Forward Carers Cic

Charity Number: CUSTOM_C1BBA2E0

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Not publicly disclosed (administers grants on behalf of Birmingham City Council, Birmingham Children's Trust, and Birmingham and Solihull ICB)
  • Decision Time: 10-15 working days (Small Grants); varies for Carer Projects Grant Fund
  • Grant Range: £50 - £25,000
  • Geographic Focus: Birmingham
  • Application Method: Rolling (Small Grants); fixed deadlines (Carer Projects Grant Fund)

Contact Details

Address: Touchbase Pears Business Centre, 750 Bristol Road, Birmingham B29 6NA

Email: info@forwardcarers.org.uk

Grant Platform: https://forward1.grantplatform.com/

Website: https://forwardcarers.org.uk

Grant Support Contact: Georgina Koceli at georgina.koceli@forwardcarers.org.uk

Overview

Forward Carers CIC is an award-winning, not-for-profit Community Interest Company established in 2015 that has been empowering unpaid carers to live fulfilling lives since 2014. Operating as the lead organization for Birmingham Carers Hub under a five-year contract (2023-2028) from Birmingham City Council, Birmingham Children's Trust, and Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board, Forward Carers manages grant distribution programs designed to expand support services for Birmingham's unpaid carers. Their mission is to create “Carer Friendly Communities” - places that understand, value, and support unpaid carers so they can thrive in all areas of life and work. In 2023, Forward Carers won the Public Services Social Enterprise of the Year award at the UK Social Enterprise Awards, recognizing their excellence in delivering services against strong competition from hundreds of entrants across 15 categories.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Carer Projects Grant Fund

  • Amount: £10,000 - £25,000 per annum
  • Duration: 12-24 month projects
  • Applicants: Not-for-profit organizations in Birmingham
  • Purpose: New services or specialist, tailored support for carers who are underserved, have diverse needs, or are not currently accessing services
  • Application: Fixed deadline periods via online portal

2. Small Grants for Unpaid Carer Groups

  • Amount: £50 - £500 (one-off payment)
  • Applicants: Groups of unpaid carers in Birmingham (minimum 3 carers per group)
  • Purpose: Group activities to improve wellbeing and build or maintain social connections
  • Application: Rolling basis via online portal

Priority Areas

Carer Projects Grant Fund Priority Categories:

  • Support for LGBTQ+ carers
  • Improving carer mental wellbeing
  • Young and sibling carer support
  • Bereavement/pre-bereavement support
  • Addressing health inequalities faced by carers
  • Support for carers with autism, ADHD, or learning disabilities
  • Support for carers of those with acquired brain injuries
  • Support for carers affected by addiction/substance misuse

Key Requirements:

  • Projects must help carers achieve outcomes in two or more Carer Outcome Domains: Health & Wellbeing, Relationships, Home/the Environment, Diet/Nutrition
  • Projects should offer something new and not duplicate existing services/provision
  • Activities must respond to local need and provide opportunities not currently available

Small Grants Eligibility:

Activities must meet two or more of these criteria:

  • Positively impact carer wellbeing
  • Provide fun and social activities for unpaid carers
  • Respond to local need
  • Provide opportunities that aren't currently available for carers
  • Provide activities for carers from LGBTQI+ backgrounds

What They Don't Fund

  • Services that duplicate existing provision in Birmingham
  • Projects outside Birmingham
  • Individual carers (for the Carer Projects Grant Fund)
  • Activities for carers under 18 (for Small Grants program)
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Governance and Leadership

CEO: Simon Fenton - Simon has lived experience of caring for a terminally ill school friend, which inspires Forward Carers' mission to create Carer Friendly Communities. Anna Smith, Birmingham Carers Hub Programme Manager, describes him as "a trailblazer for employee support in the health and social care sector. He believes staff should be rewarded and that will result in better outcomes for the unpaid Carers we're here to support."

