North East Herts MP Sir Oliver Heald was pleased to receive a letter from the Secretary of State at the Department for International Development regarding the ‘Small Charities Challenge Fund’ which has opened this week for applications for small charities based in the UK. It provides grants for development organisations with an annual income of £250,000 or less working in some of the world’s poorest countries to deliver on wide-ranging priorities including Education and Health. Grants of up to £50,000 are available for projects up to two years in duration (i.e. they can be for a shorter period than two years).
The fund previously ran as a pilot, committing £3.5 million to 74 small charities delivering a diverse range of projects. These projects include waste management and plastics recycling in rural Kenya, supporting women with disabilities to establish sustainable social enterprises in Tanzania, and transforming the lives of carers in Bangladesh. Charities supported through the fund are based across the UK and many are volunteer-run.
Small charities can apply to the fund at any time that suits them. Application review dates will be clearly communicated on the Small Charities Challenge Fund website. The next review will take place on 28 November. Details of how to apply, including the application form and review dates, can be found online at www.ukaiddirect.org/apply/sccf/
Commenting, Sir Oliver said “The Small Charities Challenge Fund is an excellent initiative and I would encourage small charities in North East Hertfordshire working in the field of international development to apply for a grant.”