Freegle Funding Group Report - 2017 07/08

Freegle Funding report 04/07/17 – 29/08/17, covering messages 1024 - 1134.

We have 50 members as at 29/08, anyone else very welcome! Topics discussed as follows:

Aviva Community Fund

https://community-fund.aviva.co.uk/acfcms/get-involved – lots of discussion about this possible source of funding, although there was some disappointment that Environment is no longer a separate fund. Chris has registered us for the competition and also persuaded an insurance company (Naturesave) to nominate us, which increases the potential sum. Various possible project ideas were suggested, but the favourite seems to be for a promotions person (to be called something like Local Groups Publicity) to work with councils to increase awareness of Freegle and to support groups in running events. Chris checked that national projects were acceptable and Aviva told us that they were if they met the other criteria. Edward and Chris put together some early ideas, which Chris has worked up into a google document, see bullet point below: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hiAGjCqdbLpXRl2C1dpbSlIC8BDGTHVCYPP8awhxBwg/edit?usp=sharing David was very happy for the six groups in the Reading region (across five different councils) to be used as a test area for the Local Groups Support, and has undertaken to hold one event in 2018. We looked at last year’s winners to help to determine the scales of the projects and numbers of beneficiaries, and Chris has sent out a survey to all volunteers to ask them about their willingness to work with a Local Groups Support worker and to help or organise events. This was done in advance of the bulk mailings around the AGM in Sept. https://goo.gl/forms/DwD8ipJmHAix8sga2 Early results are encouraging, and so far we have over 100 responses back in. You still have until Friday to take part!

Monthly competition

An idea was mentioned on central of having a monthly re-use or repair or upcycling competition on the main social media platforms with a small prize for the most liked ideas, to increase our following and give us more posts to publicise. Cat thought she might be able to get some vouchers for this from various ethical companies she knows, but clearly they would either have to be national or online to work throughout the country.

Funding Newsletters

Jacky continues to forward 3 funding newsletters to the group – Green Grants machine newsletter, j4b Community Funding and one from Funding Central. David sent through details of the Directory of Social Change, which has lots of funding opportunities.

Waitrose

May from Stirling asked for advice about seeking some funding locally to obtain publicity materials, and received various offers of help, both about using the central bank account and about applying for the Waitrose in store scheme.

Paypal Giving Fund

Edward had received a communication from the Paypal Giving Fund, asking for information about the £3000 we won last year from them. Both Liz and Chris put some answers together, which Edward planned to use in his reply.

LWARB Hackathon

Chris submitted a quick application to the LWARB Hackathon which has a £7k prize, with the aim of engaging more 18-34 year olds with recycling, either through gamification or reward schemes. We have just heard that we are through to the final on 13/09 which Cat, Edward and Chris will attend at the NEC. The results will be announced that evening. https://drive.google.com/a/ilovefreegle.org/file/d/0B2R4ItxT_JfZWDNDN2JKYkdlbEk/view?usp=sharing

Liz
Lewes and Funding

Links

• Freegle Funding Group
• Previous report Freegle Funding Group Report 2017 01/07
• Following report Freegle Funding Group Report 2018 04