The Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales has announced its intention to launch a new funding strategy. The new strategy – to be launched in April - reflects discussions with charities and other funders, and will reinforce the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to support small and medium sized charities in a challenging economic funding environment.
Following the recent signing of a nine year rolling funding agreement with Lloyds Banking Group and a change of name, the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales will launch two new funding programmes, along with an optional support programme for successful applicants. These new programmes demonstrate the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to support charities that have the greatest impact upon improving the lives of disadvantaged people and their communities.
• Invest – A flexible, long term core funding programme for organisations delivering clear, targeted outcomes for disadvantaged people
• Enable – A smaller and shorter grants programme for organisations that have identified clear development needs
• Enhance – A programme working alongside the Invest or Enable programme providing an option of tailored in-kind support to strengthen and develop charities’ effectiveness
The Foundation will continue to process grant requests under the current Community Programme over the coming months. However, to ensure a smooth transition between the programmes, it will close this programme to new enquiries on 14 February 2014. Further information about the new programmes will be published in April when they will be open for new enquiries.
As part of the new strategy, the Foundation also announced its intention to partner with other funders to identify issues and contribute to policy and practices in the voluntary sector, at a national and local level, to lever positive change.
The Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales invests in charities supporting people to break out of disadvantage at critical points in their lives, and promotes practical approaches to lasting change. More information on how to apply for the new funding programmes will be released in April.
For further information and to read the strategy, visit: www.lloydsbankfoundation.org.uk/PressandMediaCentre/Pages/LloydsBankFoundationforEnglandandWaleslaunchesnewstrategy.aspx