THE B&Q FOUNDATION
Grants of up to £10,000 are available to UK registered charities for projects that improve homes and community spaces for people who are experiencing financial hardship, health challenges, disability, homelessness or other forms of disadvantage.
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o Application deadline: FRIDAY 15th NOVEMBER 2024 at 6pm. The previous application round, which had a deadline of Friday 9th August 2024, closed early due to a high volume of applications. Early application is therefore advised.
o Funder: The B&Q Foundation (formerly the B&Q Good Home Foundation) (founded in its present incarnation in 2019. Charity number 1183275. Total value of all grants awarded during the year ended 31 January 2023: £2,030,419 (2022: £1,065,213; 2021: £688,826)).
o Who can apply: UK registered charities.
o Key Words: Financial Hardship, Ill Health, Sickness, Hospices, Homelessness, Housing, Refugees, Improving Community Spaces (Indoors and Outdoors), Disability, Disadvantage, Decorating, Equipment, Buildings, United Kingdom.
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The B&Q Foundation supports UK registered charities that are working directly with people in need by providing small grants for projects that:
1. Provide, maintain, repair or improve housing or community space, and/or
2. Support people in poor housing or those who are homeless.
The Foundation will provide grant support for all people experiencing disadvantage, with a particular interest in charities working with:
o A disability.
o In financial hardship.
o Ill health and sickness, and/or
o The homeless.
Examples of potential projects include (please note that this is not an exclusive list):
o Creating a new room.
o Creating an indoor or outdoor space.
o Creating a sensory or community garden.
o Decorating and renovating, and
o Improving heat retention.
Grants tend to be for up to £10,000 (previously up to £5,000), with the occasional higher award. Grants can cover equipment and staff time. There is no specified requirement for matched funding and charities do not need to be in an area where a B&Q store is located in order to apply.
A number of case studies of previously funded projects is available on the B&Q Foundation website and on page 2 of its annual accounts.
Funding is not available for:
o Activities that have already taken place.
o Activities that solely support animal welfare.
o Contributions to general appeals or circulars.
o Privately owned and profit-distributing companies or limited partnerships.
o Projects in the Republic of Ireland or the Channel Islands.
o Projects to improve office facilities unless they are for dual purpose where beneficiaries make use of the space.
o Public bodies to carry out their statutory obligations, or
o Religious activity which is not for wider public benefit.
The Foundation’s grant programme is being managed by Bristol-based giving platform, Neighbourly, in itself a useful resource that enables businesses to make a positive impact in their communities by donating volunteer time, money and surplus products, all in one place.
Further information, guidance, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and details about how to apply is available on the Foundation’s website.
To apply, charities should:
1.Register on the Neighbourly website. Once a profile has been completed, applicants can access other Neighbourly resources.
2. Complete an Expression of Interest form, and
3. If invited, complete a Full application.
The final application deadline for 2024 is Friday 15th November at 6pm. The application window may close early if the programme becomes over-subscribed. Early application is therefore advised.