Birmingham Carers Hub Programme Manager: Holly Pyke

Assessment Panel Composition:

Applications for the Carer Projects Grant Fund are scored and ranked by a panel comprising:

  • Birmingham Carers Hub representative
  • Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC) representative
  • Finance representative
  • An unpaid carer as an “Expert-by-Experience”

The inclusion of an unpaid carer with lived experience on the assessment panel ensures that grant decisions are informed by those who understand the realities of caring.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Both Programs:

  1. Register online at https://forward1.grantplatform.com/
  2. Create an account (requires email address)
  3. Complete the online application form
  4. Applications can be saved and returned to before submission

Support Available:

  • For Small Grants: Your local Neighbourhood Network Scheme (NNS) can help complete the application form
  • Contact Georgina Koceli at georgina.koceli@forwardcarers.org.uk for assistance
  • Downloadable application forms and guidance documents available

Carer Projects Grant Fund:

  • Application periods announced with specific opening and closing dates
  • Grant Fund Overview and Application Guidance available as PDFs
  • Past example: Applications opened Friday 23 June, deadline midday Friday 28 July

Small Grants for Unpaid Carer Groups:

  • Rolling applications accepted from February 2024 until February 2026 or until funds are allocated

Decision Timeline

Small Grants for Unpaid Carer Groups:

  • Decision communicated within 10-15 working days of application
  • Once agreement is signed, funds sent within 10 working days
  • Your local NNS reviews and makes funding decisions

Carer Projects Grant Fund:

  • Applications reviewed by assessment panel after deadline
  • Timeline varies depending on application period
  • Past round: 17 projects were successfully funded

Reapplication Policy

Small Grants:

  • If unsuccessful, Forward Carers provides feedback on how to reapply and increase chances of success
  • Decisions are final - same application cannot be reconsidered without recommended changes
  • Applicants can reapply with modifications based on feedback

Carer Projects Grant Fund:

  • Reapplication policy not explicitly stated in available materials

Application Success Factors

Demonstrated Need and Innovation

Forward Carers specifically looks for projects that “offer something new and do not duplicate existing services/provision.” Successful applications demonstrate a clear gap in current carer support services in Birmingham and how the proposed project will fill that gap.

Evidence-Based Approach

The priority on “projects that respond to local need” suggests that applications should include evidence of demand - whether through consultation with carers, data on underserved populations, or demonstrated gaps in service provision.

Alignment with Carer Outcome Domains

Projects must clearly articulate how they will help carers in two or more of the specified Carer Outcome Domains (Health & Wellbeing, Relationships, Home/the Environment, Diet/Nutrition). Successful applications from the recent round demonstrate this:

  • Headway Birmingham and Solihull: Couples counselling and bereavement counseling (Relationships + Health & Wellbeing)
  • BREWS CIC: Nurturing ADHD Kids support group for parent carers (Health & Wellbeing + Relationships)
  • Aquarius Action Projects: Care Connect service for carers of those affected by substance misuse (Health & Wellbeing + Relationships)

Focus on Underserved Communities

The fund explicitly welcomes projects supporting priority carer categories including LGBTQ+ carers, young/sibling carers, and carers facing health inequalities. Of the 17 funded projects, 4 focused on autism/ADHD/learning disabilities support, 4 on bereavement support, and 4 on young carers - demonstrating these are particularly valued areas.

Partnership and Integration

Projects that “integrate with existing services” while expanding support were noted in the announcement of funded projects, suggesting value is placed on collaborative approaches that enhance rather than fragment the support ecosystem.

Lived Experience Matters

With an unpaid carer serving as “Expert-by-Experience” on the assessment panel, applications that demonstrate understanding of the lived reality of caring and co-production with carers are likely to resonate strongly.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Quick turnaround for small grants: The 10-15 working day decision timeline for Small Grants makes this an accessible option for carer groups needing modest funding quickly
  • Innovation over duplication: Clearly demonstrate what makes your project unique and how it fills a gap in Birmingham's current carer support landscape
  • Multiple outcome domains required: Ensure your project can demonstrate impact across at least two of the four Carer Outcome Domains
  • Evidence the need: Back up your application with data, consultation results, or other evidence showing the specific need among Birmingham carers
  • Support available: Don't hesitate to contact Georgina Koceli or your local NNS for application support - assistance is explicitly offered
  • Lived experience valued: Applications that demonstrate co-production with carers or understanding of lived caring experience will resonate with the assessment panel
  • Geographic focus is strict: Only projects serving Birmingham carers are eligible - ensure your target beneficiaries are clearly within Birmingham

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