Applying for grants from the numerous 'funding pots' that exist in the UK can be a daunting task for the first time applicant.  Who you apply to, when and how, are all relevant points that can affect  the success or failure of your application. Even for those with more experience, who have been down the road before, it is a very time consuming job.  
Arts Fundfinders can take that hassle from your shoulders. We can undertake the
research and advise you how best to proceed or we can take on the full application process, writing the application for you and even taking a project management role if required.

Local Authority Grants.
Most UK local authorities make a small amount of money available for cultural purposes. These funds may be accessed by a bid through an application form or, occasionally, by a simple letter application. The first step toward securing local authority funding is to discover what priorities the particular authority has identified.  Consult the relevant website or, preferably, speak to the Arts Officer (if your local authority has got one!).  You may find that by judiciously altering the written emphasis of your application you can make a project very much more acceptable to your local authority than at first seemed likely.
For those based in South-East England Arts Fundfinders have built an information database of local authority contacts and, where possible, their funding priorities and application process.

National Lottery Grants
National Lottery grants applications for under £100,000 are now mostly handled by the Regional Arts Board in the relevant area where the event or project is based or to take place.  Application forms and Guidance Notes for Regional Arts Lottery Programme (RALP) grants are available from either the Arts Council of England (ACE) or from the relevant arts board.  Click here to go directly to our Regional Arts Board directory and internet links.

Charitable Trusts and Foundations
There are over 10,000 independent trusts and foundations based in the UK and each one has it's own funding priorities and application process.  Most require that applicants are registered charities and most do not accept applications from individuals.  Many are, frankly, a waste of time, they have minimal funds to distribute, have already committed their funding or have very narrow funding priorities.  However, there are many trusts that do have funds available.   Again the advice must be that you should contact the trust and find out their up-to-date funding priorities.  Don't waste your time applying to those that don't match up with the project you are offering. Do be aware that whilst some trusts acknowledge receipt of your application many don't. 
AFF has considerable experience in securing funding from a number of charitable trusts so, if you have a project that you wish to fund, do feel free to contact us and discuss it.