Merton Voluntary Service Council

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately £90,000-£150,000 (varies by active programs)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Varies by program (typically 4-8 weeks)
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £10,000
• Geographic Focus: London Borough of Merton

Contact Details

• Website: www.mvsc.co.uk
• Email: info@mertonconnected.co.uk
• Phone: 020 8685 1771
• Funding Advice: Contact Beverley Burton at MVSC for advice and guidance on applications

Overview

Merton Voluntary Service Council (MVSC), registered charity number 1085867, is an infrastructure support organization that also administers multiple grant programs for voluntary, community, and faith groups in the London Borough of Merton. The organization provides practical support including liaison and advocacy, community engagement, development, strategic partnership working, and fund management. MVSC operates 22 employees, 6 trustees, and 11 volunteers, with total income including £535,823 from government contracts and £1,089,261 from government grants. Through partnerships with Merton Council and Merton Chamber of Commerce, MVSC manages several grant programs including Merton Giving, the East Merton Health & Wellbeing Fund, and the Voluntary Sector Development Fund. The organization plays a vital role as both a capacity builder and funding intermediary for Merton's voluntary sector.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Merton Giving Fund

• Amount: Civic Pride Small Grants offer approximately £90,000 total funding
• Application: Rolling basis when open
• Focus: Tackling inequality and changing lives for better in Merton
• Priority: Small organisations with income under £75,000 per annum

East Merton Health & Wellbeing Fund

• Amount: £4,000 maximum for sole organisations; £10,000 maximum for partnerships (2+ organisations)
• Duration: Projects up to 1 year
• Application: Periodic rounds (Round 6 was most recent)
• Focus: Health and wellbeing of families and communities in east Merton
• Geographic: Eastern wards of the borough

Voluntary Sector Development Fund

• Amount: Up to £1,000 per grant (total fund £12,000)
• Application: Periodic rounds (Round 3 most recent)
• Focus: Developing and improving service delivery by voluntary groups
• Eligible expenses: ICT/software upgrades, training for trustees/staff/volunteers

Merton Priory Homes Community Fund

• Amount: Up to £10,000
• Duration: Projects up to 1 year
• Contact: Community and Regeneration Team on 0300 500 3000 or mphcommunityfund@circleanglia.org
• Focus: Improving quality of life for local residents

Priority Areas

• Building capacity and resilience within voluntary and community sector organizations
• Health and wellbeing particularly in east Merton
• Addressing gaps in available services and support
• Tackling inequality across the borough
• Innovation and testing new approaches to community challenges
• Infrastructure development for voluntary organizations (ICT, training, governance)
• Partnership working between multiple organizations
• Bridging the gap between eastern and western wards of Merton

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not detailed in available sources, but as an infrastructure organization focused on Merton's voluntary sector, funding is typically restricted to:

• Organizations operating in or serving Merton
• Registered voluntary, community, faith groups, and social enterprises
• Applications should align with announced funding themes and priorities

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Governance and Leadership

MVSC is governed by 6 trustees and operates with 22 employees and 11 volunteers. Trustees can be contacted via email at info@mvsc.co.uk.

Key Contact for Funding:

• Beverley Burton provides an advice and information service at MVSC and can help organizations with grant applications and funding queries.

The organization operates under the trading name “Merton Connected” and works in partnership with Merton Chamber of Commerce and with support from Merton Council.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications vary by specific grant program:

• Pre-application support: Contact Beverley Burton at MVSC for advice and guidance on applications before submitting
• Application method: Varies by fund - typically online application forms when rounds are open
• Information source: Check www.mvsc.co.uk/funding for current funding opportunities and application details
• Application rounds: Most funds operate on a periodic round basis rather than continuous rolling applications

Decision Timeline

Decision timeframes vary by specific grant program. Typical timelines range from 4-8 weeks from application deadline to notification, though this is not explicitly stated for all programs.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not explicitly stated in available information. Contact MVSC directly for guidance on reapplication after an unsuccessful attempt.

Application Success Factors

Advice from MVSC:

• Seek pre-application advice: Beverley Burton provides free advice and information services - use this resource before applying
• Priority for small organizations: Merton Giving prioritizes organizations with income under £75,000 annually
• Partnership applications valued: East Merton Health & Wellbeing Fund gives priority to partnership applications (£10,000 max) over sole organization applications (£4,000 max)
• Focus on east Merton: Several funds specifically target the eastern wards to bridge inequality gaps between east and west Merton

Strategic Considerations:

• Applications should demonstrate how projects address inequality in Merton
• Show how funding will build organizational capacity and resilience
• Emphasize innovation and new approaches to community challenges
• For health funds, clearly articulate health and wellbeing outcomes for families and communities
• Infrastructure development applications should focus on enhancing service delivery capability

Examples of Funded Work:

Historical funding included:

• Response, Resilience and Recovery grants during COVID-19 (75 grants totaling £211,640 April-September 2020)
• 31 grants totaling £127,822 for supporting 6,621 local residents (November 2020-March 2021)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Use the pre-application support: Contact Beverley Burton for free advice - MVSC wants to help you succeed
• Small is prioritized: Organizations with income under £75,000 are prioritized for Merton Giving
• Consider partnerships: Partnership applications can access higher funding (£10,000 vs £4,000 for sole organizations)
• Focus on east Merton: Multiple funds target eastern wards - emphasize work in this area if applicable
• Capacity building matters: Infrastructure development and organizational improvement are fundable through the Voluntary Sector Development Fund
• Watch for rounds: Most funds operate on periodic rounds rather than rolling applications - monitor www.mvsc.co.uk/funding regularly
• Geographic restriction: All funding is restricted to organizations working in or serving the London Borough of Merton

References

• Charity Commission Register: Merton Voluntary Service Council, Charity Number 1085867.. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1085867
• MVSC Funding and Grants page.. www.mvsc.co.uk/funding
• MVSC Funding News archive.. www.mvsc.co.uk/news/funding-news
• “Apply for round 3 of the Voluntary Sector Development Fund,” MVSC..
• "East Merton Health & Wellbeing Fund: Round 6 open for applications," MVSC..
• “Merton Giving Fund Investing £20,000 in Local Charities,” Wimbledon Community Association..
• Merton Giving website.. https://mertongiving.co.uk/
• Merton Council Funding for voluntary and community projects.. www.merton.gov.uk/communities-and-neighbourhoods/funding