Plymouth Vcse (plymouth Octopus / Pop+)

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £250 x 4 grants/month = ~£12,000/year through £250 a POP program; £344,000 total through historical POP Collectives (paused)
• Success Rate: 25% monthly (4 grants awarded from lottery pool)
• Decision Time: Monthly lottery draw
• Grant Range: £250 (current program)
• Geographic Focus: Plymouth, UK
• Membership: Nearly 600 member organizations

Contact Details

Website: www.plymouthoctopus.org

Email: Info@plymouthoctopus.org

Phone: 01752 741 411 (alternative: +44 1752 395131)

Address: Devonport Guildhall, Ker St, Plymouth PL1 4EL

For funding support and advice, contact the POP team directly. Their capacity building service “POP Ideas” provides training and 1:1 support.

Overview

Plymouth VCSE (charity number 1167515), commonly known as POP+ or Plymouth Octopus Project, was registered as a charity to serve as Plymouth's infrastructure and coordinating body for the voluntary and community sector. The organization supports nearly 600 member organizations of all shapes and sizes, providing capacity building, training, networking opportunities, and funding support.

In 2023, Plymouth Octopus received £990,000 from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to continue their infrastructure work, building on a previous £1.3 million grant awarded five years earlier. After ten years of supporting Plymouth's voluntary and community sector, POP has built a comprehensive portfolio including funding advice, training, business support, capacity building, and direct grant-making programs. The organization operates as both an infrastructure body and a selective grant-maker, with their primary mission being to strengthen grassroots organizations and facilitate collaboration across the city.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

£250 a POP (Active)

• Amount: £250 per grant
• Frequency: 4 grants awarded monthly through lottery process
• Application method: Rolling basis via online form (https://bit.ly/250-a-POP)
• Eligible expenses: Unexpected costs including equipment purchases, venue rentals, transportation, insurance, training, and labor costs
• Note: Originally created during COVID-19 pandemic, continues to support grassroots sector

POP Collectives (Currently Paused)

• Historical amount: £5,000 per collaborative project
• Track record: 74 grants totaling £344,000 awarded over 3.5 years
• Mechanism: Participatory voting system requiring 95 stars within 25 votes
• Focus: Encouraged 3+ organizations to work together on social and environmental projects
• Note: Program paused as of 2024; check website for updates

Priority Areas

Plymouth Octopus supports grassroots community organizations across diverse sectors including:

• Social provision and community support
• Environmental projects
• Community events and festivals
• Artwork and cultural initiatives
• Collaborative cross-sector partnerships
• Organizations working toward community cohesion and development

Primary focus is on capacity building for grassroots organizations, helping them to:

• Connect with other organizations and decision-makers
• Access funding opportunities (beyond POP's direct grants)
• Build organizational capacity through training and support
• Influence city-wide decision-making

Eligibility Requirements

For £250 a POP:

• Must be a POP member (membership free for eligible organizations)
• Annual turnover under £100,000
• Based in Plymouth or serving Plymouth communities
• Can reapply 12 months after receiving a grant

What They Don't Fund

Based on their focus on grassroots organizations:

• Organizations with turnover over £100,000 (for £250 a POP program)
• Non-members of Plymouth Octopus
• Organizations outside Plymouth area
• Reapplications within 12 months of previous successful award

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Governance and Leadership

CEO: Matt Bell leads Plymouth Octopus and has been instrumental in developing their collaborative funding approaches and infrastructure support model. Bell has emphasized the importance of revealing "the tip of the 'community' iceberg" by discovering and supporting overlooked grassroots organizations.

Key Staff Members:

• Imogen Potter – Capacity Building Manager
• Haidee Dampney – Positive People Community Mapper
• Ernie Edgcumbe – Community Development Coordinator
• Rowan Edwards – Comms & Digital Support
• Janet Horrocks – Organisational Support and Co-ordination
• Christina Maccullie – Community Enabler
• Deborah Penprase – Administrator
• Chas Shaw – Finance Worker

The organization operates with a board of trustees (specific trustee names not publicly listed in search results) and maintains transparent governance as a registered charity reporting to the Charity Commission on time.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For £250 a POP grants:

1. Become a POP member (if not already) - membership is available to eligible grassroots organizations
2. Complete online application at https://bit.ly/250-a-POP
3. Applications are entered into monthly lottery
4. Winners selected through lottery process (not competitive scoring)

Organizations may apply for advance payment in exceptional circumstances with detailed explanation and supporting documentation.

