The Earley Charity’s Capital Projects Programme has reopened for a second round of funding. By Capital we mean bricks and mortar such as new builds, extensions and large-scale refurbishments. The programme has a budget of £105,000 and is open to local organisations that work in or predominately serve the Earley Charity’s area of benefit. The Trustees intend to support a number of projects through the programme and are happy to accept bids for either full or part funding. They are particularly interested to hear from organisations that have not received funding from the Earley Charity before.

Eligibility criteria:

In the first instance Trustees are seeking Expressions of Interest from local organisations that have well-developed plans for a distinctive capital project which may be supported through this programme.

To be eligible you must be able to demonstrate the following:

• your organisation works in or predominantly serves the Earley Charity’s area of benefit*;
• you have confirmed planning permissions in place;
• your project is due to start and/or complete between now and the end of 2025.

* Area of Benefit: In practice, this means all of Earley (Lower Earley and “old Earley”), the northern part of Shinfield, Winnersh, south Reading (including Whitley), east Reading (including Newtown), central Reading (as far west as the Reading West railway line), Sonning and lower Caversham. Please see our website for a detailed map http://www.earleycharity.org.uk/Map.aspx

How to apply?

If you have a significant project that meets the above criteria, we would like to hear from you and invite you to submit an Expression of Interest. This should be no more than two sides of A4 plus a single page visual representation, eg architectural plan/drawing or artist’s impression (no other appendices, please) and must include the following information:

• a brief outline of the project and the benefits it will deliver;
• project start and end dates;
• current project status;
• the overall project budget and details of funding/financing already secured;
• the amount of funding still required;
• details of any funding applications submitted and pending a decision, as well as applications planned but yet to be submitted;
• and, if appropriate, a list of major project partners and actual/potential co-funders.

Please mark your Expression of Interest ‘CAPITAL PROJECTS PROGRAMME 2024: ROUND TWO’ and email it to ec@earleycharity.org.uk

Is there a deadline?

If you would like further support from RVA with submitting a funding application or any support with governance required for your group to get ready for this funding, please email advice@rva.org.uk or telephone 0118 937 2273 for free and independent support and advice.