Deadline: 15-Sep-21
The Walkers and Comic Relief are pleased to announce Smiles Fund that aims to provide community-based support for people who are experiencing emerging symptoms of poor mental wellbeing at an early stage.
They are seeking proposals from organisations who share their belief that the arts and comedy can help start conversations and support positive outcomes for people’s mental wellbeing.
They believe that every person has the right to good mental wellbeing and support. They also believe in the power of humour and the potential for the arts and comedy to help bring about positive change for individuals and communities.
They want to reduce the stigma and reinforce the importance of looking after their mental wellbeing, by supporting people to seek help at an early stage.
Research during the Covid-19 pandemic shows that some groups have been the worst affected in terms of mental wellbeing and they are particularly keen to reach them as the effects of the pandemic continue to be felt.
This includes, but is not limited to, people facing:
- discrimination and disadvantage
- prolonged uncertainty and unemployment
- emerging mental wellbeing challenges
- loss and isolation
Priorities
- As they expect demand to exceed the funds available, They will use the following additional criteria to help to prioritise which proposals to fund:
- Priority will be given to proposals offering opportunities to actively participate in creative activities rather than just watching or visiting.
- Priority will be given to organisations or partnerships with previous experience of using the arts and comedy in the context of social change.
- Priority will be given to ensure they fund a geographical spread of projects across the UK.
- Priority will be given to proposals which include plans to share learning with other organisations who could benefit or contribute to research in this area. This might be through webinars, digital resources or in person events.
- Priority will be given to ensure they fund a balance of comedy based and arts-based projects.
- Priority will be given to work shaped by people with lived experience of the issues the work is trying to address
Funding Information
- They will fund investments from £100,000-£300,000.
- Funding is available for a minimum of 18 months to a maximum of 30 months.
Eligibility Criteria
This guidance describes what Comic Relief is interested in funding now: any applications submitted outside of these criteria, without prior invitation, will be turned down at stage 1.
Type of Organisation:
- Charities: Comic Relief predominantly funds registered charities. They will ask for evidence of registration during the application process.
- They will always prioritise applications from organisations that are registered in the country where the work will take place.
- Applicants are welcome to include partners not registered in the country, but must be able to clearly demonstrate the added value of all partners included in the proposal.
- Other types of organisations: They do also fund other types of organisations.
- In these instances, the governing documents of the organisation must clearly outline the organisation’s social purpose, demonstrate that any profit or assets are used for this social purpose, and show that an asset lock is in place.
- They will ask for a copy of your governing documents as part of your application.
- Organisations applying to work in India must be Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registered approval before they apply, as well as any partners they expect to work with.
- Private providers: Where proposals include the engagement of private providers as part of a project to deliver specific objectives, applicant must demonstrate the use of a private provider is ultimately resulting in public good, rather than solely private profit for those private providers.
Note: This fund is for work with adults (over 18) only and they will not be able to support applications for work with anyone under the age of 18.
For more information, visit https://www.comicrelief.com/funding/funding-opportunities/the-smiles-fund-by-walkers-and-comic-relief