Wooden Spoon Charity
Grants are available for organisations that are working to support disadvantaged and disabled children in the UK.
Wooden Spoon is the children’s charity of rugby. It was founded in 1983 to help underprivileged children and young people all over the UK to live happier, richer lives.
Since 1983 Wooden Spoon has given over £29 million to more than 1,300 projects and benefited more than one million people.
The funding is for projects that enhance the quality of life of children and young people in the UK who are mentally, socially or physically disadvantaged. This could be through sensory rooms, specialist playgrounds and sports activity areas, respite, medical and community care.
Objectives of Fund
Wooden Spoon’s objective is to make a positive impact on the lives of disadvantaged children and young people through its commitment to quality charitable work throughout the UK.
There is neither a minimum nor maximum grant level. However, it is unlikely that a project of a physical nature that is under £5,000 will have sufficient substance and scale to qualify.
Applicants should note that given the pandemic situation, the amount of available funding has been reduced.
Who Can Apply
Organisations and charities in the UK are eligible to apply.
Wooden Spoon can only make grants to organisations with a legal status. For example, schools, charities, and private members clubs.
Applications from groups working in partnership are eligible but one organisation must take the lead for the application and be the primary beneficiary and point of contact.
Restrictions
Funding is not normally available for the following:
Computers and electronic equipment.
Minibus or similar vehicle projects.
Revenue expenditure.
Individuals.
Salaries, administration costs, professional fees and on-going overheads related to a capital project.
Eligible Expenditure
Wooden Spoon supports projects which will benefit children and young people under 25 years of age who are disadvantaged physically, mentally or socially. Projects must normally be of a capital nature, with a reasonably long-term prospective lifetime.
The funding is for projects that address the following areas:
Health and wellbeing
Sensory rooms and gardens
Specialist equipment and facilities
Playgrounds and outdoor activities
Education projects
If a project is a physical, tangible asset of a permanent nature, the following must apply:
It must have a minimum predicted life span of five years (preferably ten), be non-transferable and of a permanent nature. Special consideration may be given to funding life-enhancing/medical equipment if it can be shown that the useable life of such equipment is likely to be at least five years.
Grants will not be considered for salaries, administration costs, professional fees and on-going overheads related to a capital project.
If a project is educational or disability sports-focused, the following must apply:
There must be a key rugby element to engage children and young people.
It must have a clearly-defined brief detailing the project’s need and objectives; stakeholders; description of participants (age, gender, geography); recruitment of participants; project activity and budget; legacy planning; monitoring and evaluation and mechanism for reporting to Wooden Spoon.
Grants will be considered for kit and equipment, salaries and administration costs.
Projects must:
Enhance and support the lives of children and young people (under the age of 25) who are disadvantaged physically, mentally or socially.
Work directly with children and young people and have a positive influence on their lives as a result of the activities or service provided.
Benefit those located in the UK or Ireland.
Support a group.
How To Apply
The funder suggests as a first step groups complete the online expression of wish form for an initial assessment.
Applications may be submitted at any time and are available to download from the Wooden Spoon website.
The completed form should be returned by either email or post. Once checked against the criteria, the application form will be forwarded to the regional committee for approval. If the region agrees to support the project an inspector will undertake a site visit and report back to the Project Committee which meets monthly. Successful applications will go forward to the next quarterly Council meeting. The applicant will receive a formal grant letter, if the project is approved by Council.
Documents & links
Wooden Spoon
Wooden Spoon – Apply for a Grant
Contacts
For further information on how to obtain this fund, please contact the following:
Projects Team
Wooden Spoon
Sentinel House
Harvest Crescent
FLEET
GU51 2UZ
Tel: 01252 773 720
Email: projects@woodenspoon.org.uk
