Aims/priorities: The funding is for organisations seeking to deliver innovative, well-designed projects that support Clarion residents and the wider community to address digital exclusion.
The funding is for projects and activities that focus on:
- Supporting Clarion residents to discover the full scope of how the internet can assist them in their everyday lives, and provide them with the skills and confidence to do so.
- Supporting residents to access the digital resources that meet their individual needs and circumstances.
- Building digital skills and confidence for all.
- Encouraging residents to use the internet with confidence so they are safe and avoid risky and/or illegal behaviour.
And that reach:
- Residents who have never used the internet before.
- Residents who may have previously used some online facilities but who may not be aware of the full potential to use the internet in their everyday lives.
- Residents with limited internet skills.
- Residents who do not have access to appropriate digital resource
- Residents of all ages.
This Fund is NOT primarily aimed at helping people to use a computer.
Who can apply? Not-for-profit organisations including constituted community groups, registered charities, companies limited by guarantee, social enterprises or Community Interest Companies (CICs) can apply.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Deliver a project primarily supporting Clarion residents and the wider community.
- Have at least three unrelated management committee members/trustees.
- Have a governing document.
- Have a bank account in the name of the group, with at least two unrelated signatories. Groups without a bank account must provide details of another group who will be managing any grant awarded on their behalf.
- Have a record of income and expenditure or set of accounts.
- Have a ‘safeguarding policy’ if working with vulnerable adults or young people under the age of 18.
- Have relevant insurance in place, including public liability and employee liability.
- Have an online safety policy in place which covers both participants and tutors/volunteers.
Grant amount: Between £1,000 and £5,000 are available.
Application process: The 2025 grants guidance notes are available from the Clarion Futures application portal.
Applications for 2025 are open on a rolling basis; however, applications must be submitted before the published deadline to be considered for the upcoming round.
There are three application rounds in 2025:
- Round 18 opens on 8 January with a deadline of 12 February (12 noon) with notification of decisions the week of 7 April 2025.
- Round 19 opens on 7 May with a deadline of 11 June (12 noon) with notification of decisions the week of 4 August 2025.
- Round 20 opens on 27 August with a deadline of 1 October (12 noon) with notification of decisions the week of 24 November 2025.
Applications must be submitted via the Clarion Futures online grants portal (Flexi-Grant). Applicants are required to register on the system before starting an application form.
All applications submitted by the deadline will undergo an initial assessment by the Clarion Futures Digital Grants Team. All eligible applications which best fit the Clarion Futures Digital Grants Programme themes and priorities will be shortlisted. Shortlisted applicants may then be contacted by the Grants Team or Digital Support Team to gather any additional information as required. Shortlisted applications will be presented to a Grants Panel who will assess each application based on the information provided in the application form, and who will make the final funding decisions.
Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified of the decision in writing, via email.
Deadline: Wednesday 12 February 2025, 12 noon.
Contact information: Email: digital@clarionhg.com