Merton Voluntary Service Council

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Varies by active programmes (Merton Giving has distributed over £1 million total through 200+ grants)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Varies by programme (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 organisation that also administers multiple grant programmes for voluntary, community, and faith groups in the London Borough of Merton. The organisation 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 programmes including Merton Giving, the East Merton Health & Wellbeing Fund, and the Voluntary Sector Development Fund. The organisation plays a vital role as both a capacity builder and funding intermediary for Merton's voluntary sector.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Merton Giving Fund - Civic Pride Small Grants

• Pot One: Up to £2,500 for short-term projects (up to 6 months)
• Prioritises organisations with annual turnover under £25,000
• Pot Two: Up to £10,000 for longer-term projects (6 months to 2 years)
• Prioritises organisations with annual turnover under £50,000
• Application: Periodic rounds when open
• Focus: Supporting vulnerable adult residents and families affected by emotional or mental health challenges and financial hardship; tackling inequality and changing lives for better in Merton
• Note: Merton Giving has distributed over £1 million in grant funding through over 200 grants to charities working locally

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 when open
• Focus: Health and wellbeing of families and communities in east Merton
• Geographic: Eastern wards of the borough
• Priority: Partnership applications receive higher maximum funding

Voluntary Sector Development Fund

• Amount: Up to £1,000 per grant (total fund £12,000)
• Application: Periodic rounds when open
• Focus: Developing and improving service delivery by voluntary groups
• Eligible expenses: ICT/software upgrades, training for trustees/staff/volunteers
• Exclusions: Will not support day-to-day running costs or activities

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 organisations
• 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 organisations (ICT, training, governance)
• Partnership working between multiple organisations
• 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 organisation focused on Merton's voluntary sector, funding is typically restricted to:

• Organisations operating in or serving Merton
• Registered voluntary, community, faith groups, and social enterprises
• Applications should align with announced funding themes and priorities
• Voluntary Sector Development Fund specifically excludes day-to-day running costs or activities

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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 organisations with grant applications and funding queries.

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

How to Apply to Merton Voluntary Service Council

How to Apply

Applications vary by specific grant programme:

• 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 programme. Typical timelines range from 4-8 weeks from application deadline to notification, though this is not explicitly stated for all programmes.

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 organisations: Merton Giving Civic Pride Small Grants prioritises organisations with annual turnover under £25,000 (Pot One) or £50,000 (Pot Two)
• Partnership applications valued: East Merton Health & Wellbeing Fund gives priority to partnership applications (£10,000 max) over sole organisation 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 organisational capacity and resilience
• Emphasise 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 totalling £211,640 April-September 2020)
• 31 grants totalling £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 prioritised: Organisations with lower annual turnover are prioritised for Merton Giving (under £25,000 for Pot One, under £50,000 for Pot Two)
• Consider partnerships: Partnership applications can access higher funding (£10,000 vs £4,000 for sole organisations in East Merton Health & Wellbeing Fund)
• Focus on east Merton: Multiple funds target eastern wards - emphasise work in this area if applicable
• Capacity building matters: Infrastructure development and organisational improvement are fundable through the Voluntary Sector Development Fund (up to £1,000)
• 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 organisations working in or serving the London Borough of Merton

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Wimbledon Foundation
• The Kensington And Chelsea Foundation
• Wakefield And Tetley Trust
• Richmond Foundation
• The Hampstead Wells And Campden Trust
• Cripplegate Foundation
• St Andrew Holborn And Stafford's Charity
• Charity Of Richard Cloudesley
• Heathrow Community Trust
• St Giles-in-the-fields And William Shelton Educational Charity

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
• “Merton Giving announces Civic Pride Small Grants,” fundsforNGOs..