[WiLT] Northern Rock Foundation in 2008 (NE and Cumbria only) includes money for reducing DV

[WiL Admin]

Northern Rock Foundation in 2008 (NE and Cumbria only) includes money
for reducing DV

Northern Rock Foundation has reopened its grants programme for
high-quality and high-profile culture and heritage projects in North
East England and Cumbria. The programme will be worth £2 million in
2008. We are now seeking applications to support performing arts,
contemporary craft, design and new media, exhibitions, festivals and
collaborations, as well as professional training for people working in
these areas.

The Foundation plans to invest in a wide range of imaginative and
ambitious work, and to promote the region's creative talent. We know
that cultural activities transform lives. Through our work on
disadvantage, we support projects that, for example, use the arts to
work with young people at risk, people with mental health problems and
homeless people. The Culture and Heritage programme will continue to
complement that, by providing dedicated investment in excellent,
high-profile projects that everyone can enjoy, but which also
contribute to our area's continuing regeneration and growing pride.

Alongside Culture and Heritage, the Foundation's programmes which are
open for applications are:

Independence and Choice - services for people with mental health
problems, people with learning disabilities, older people and carers;

Building Positive Lives - one-to-one help for young people at risk,
homeless people, substance misusers and groups that face prejudice and
discrimination;

Safety and Justice - reducing the incidence and impact of domestic and
sexual violence, abuse and hate crimes.

The Trustees have also decided that as part of their support for older
people's projects in Independence and Choice, they will now invest in
organisations providing welfare benefits advice and targeted benefit
take-up campaigns.

Overall, we are continuing our policy of funding fewer, better grants,
and engaging with applicants and grant-holders to help them maximise
their effectiveness. We are also making grants for work across the
North East and Cumbria. If your work fits within one of these four
programmes, you can apply now in the normal way. All the information
you need is on this website.

In February 2008, the Chancellor announced that the Foundation would
receive a minimum of £15m a year in 2008, 2009 and 2010 from Northern
Rock, as part of the arrangement under which the bank was taken into
temporary public ownership. The Foundation's Trustees intend to spend
at least £11 million through their grant programmes this year.

Organisations that already have grants and those that receive them in
the future can be absolutely assured that we have funds set aside to
meet all our outstanding commitments. Grants awarded over several
years will be paid as planned.

You can find more information about how to apply for a loan on the
Foundation's website under 'applying', or by telephoning them Tel:
0191 284 8412.

Please note: Northern Rock Foundation only funds activities in the
North East (Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham, Teesside)
and Cumbria.

Northern Rock Foundation, The Old Chapel, Woodbine Road, Gosforth,
Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 1DD
Tel: 0191 284 8412
Fax: 0191 284 8413
Minicom: 0191 284 5411
Website: http://www.nr-foundation.org.uk