Bolton Community And Voluntary Services

Charity Number: 1003123

Annual Expenditure: £0.5M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £500,000+ (estimated through Bolton's Fund)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 6-8 weeks (Small and Micro Grants)
  • Grant Range: £100 - £35,000
  • Geographic Focus: Bolton Metropolitan Borough
  • Staff Size: 33 employees

Contact Details

Website: www.boltoncvs.org.uk

Email: info@boltoncvs.org.uk

Funding Team: funding@boltoncvs.org.uk

Phone: 01204 546010

Address: The Bolton Hub

Pre-Application Support: Contact the Funding Team for support with applications

Overview

Bolton Community and Voluntary Services was established in 1990 as a membership organization supporting the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in Bolton. With 614 members and 33 staff, Bolton CVS acts as the infrastructure organization for Bolton's voluntary sector. They administer Bolton's Fund, a partnership investment programme bringing together funding from Bolton Council, NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group, Bolton at Home, and Bolton CVS itself. The organization's vision is “a sufficiently resourced and sustainable voluntary and community sector that is able to successfully meet the diverse and changing needs of the people of Bolton.” Bolton's Fund was recognized as a finalist in the “Delivering Better Outcomes” category at the annual MJ Awards, highlighting its innovative approach to community grant-making. Chief Executive Dawn Yates-Obé describes it as “a great example of partnership work in action in Bolton.”

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Bolton's Fund offers four main grant tiers with rolling applications (no fixed closing dates unless funding is fully allocated):

  • Micro Grants: Up to £2,000 - for organizations with income under £100,000
  • Small Grants: Up to £5,000 - for organizations with income £10,000-£1 million
  • Medium Grants: Up to £15,000 - for organizations with income over £100,000
  • Partnership Grants: Up to £35,000 - for two or more VCSE organizations working in partnership (rolling deadline every two months)

Additional Programs:

  • Individual micro-grants: Up to £100 for individuals
  • Community Grants (via Bolton Council): Up to £1,000

Application Method: Rolling basis with online applications through their portal. No closing dates unless funding is fully allocated.

Priority Areas

All funded projects must align with one or more of the Bolton 2030 Vision priorities:

  1. Start Well – Giving children the best possible start in life
  2. Live Well – Improving happiness and wellbeing of Bolton residents
  3. Age Well – Helping older people stay connected, active and healthy in their communities
  4. Prosperous – Supporting enterprise, inclusive employment and maximising social value for Bolton
  5. Clean and Green – Protecting, improving and enjoying the environment
  6. Safe, Strong and Distinctive – Creating safe, stronger, cohesive and more confident communities

Examples of funded activities:

  • Project and activity delivery costs
  • Volunteer and travel expenses
  • Equipment and resources
  • Social enterprise development
  • Digital inclusion initiatives
  • Health and wellbeing programs
  • Community cohesion projects

What They Don't Fund

  • Work that statutory bodies (schools, local authorities) have a duty to fund
  • Applications from local government or NHS bodies
  • One-off activities that do not demonstrate significant community benefit
  • Activities of a specific religious nature
  • Projects that don't benefit communities in Bolton Metropolitan Borough
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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees: 12 trustees plus 1 nominated Councillor representative who provide strategic leadership and oversee financial and operational performance.

Chair: Jenny Maher (Acting Chair), succeeding Phil Mason who served over 30 years as a trustee

Chief Executive: Dawn Yates-Obé

Staff Structure: 29 service staff and 4 management/administration staff

Quote from Leadership:

Dawn Yates-Obé: "The Bolton's Fund is a great example of partnership work in action in Bolton... Let's recognise, support and celebrate the incredible work done by the VCSE sector across our communities!"

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Pre-Application: Contact the Funding Team at funding@boltoncvs.org.uk or 01204 546010 for support
  2. Create Account: Register on the Bolton CVS funding portal
  3. Complete Application: Fill out the online application form demonstrating alignment with Bolton 2030 priorities
  4. Submit Documentation: Include required expenditure forms and organizational details
  5. Panel Review: Applications are reviewed by a funding panel

Application Portal: Online submission through Bolton CVS website

Decision Timeline

  • Micro and Small Grants: 6-8 weeks from submission
  • Partnership Grants: Decision at panel meetings held every two months
  • Medium Grants: Timeline not specified, likely similar to Partnership Grants

Notification: Lead applicants are informed by the Bolton CVS Funding and Grants Team via email

Payment Terms: Partnership Grant recipients receive 100% of funding at project start

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. Bolton's Fund has run 43+ rounds since inception, distributing grants across hundreds of community projects.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly stated. Organizations are encouraged to contact the Funding Team for guidance on unsuccessful applications.

Application Success Factors

Key Success Factors:

  1. Clear Alignment with Bolton 2030: Applications must explicitly demonstrate how projects address one or more of the six priority areas. Use the same terminology (Start Well, Live Well, etc.) in your application.
  1. Community Benefit: Projects must show significant community benefit beyond one-off activities. Demonstrate long-term impact and reach.
  1. Partnership Approach: For larger grants, collaboration between multiple VCSE organizations is valued and can unlock Partnership Grant funding up to £35,000.
  1. Geographic Focus: Projects must benefit people living in the Bolton Metropolitan Borough, though organizations don't need to be Bolton-based.
  1. Sustainable Impact: Evidence of how the project will create lasting change rather than temporary interventions.

Example of Successful Project:

Recycle-IT received multiple rounds of Bolton's Fund support to purchase a van and obtain environmental licenses for collecting and refurbishing computer equipment. Since 2021, they have refurbished 500 laptops, tablets and phones while supporting Bolton residents to overcome digital exclusion and gain employment. This demonstrates clear alignment with the “Prosperous” priority and significant community benefit.

Language and Terminology:

  • Reference Bolton 2030 Vision explicitly
  • Focus on outcomes for people and communities
  • Emphasize partnership working
  • Highlight VCSE sector collaboration
  • Use terms like “community benefit,” “social value,” and “sustainable impact”

Tips for Standing Out:

  • Engage with Bolton CVS before applying - they offer pre-application support
  • Demonstrate understanding of local needs and context
  • Show how your project complements other VCSE work in Bolton
  • Include clear monitoring and evaluation plans
  • Consider partnership applications for larger projects

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Partnership Model Matters: Bolton's Fund is a collaborative funding initiative - applications that demonstrate partnership working and alignment with multiple stakeholders are favored.
  1. Bolton 2030 is Essential: Every application must clearly map to one or more of the six Bolton 2030 priorities. This is non-negotiable.
  1. Right-Size Your Ask: Choose the appropriate grant tier based on your organization's income. Don't over-ask or under-ask relative to your organizational capacity.
  1. Pre-Application Support is Available: The Funding Team actively supports applicants - use this resource to strengthen your application before submission.
  1. Geographic Specificity Required: Projects must demonstrably benefit Bolton Metropolitan Borough residents. Even if you're not Bolton-based, show clear local impact.
  1. Rolling Deadlines Mean Act Fast: While there are no fixed deadlines, funding can be fully allocated at any time. Apply as soon as you're ready.
  1. Community Benefit Over Activity: Focus on impact and outcomes for people rather than just describing activities. One-off events rarely succeed unless they demonstrate significant ongoing benefit.

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