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Original poster

Any suggestions who I could ask for funding for our Toddler group?

29 replies

nickytwotimes · 05/05/2009 19:22

Me and a few friends set it up 18 mths ago and it is going fine. It is the only one in the area btw.
We were funded by the Awards for ALl branch of the National Lottery and also by the local ROund Table, but we are running out of cash and will be skint by the end of July.

The money will pay for our accommodation. We all contribute every week, but it doesn't cover all our costs.

Can anyone think of any organnisations that might be able to bung us a couple of hundred?

Btw, we are doing a few fundraising activities too.

OP posts:
whomovedmychocolate · 05/05/2009 19:28

Parish council?

BCNS · 05/05/2009 19:32

you could see if a baby /toddler product company might be a sponser..

What is the difference between what you need ( ie rent / other costs) and what you bring in?

how many times a week do you get together? how many people do you get through the door?

Original poster
nickytwotimes · 05/05/2009 19:35

Parish council might be worth a punt.
Not sure about sponsorship really. It would need to be something very un-controversial I imagine?
Our running costs for the year are about £1000, we bring in about half that. We average about 6 parents and 6-8 kids per session. We meet once a week for 2 hrs.

OP posts:
whomovedmychocolate · 05/05/2009 19:37

So is it shared accommodation? Like a village hall or something - perhaps they would give you a lower rate? I run one and we do cheaper rates for people who commit to more than a years bookings.

BCNS · 05/05/2009 19:37

how many people can you accommodate in total.. and are you restricted to just once a week?

aGalChangedHerName · 05/05/2009 19:37

Awards For All again? Think you can apply more than once?

littlerach · 05/05/2009 19:38

LOcal business?
Think Virgin donated to ours once. (they are local).

Or if someone there wroks in a bank, often they'll match any fundrasiing you do.

Original poster
nickytwotimes · 05/05/2009 19:41

We used to get cheaper rates, but the project we rented from had their funding withdrawn. We now rent from a charity who lease it and they have knocked the price as low s they can atm. Our rent doubles a few months back!

There isn't really the demand for more frequent sessions and th epopulation is small - we are rural. TOtally appreciate the brain racking though!

Yep, am trying Awards for All again, but I've been told our chances are slim as this would be our second application.

OP posts:
Original poster
nickytwotimes · 05/05/2009 19:41

Ah, now we do have a member who works for a bank, yes.

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BCNS · 05/05/2009 19:42

would i be right in thinking your charging about£1.50 per parent.. and children free..

with your running costs and neeting once a week..with only 6 adults attending.. you need to be charging £3.20 to cover your costs...

soooo.. you basically need double the paying adults to cover your costs.

Original poster
nickytwotimes · 05/05/2009 19:44

By GOd you are good BCNS!

I am well impressed.

Yep, £1.50, bang on.

Unfortunately to charge more would make it too expensive in the view of other members and myself I have to say. Around a quid seems to be the going rate in our region. Oours is pricey, lol!

OP posts:
Boysboysboys · 05/05/2009 19:48

Try the council

Original poster
nickytwotimes · 05/05/2009 19:50

Done council.
They gave us 100 quid start up but they don't provide other funding.
Our neighbouring councils do, which is annoying.

OP posts:
vonsudenfed · 05/05/2009 19:50

Our local council has small grants - I think up to £2k - that councillors can give out to local projects at their own discretion, so it might be worth trying them, as other people have said.

Also, your local library should have the Directory of Grant Making Trusts. Worth a look through to see if there are any local charities which give grants to children in your area.

Original poster
nickytwotimes · 05/05/2009 19:52

AH, Directory of Grant Making Trusts.

Will check thaat out tomorrow.

OP posts:
BCNS · 05/05/2009 19:54

( has run a toddler group many years ago!! LOL)

right you need more people then.

have you looked at you local list of childminders who may like to use the toddler group? ( you could run a few leaflets and send just to those people.).. pop a sign up at the local school?

how many people would the venue take?? ( costs will rise slightly with more people attending.. but that can be covered.)

you could raise the profile with a local paper piece.
or you could hold a special kiddies craft day on one of your days. ( 1st and 3rd week.. messy play and recycled craft) etc

Original poster
nickytwotimes · 05/05/2009 19:57

Yes, we need more people!

Thanks for the excellent ideas, I hadn't considered the childminder thing.

Our local HV has been quite helpful at promoting us, which has helped. As I say, we are a small rural community, but it would be good to drum up some more punters.

I will make the suggestions at the group this week.

THANK YOU very much everyone for all the suggestions.
I am off for a soak now but will be back.

OP posts:
BCNS · 05/05/2009 20:01

No problem.

MissisBoot · 05/05/2009 20:04

Contact your local cvs (community voluntary service).

They will have someone who can advise you on funding. If you are rural there is probably a funding pot that you can access as the government is keen to invest in rural communities in some form.

If your HV has been supporting you you could also contact your local pct (primary care trust) and argue that your group supports isolated parents and that limits the risk of postnatal depression thereby saving them cash down the line.

If yours is the only one in the area you could also contact your local Children's Centre and ask them to fund it as 'outreach' work. This would enable them to meet some of their community targets.

Yurtgirl · 05/05/2009 20:14

I heard about a website this week that might be useful to you - funder finder - I havent had a look at it myself yet but it apparently helps you to know who to apply to and then helps you to write the letter

HTH

smellen · 05/05/2009 20:18

Thought about getting local shops/pubs to sponsor you? Quite often rural businesses like to be seen to promote community events.

Could you register on www.giveortake.co.uk or similar and spread the word amongst the parents who attend your group, partners/spouses and colleagues?

Elk · 05/05/2009 20:29

I don't know where you are but you mentioned you are rural. It may be worth talking to your local Childrens Centre as they may have some funding available for rural groups. Last year my toddler group recieved £500 from the 'Rural Needs Initiative'. Also the previous orgainisers met in a local pub to discuss funding as at the time we couldn't afford the rent and the landlord paid the rent for September to December (£150). It proabably helped that there had been some complaints about noise/litter etc and he was trying to improve the pub's reputation.

Also our village has an annual fete and as a local group we can have a free stall in order to raise our profile and hopefully get some cash.

mrspnut · 05/05/2009 20:29

Do you have a local co-op or just try to the national one anyway.

Local counsellors often have grants to give away, see if yours can find some funds.

Original poster
nickytwotimes · 05/05/2009 20:35

Fantastic suggestions.

Many thanks.

I hadn't heard of a lot of these organisations. CVS were a big help to us when we started up. I agree, they are a great group.

I knew MN would deliver.

Thanks to everyone who responded.

OP posts:
BCNS · 05/05/2009 20:46

you can also try B&Q local funding, you could also get in touch with the preschool learning alliance ( they also help with toddler groups), or maybe try seeing if sure start have any ideas.