Sovereign Berkshire Regional Panel Fund

Every year Sovereign give the Berkshire Regional Panel a pot of funding to support local voluntary organisations, charities and initiatives that have a positive impact on the people and communities we work with. This year the fund is a total of £41,700 that will be split up into smaller grants for each successful project. 

Which areas does the Berkshire fund cover?

Bracknell, Crowthorne, Hungerford, Lambourn, Maidenhead, Newbury, Reading, Slough, Thatcham, Wokingham and any small villages or rural communities around these areas.

If you are unsure about whether your area falls within our Berkshire region please contact us.  

Who can apply?

Anyone can apply on behalf of a project, group or charitable organisation. However, we do recommend that if you are not directly involved you work with them to submit an application. 

When is the application deadline?

The application window opens on 1 May 2014 and closes on 27 June 2014. 

What are the panel looking for?

Projects, groups and organisations that make a positive difference to Sovereign residents and communities across Berkshire. Imaginative suggestions are always welcome! Here are some examples of where the money went last year:

• Clay Hill Residents Association
• Eight Bells for Mental Health
• Slough Furniture Project
• Assisting Berkshire Children to Read
• All2getherWest Berkshire (support for victims of hate crime)

The panel will give priority to projects and organisations working to support groups of people who are in need. This could include:

• People with disabilities
• Carers
• Young people
• Families in need
• People with money worries
• People affected by the floods

They will also prioritise any initiative that aims to help people into employment and training or projects that reduce anti-social behaviour (ASB).

Unfortunately the Berkshire Regional Panel cannot support applications that bid for funding to cover salary costs. 

How can I apply or find out more?

This year we are working in partnership with Greenham Common Trust’s ‘Find me a Grant’ to help us improve the process and attract new applicants.  This also means that successful applicants may receive additional funding or investment from the Greenham Common Trust.

To apply you will need to create an account and apply at: http://www.findmeagrant.org/wberks/
Please mention that you are applying for the Sovereign Regional Panel Funding in your application.

Alternatively, you can call us on 0800 587 2325 or email berkshire@sovereign.org.uk to discuss how you can apply another way. 

What happens next?

The Berkshire Regional Panel will review and shortlist applications in early July. 

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an event on Saturday 19 July, where panel members will chat to attendees about their project or group to find out more. We are unable to change this date so please keep your diary free or make sure someone can attend. 

Successful applicants will be confirmed by the end of July 2014.