Postcode Dream Trust - Dream Fund

Aims/priorities: The Fund is intended to give organisations the chance to deliver the project they have always dreamed of, but never had the opportunity to bring to life.

The Dream Fund is looking for projects that seek to implement systemic change in order to address an important social or environmental problem.

Systems change involves looking at problems in a macro context and understanding the entire ecosystem of that problem, in order to develop long-term solutions.

Systems change thinking comprises mapping out all the relevant stakeholders, the institutions and the economic, social, cultural, political factors that underlie these large structural problems in order to give a full understanding of why the problem persists in order to create a solution.

The new funding themes are:

  • Environmental Systems Change – this theme is looking for collaborative and innovative projects that develop long term solutions to systemic environmental problems. Areas of interest include projects that challenge environmental degradation, in particular focusing on biodiversity and species preservation.
  • Social Inequality– this theme is looking for projects take systematic approaches to addressing the root causes of social inequality. Successful projects will be able to demonstrate how they will promote the social inclusion of groups that are disadvantaged or excluded from society. Potential areas of interest include early childhood development and educational attainment.
  • Pandemic recovery - this theme is looking for projects that will support society to recover from the effects of the pandemic. Potential areas of interest include loneliness and social isolation, health and wellbeing, domestic violence and support for neglected groups who have suffered disproportionately during the pandemic.

Please note that applications for projects that do not meet one of the funding priorities will be considered as long as they meet the general criteria.

General running costs including ongoing staff costs, utility bills, council tax, rent and insurance that are directly linked with the project are eligible for funding. Costs relating to PR and communications and capital costs are eligible for funding.

Who can apply? All applications must come from charities in Scotland, England or Wales for projects to be run in these regions. Not-for-profit organisations are encouraged to collaborate to deliver a more effective and wide ranging project.

All applications must come from at least two organisations. The following conditions apply:

  • The lead partner oganisation must be a registered charity.
  • The supporting partners can be charities, voluntary groups, community interest companies, universities or other not-for-profit organisations.
  • The lead partner in any application must have an annual income that is at least two times the grant amount applied for (ie, if applying for £500,000 then the lead applicant must have an income of at least £1 million and if applying £1.25 million then the lead applicant must have an income of at least £2.5 million as evidenced by their latest audited accounts).

Organisations who have previously applied for or received funding from Postcode Dream Trust are eligible to apply as long they have collaborated with at least one other organisation, and adhered to all funding requirements.

Grant amount: Grants of between £500,000 and £1.25 million are available to deliver a project over a period of 24 months to 36 months in one or more areas of Great Britain in 2022-2025.

Application process: The Fund has a three stage application process:

  • Stage 1 - a one-page application form should be completed online at the Fund's website. Applicants will be informed of their progress by email by the end of December 2021.
  • Stage 2 - shortlisted applicants will be asked to apply via a formal online application form.
  • Stage 3 - shortlisted applicants from stage 2 will be asked to attend the Trust's offices in Edinburgh to give a formal presentation on their project to the judges.

Applicants should first refer to the guidance notes which can be found on the Postcode Dream Trust website.

Deadline: Stage 1 applications will be accepted from 1 October 2021 to 1 November 2021 (5:30pm).

Contact information: Tel 0131 603 8631 or Email info@postcodedreamtrust.org.uk

Website address: postcodedreamfund.org.uk

Applicants: 
Organisations
Amount: 
over £25,000
Status: 
Live
Structure: 
Charitable Company
CIC
CIO
Constituted Group
Partnerships and Consortiums
Registered Charity
Social Enterprise
Funding Theme: 
General
Unpublish Date: 
Monday, 1 November, 2021