Application Guidelines
Our mission statement describes our aim as a funder:
To make a positive change to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across the UK." (Including the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands)
We need to ensure that all the projects we fund help us to achieve this aim.
For every penny you give us, a penny goes to projects helping disadvantaged children and young people across the UK. We are able to make this promise because the charity uses its investment income and gift aid to cover all running costs.
We ask that all applicants read through the following information to ensure BBC Children in Need is the right funder for your project and to help make your application as strong as possible.
How to complete the application form
BBC Children in Need funds not-for-profit organisations (including registered charities, voluntary organisations, schools, local authorities, churches, social enterprises, community interest groups, universities etc) who work with disadvantaged children and young people 18 years and under, living in the UK, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands.
BBC Children in Need wants to fund stable, well-managed and effective organisations. Therefore, you will need to ensure that your organisation has the following:
- sound financial management processes
- a stable financial position
- an involved and effective management committee
- an informed and considered approach to safeguarding children
- a staff team which is knowledgeable about and able to implement your child protection policy
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 you 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
If you have any questions about whether your group is eligible for BBC Children in Need funding please contact the BBC Children in Need Helpdesk by emailing pudsey@bbc.co.uk or by calling 020 8576 7788.
Projects delivered by organisations working with disadvantaged children and young people, who must be 18 years and under, living in the UK, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands.
Disadvantages experienced by children and young people include:
- Illness, distress, abuse or neglect
- Any kind of disability
- Behavioural or psychological difficulties
- Living in poverty or situations of deprivation
BBC Children in Need accepts applications from organisations that have already have a BBC Children in Need grant providing that you can demonstrate to us that the project is still the best way of addressing the need. Providing the current grant is coming to an end and that you will be able to spend the new grant within twelve months we welcome your application.
- Trips or projects abroad
- Medical treatment/research
- Unspecified expenditure
- Deficit funding or repayment of loans
- Retrospective funding (projects taking place before the grant award date)
- Projects unable to start within 12 months of the grant award date
- Distribution to another/other organisation/s
- General appeals or endowment funds
- Relief of statutory responsibility
- The promotion of religion
- Projects for pregnancy testing or advice, information or counselling on pregnancy choices
- Individuals (unless an eligible organisation is applying on their behalf). Grants to individuals are distributed through external organisations please see further details in our Funding Policies and Guidance
In addition to the above points we offer the following advice to small grants applicants:
- Priority will be given to applications where this level of funding will make a substantial difference to the project/organisation. We are unlikely to fund a project where this is not the case. For example, topping up salaries and capital building projects.
You can hold a main grant and small grant at the same time, but only one application can be assessed in any 12 month period.
In some circumstances it may be possible to hold both a main and a small grant from BBC Children in Need, however, a second application will be expected to focus on different children and young people from the grant you already hold.
BBC Children in Need is committed to funding projects for success. It is important that you ask for the costs realistically needed to make the project successful.
- Small grants are grants of £10,000 or less per year.
- Funding can be awarded for between one and three years, depending on the nature of the request but cannot exceed £10,000 in a given year.
- Grants can only be made for one year at a time for holidays/residentials
- When completing your application form we ask that you consider all costs and provide realistic and accurate figures for each aspect of the project you are requesting funding for. BBC Children in Need will consider funding support costs associated directly with the project that you are applying for, however, we cannot fund organisational overheads and running costs where these are not integral to the project you are applying for
- Once an application has been submitted it is not possible to increase the requested amount
You can apply at any time and we would strongly encourage you to apply in advance of the closing dates below.
BBC Children in Need has four closing dates throughout each year:
Closing date: 15 January - Decisions given on 1 May
Closing date: 15 April - Decisions given on 1 August
Closing date: 15 July - Decisions given on 1 November
Closing date: 15 October - Decisions given Mid February
Applications received after the dates above will automatically be considered at the next closing date. Applications received between closing dates will not be considered until the later date.
Please note that applications that are incomplete (i.e. with any of the attachments missing or questions unanswered) will not be assessed. We will write to you within six weeks of the closing date to advise you of this. This is to help us ensure that all applications are considered fairly and equally.
How to complete the BBC Children in Need application form
Following feedback from applicants BBC Children in Need has designed guidance to some of the more detailed questions on our application form. This guide to the application form includes example answers to help demonstrate the types of information we require.
Please access BBC Children in Need's guide to completing the small grants application form.
If you need help in designing and planning your project we have also created a planning guide for you. To access this information please click here.
BBC Children in Need has a fully online application system
For support with completing your application please email pudsey@bbc.co.uk or call our Helpdesk on 020 8576 7788 or alternatively you can contact your local regional or national office whose contact details can be found here.
Please ensure you apply to the correct deadline, BBC Children in Need are unable to fund any projects retrospectively.
What to include in your application...
What to include with your application... The most common reason for rejection at our initial assessment stage is failing to attach all the required information. The extra information you need to submit will depend on your application. The following table will help you:
Please note: If your organisation has previously held a grant from BBC Children in Need, but your end of grant report is overdue, your application will not be processed until we have received this report. This might mean your application being delayed untill a future closing date
BBC Children in Need requires that you provide two referees with your application, both of whom must be easy to contact and available to discuss your project and organisation. You need to ask them if they are willing to do this before you submit your application. Please make sure you choose referees who will be available in the six weeks following the application closing date, and choose people who know about the project and organisation.
Your first (internal) referee should be someone who is in a management position within your organisation and who is not the person named as the applicant.
Second (external) referee
It is important to think carefully about who you ask to act as your external referee.
- They should be someone who knows your organisation in a professional capacity but who is not part of it.
- They need to have an external perspective on the work of your organisation and the project you are applying for.
- They should have read and understood your application. We will expect them to be able to discuss your project, give an opinion about the value of the work your organisation does and answer any questions the assessor might have. You may want to allow your referee access to your application account so that they can read it online.
- It is important that this person has agreed to be a referee for your application.
- Your referee must be available to speak to an assessor in the six weeks following the application deadline. It is essential to choose someone who is easily available for the assessor to contact, as it will affect the success of your application if your referee cannot be contacted.
Your external referee could be:
BBC Children in Need fund a diverse set of projects and organisations across the United Kingdom. As a result of this BBC Children in Need has written an A to Z of policy and guidance information for all applicants. It provides additional details on who and what we might fund and our expectations if you wish to apply for a grant.
Please click here to see our Funding Policies and Guidance
If you are awarded a grant by BBC Children in Need there are some terms and conditions that you will be asked to agree to. We recommend that you look over these terms and conditions before applying to BBC Children in Need, please click here to see a copy.
BBC Children in Need has a dedicated Helpdesk who can also answer general enquiries and offer support regarding your application. If you have any questions or are unsure about anything you have read please contact the Helpdesk 020 8576 7788 or by email at pudsey@bbc.co.uk
If your enquiry requires regional or national support we will forward all details to your local office. Please click here for a list of all our offices.
© 2012