BBC Children in Need Small Grants Scheme

BBC Children in Need are inviting not‑for‑profit organisations (including registered charities, voluntary organisations, schools, local authorities, churches, social enterprises, community interest groups, universities etc) working with disadvantaged children and young people 18 years and under, living in the UK, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, to apply for grants of up to £10,000 through their small grants scheme. BBC Children in Need can only fund projects that focus on the differences made (outcomes) to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people. For this reason, when applying for a grant organisations must provide clear evidence that disadvantaged children and young people will be the primary beneficiaries of the project; and experience positive changes in their lives from the activities or services you are providing. BBC Children in Need aims to fund projects where a small amount can make a real contribution to the success of the project. Grants can be used to cover both, capital and revenue costs. There are four application deadlines in the year.

 The first deadline for applications is the 15th January 2010 followed by the 15th April, 15th July and the 15th October 2010.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/grants/general_grants.shtml 

Charity Commission Scam Warning

The Charity Commission has been made aware of a scam involving people being telephoned by individuals claiming to represent the Charity Commission. In the phone calls these individuals claim to be from the “debt collection department” of the Commission and they demand payments for various services and advertisements.

Some of the bogus calls have demanded payments of thousands of pounds for various services and advertisements. The Commission has been contacted by a number of people who have received calls of this nature and has already reported this matter to the police.

It is important to be clear that:

• Any call from someone claiming to work with or on behalf of the Charity Commission, and claiming any payment in a threatening way, is clearly bogus;
• The Charity Commission does not charge for any of its services to charities; it does not get involved in debt collection either directly or through contracting third parties to do so, and nor does it collect debt on behalf of charities;
• You should immediately report these sorts of incidents to the police, and the Charity Commission would also like to be informed where its name is being used for suspected fraudulent purposes.

Andrew Hind, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission said;

“I am outraged that individuals are misusing the good name of the Charity Commission in this way. I would strongly urge anyone to contact the police if they receive one of these calls and to please notify us as well.”

Our advice to charities is:

• When you speak to any member of staff from the Commission they will always be prepared to give their name, telephone number and email address;
• Commission email addresses always end with the domain name @charitycommission.gsi.gov.uk;
• Check the number of any suspect caller against the direct dial telephone codes for our offices; these are London 0207 674…, Liverpool 0151 703…, Taunton 01823 345… , Newport 01633 2255…

The best way to contact us is by email or if you need to speak to someone urgently you can call our contact centre on 0845 300 0218. Lines are open from 08:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday, except national holidays.