Decision Timeline

• Lottery frequency: Monthly
• Awards per month: 4 grants of £250
• Notification: Winners notified after monthly draw
• Payment: Via Open Collective platform for transparency

Success Rates

• Monthly success rate: Approximately 25% of organizations in the lottery pool each month receive funding (4 winners selected)
• Historical POP Collectives: Required 95 stars within 25 votes to be awarded £5,000
• Overall: Higher success rate than competitive grant programs due to lottery mechanism rather than merit-based selection

Reapplication Policy

• Successful applicants: Must wait 12 months before reapplying to £250 a POP
• Unsuccessful applicants: Can reapply in subsequent monthly lotteries without waiting period
• No limit on number of times an organization can apply to the lottery (except 12-month pause after winning)

Application Success Factors

Key Advice from Plymouth Octopus

The organization emphasizes that the £250 a POP lottery is designed to be accessible and simple for grassroots organizations, removing barriers of complex application processes.

From leadership: CEO Matt Bell notes the goal is to provide “more help, to more people over a greater period of time” and to support the smallest grassroots actions happening daily in communities.

What Plymouth Octopus Values

Based on their historical funding through POP Collectives and organizational mission:

• Collaboration: Strong track record of funding projects involving 3+ organizations working together
• Grassroots impact: Focus on smaller organizations (under £100k turnover) making daily difference in communities
• Innovation: Experimental approaches to funding and collaboration
• Community-led: Participatory mechanisms that give community voice in funding decisions

Example Projects Funded

Through POP Collectives (historical):

• Artwork and cultural projects
• Social provision initiatives
• Community events and festivals
• Environmental projects
• Cross-sector collaborative partnerships

Standing Out

For the £250 a POP lottery: All eligible applicants have equal chance, so focus is on ensuring your organization:

• Is a current POP member
• Has turnover under £100k
• Submits complete application with clear explanation of need

For future collaborative grants (when/if POP Collectives reopens or similar programs launch):

• Demonstrate partnerships with 2+ other organizations
• Show community engagement and support
• Use participatory language emphasizing collaboration and system change
• Connect to Plymouth's community priorities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Dual role organization: Plymouth Octopus is primarily an infrastructure body providing training, networking, and funding advice, but also makes direct grants through £250 a POP program - engage with them for both direct funding and support accessing other funders

1. Membership is key: Must be a POP member to access £250 a POP lottery; joining the network of 600+ organizations provides benefits beyond grant access including training, networking, and advocacy

1. Lottery not competition: Current active grant program uses lottery mechanism, meaning all eligible applications have equal chance - success is not about writing quality but about eligibility and participation

1. Collaborative funding history: While POP Collectives is paused, their strong track record (£344k over 3.5 years) for collaborative grants suggests watching for future collaborative opportunities

1. Turnover threshold: £100k annual turnover is strict ceiling for eligibility - truly focused on grassroots organizations

1. Relationship building: Beyond grants, POP offers capacity building through POP Ideas service - engaging with training and support can strengthen organizational capacity for all funding applications

1. 12-month reapplication wait: After winning £250 a POP grant, must wait full year before reapplying, so plan strategically if you have multiple potential needs throughout the year

References

• Charity Commission Register for Plymouth VCSE (1167515): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1167515
• Plymouth Octopus official website: https://www.plymouthoctopus.org/
• Devon Community Foundation: “Million Pounds to POP!” https://devoncf.com/news/million-pounds-to-pop/ - Details of £990,000 Esmée Fairbairn Foundation grant
• Open Collective - £250 a POP program page: https://opencollective.com/250-pop - Grant details including eligibility, application process, and payment mechanism
• Third Sector magazine: “Work to build a VCSE in Plymouth is going well” https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/curley-community-work-build-vcse-plymouth-going/local-action/article/1399557 - Background on organization's development and role
• The Social Change Nest: “How Funders Can Support Collaboration: Plymouth Octopus” https://thesocialchangenest.org/how-funders-can-support-collaboration-plymouth-octopus/ - Information about POP Collectives program

Direct quotes used:

• "PVCSE (our common name being POP+) is Plymouth's infrastructure and co-ordinating body for the voluntary and community sector. The organisation convenes networks, delivers funding advice and capacity building and seeks strategic influence on behalf of the sector in all aspects of City life." - Charity Commission description
• CEO Matt Bell on the Esmée Fairbairn funding: Focus on revealing "the tip of the 'community' iceberg“ and providing ”more help, to more people over a greater period of time"