Deadline: 14-Nov-22
The GVC Fund, a programme administered by the Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation as part of UK Community Foundations to support local communities and projects that use sport and physical activity to raise awareness, tackle mental health stigmas and support men with mental or physical health problems to become more active.
Objectives
The main objectives for this fund are:
- Supporting men aged 18+ with mental and/or physical health problems to become more active
- Raising awareness of and/or tackling mental health stigmas
Funding Information
- Awards can be made for up to one year of up to £5,000.
- In particular circumstances where the proposal fits strongly with the above aims and is led by people with lived experience of their beneficiaries, grants of up to £10,000 may be considered.
What Can the Grant Be Used For?
The fund can support new and existing activity focused on supporting men’s mental and physical health. For example, the fund could support activities such as:
- Sports clubs.
- Men’s sheds.
- Men’s health projects.
- Community sports activities.
- Mentoring projects.
- Social inclusion work.
Eligibility Criteria
- This fund is open to voluntary and community organisations with charitable aims. For the first time the fund criteria has been broadened to support mixed-gendered projects, however the priority of the fund is still men’s mental and physical health. Priority will be given to small, locally based organisations working with men in areas of disadvantage, particularly those run by people directly affected by the issues affecting men in their area with a clear understanding of the needs they are supporting. This can be across geographical areas in Bedfordshire.
- For this fund, projects must be working with adults (over 18 years of age). The fund cannot support work with young people below this age. If your organisation works with mixed ages, the activity you are applying for should only be for adults.
- The Foundation is only able to consider applications from not-for-profit constituted groups that have clear charitable aims. Applications from the following types of organisations/groups will be considered:
- Registered UK charities, including charitable incorporated organisations.
- Constituted Community groups and non-registered charities.
- Companies Limited by Guarantee with clear charitable aims and without share capital.
- Community Interest Companies Limited by Guarantee without share capital, social enterprises and community benefit societies
- Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs/PTFA’s).
- Credit Unions.
- Residents’ associations and community centres/spaces.
- Churches and other religious organisations (if the funded activity is not for religious purposes).
For more information, visit https://blcf.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant/central-beds/gvc-fund/









































