
Buckinghamshire Community Foundation 01296 330134
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation 01256 776101
Hertfordshire Community Foundation 01707 251351
Kent Community Foundation 01303 814500
Milton Keynes Community Foundation 01908 690276
Oxfordshire Community Foundation 01865 798666
Surrey Community Foundation 01483 409230
Sussex Community Foundation 01273 409440

 
South West

Community Foundation for Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset 01202 292255
Cornwall Community Foundation 01566 779333
Devon Community Foundation 01884 235887
Gloucestershire Community Foundation 01452 656385
Quartet Community Foundation  0117 989 7700
Somerset Community Foundation 01458 833133
Community Foundation for Wiltshire and Swindon 01380 729284

Wales

The Community Foundation in Wales 029 2052 0250

West Midlands

Birmingham Community Foundation 0121 322 5560
Heart of England Community Foundation 024 7688 4386
Herefordshire Community Foundation 01432 272550
Community Foundation for Shropshire and Telford 01952 201 858
Solihull Community Foundation 0121 700 3934
Staffordshire Community Foundation 01782 683000
Worcestershire Community Foundation 01299 826 013

Yorkshire and Humberside

Community Foundation for Calderdale 01422 349700
Hull City Ventures 01482 320 021 (Hull and East Yorkshire)
Community Foundation for Leeds 0113 242 2426
South Yorkshire Community Foundation  0114 242 4857
York and North Yorkshire Community Foundation  01759 377400

More information about how Comic Relief supports local communities.