Deadline: 22 June 2020
Does your charity have a service delivery challenge that you think could be solved using a digital approach? Would you like expert help and financial support to explore the challenge and prototype a solution? If yes, then apply for the “Explore” – an early stage digital funding opportunity funded by Comic Relief and Paul Hamlyn Foundation, and delivered in partnership with CAST.
It has been designed for charities looking to:
- scope how a digital solution can improve outcomes for the people they support; and
- build the skills to develop a strong, user-led approach to digital service delivery.
Themes
Applications should align to one of Comic Relief’s core themes:
- Children Survive & Thrive;
- Fighting for Gender Justice;
- A Safe Place to Be;
- Global Mental Health Matters.
Applications addressing challenges related to disability outside of the themes specified above are also welcome, acknowledging the critical potential of digital technology in tackling this issue.
What does the Programme Offer?
If successful, you will gain access to:
- A rich 3-month structured and tailored support programme, helping you to:
- Carry out effective user research;
- Examine whether a digital solution is the best idea;
- Identify the key challenges of any such solution, and their implications;
- Design a prototype which can be tested and made ready for further development;
- Look at how it might be possible to obtain funding for further work.
- £5,000 grants for single organisations and £7,500 for collaborations to cover your staff’s time, and any associated costs developing your digital solution
Funding Information
- CAST expect to make 40-50 grants of £5,000-7,500, totaling up to £230,000.
Programme Dates
The programme offers a choice of two start dates:
- 20th July (finishing 9th October); or
- 7th September (finishing 27th November).
Applicants will be asked to select their preferred date when filling out the form.
What does the Support Programme Involve?
- The support programme will include practical learning, peer support and one-to-one expert guidance. It will give each participant access to the tools and resources needed for their specific project. All support will be delivered online or via video / phone calls;
- The programme will take you through user research, design and early prototyping. You will access all of the support via an online platform which will include a range of videos, written and peer learning activities. You will be expected to apply the skills and techniques that you are learning directly to your work throughout the programme.
Eligibility Criteria
- Not-for-profit organisations (i.e. properly constituted organisations that do not distribute any of their profit by way of dividend) with an annual income of between £75,000 and £10 million, operating charitable activities within the UK. Additionally, they do not accept proposals from NHS trusts, hospitals, schools/colleges, statutory bodies including local authorities, and non-registered organisations without constitutions.
- Full eligibility criteria as below:
- Be a not-for-profit with an annual income of between £75,000 and £10 million, operating charitable activities within the UK.
- Align to one of Comic Relief’s core themes: Children Survive & Thrive; Fighting for Gender Justice; A Safe Place to Be; Global Mental Health Matters. Applications addressing challenges related to disability outside of the themes specified above are also welcome, acknowledging the critical potential of digital technology in tackling this issue.
- Be able to name an individual/s who will take responsibility for leading the project.
- Be able to commit to full engagement with the programme and it’s time requirements. This includes a time commitment of 1-2 days per week, for 12 weeks, from the organisation’s project lead. They must evidence that the organisation’s board and senior team have approved this commitment.
- Be able to identify a specific opportunity that the charity would like to address, and the beginnings of a rationale for why digital may present a solution. Applications referencing innovative back-end service delivery ideas, or ones that re-use existing technology, are welcome.
- Be able to identify and collaborate with service users affected by the stated problem.
- Be committed to and have a clear approach to equal opportunities and safeguarding.
Please note: If successful, you will receive funding from and be a grantee of CAST, not of Comic Relief or Paul Hamlyn Foundation. They will notify all applicants of their decisions in early July 2020. Final decisions will be made in collaboration with programme staff at CAST, Comic Relief and Paul Hamlyn Foundation.
For more information, visit https://wearecast.org.uk/explore/