The Livewell Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £100,000
• Success Rate: Data not publicly available
• Decision Time: Up to 12 weeks (large grants); quarterly review (small grants)
• Grant Range: £500 - £10,000
• Geographic Focus: Plymouth and South West Devon (postcodes PL1-PL10, PL16, PL19-PL21, TQ7, TQ8, TQ10)

Contact Details

• Website: www.livewellfoundation.org.uk
• Email: thelivewellfoundation@gmail.com
• Phone: 01752 434949

Overview

The Livewell Foundation was established in December 2016 by Livewell Southwest CIC and registered as a charity in 2017 (Charity Number 1172401). The foundation administers charitable funds for services run by Livewell Southwest CIC and awards grants to support community projects in Plymouth and South West Devon. With an annual giving budget of £100,000, the foundation is particularly keen to help grassroots community groups and small-to-medium-sized voluntary organisations. In 2023-24, the foundation awarded 21 grants projected to benefit over 10,200 people. Their vision is “People living healthier and happier lives,” and they focus on projects with a transformational effect on communities. The foundation's total income in the financial year ending March 2024 was £119,403, with expenditure of £284,068.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants: Up to £1,000

• Open year-round, reviewed quarterly at trustee meetings
• Up to £5,000 in small grants approved per trustee meeting
• Total annual allocation: £20,000
• Rolling application process

Large Grants: Up to £10,000

• Applications open once per year, typically in Autumn
• Total annual allocation: £80,000
• Decision time: Up to 12 weeks

Strategic Priorities (2025-26)

The foundation has identified three key focus areas:

1. Children's mental health
2. Women's health
3. Child obesity

Priority Areas

• Health and Wellbeing: Projects that improve physical and mental health outcomes
• Illness Prevention: Initiatives that reduce mental and physical ill health
• Social Isolation: Programs that connect people and reduce loneliness
• Equipment and Training: Staff training and equipment beyond NHS funding
• Patient Amenities: Resources that enhance patient care and comfort

What They Don't Fund

• Profit-driven organizations or activities
• Religious activities (with very limited exceptions)
• Replacement of government or statutory funding
• Individual-focused activities (benefits must be community-wide or group-specific)
• Political activities
• Retrospective costs (work already completed)
• Loan repayments
• Projects outside their specific postcode areas (PL1-PL10, PL16, PL19-PL21, TQ7, TQ8, TQ10)
• Academic research without practical outcomes
• Statutory authority responsibilities
• Core activities of national network organizations
• Organizations without adequate financial governance
• Projects without defined beneficiary timeline
• General appeals
• Animal welfare-only activities
• Grant-making by other organizations

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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees comprising 12 members with diverse professional backgrounds, structured into three subgroups: Fundraising, Grants, and Strategy.

Key Trustees

Chris Davies (Chairman): Finance and Asset Finance professional with experience in the sector; former Royal Marine

Geoff Baines: Over 30 years of experience in health and social care

Amie Carr: Community leader focused on social impact

Jack Harvey: Corporate lawyer specializing in the charity sector

Rachel Marshall: Business operations professional

The trustee team brings expertise across finance, healthcare, social services, community development, legal/governance, policing, and business operations. In 2024, the leadership team demonstrated their commitment by raising over £7,000 for the foundation through the London Landmark Half Marathon.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

• Comprehensive project details
• Clear outcome metrics
• Financial documentation
• Safeguarding policies
• Evidence of organizational track record

Decision Timeline

Small Grants:

• Applications reviewed quarterly at trustee meetings
• Ongoing rolling process

Large Grants:

• Applications reviewed once annually
• Decision time: Up to 12 weeks from submission

Applicants are notified of decisions via email.

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly available. However, the foundation awards approximately 21 grants annually from available funds of £100,000, benefiting over 10,200 people. Applications are scored against a points framework that evaluates multiple criteria.

Reapplication Policy

Large Grants: If your large grant application is unsuccessful, you must wait at least 12 months before applying for another large grant.

Small Grants: No specific waiting period mentioned for small grant reapplications.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Prioritizes

The Livewell Foundation scores applications against a points framework. Applications score higher when they:

• Link to Health Strategies: Directly connect to local or regional health strategies
• Support Vulnerable Groups: Target beneficiaries with disabilities, mental health needs, or from deprived areas
• Support Protected Characteristics: Serve people with protected characteristics under equality legislation
• Reduce Hospital Admissions: Demonstrate potential to reduce pressure on healthcare services
• Demonstrate Cost-Effectiveness: Show clear value per beneficiary served
• Include Strong Monitoring: Present clear, measurable outcome metrics and evaluation plans

Common Reasons for Rejection

The foundation explicitly lists these reasons for unsuccessful applications:

• Low scoring against their evaluation criteria
• No organizational track record or insufficient history
• Insufficient board members or governance structure
• Inadequate monitoring and evaluation plans
• Incorrect or unclear cost calculations
• Requesting excessive funding relative to outcomes
• Poorly written or incomplete applications
• Missing safeguarding policies
• Incomplete financial documentation
• Work without direct benefit to their geographic coverage area

Examples of Funded Projects

Gifted Women (£10,000): Employability programme for 13 women facing multiple disadvantages, building confidence, skills, and work experience placements

Special Olympics Plymouth & District (£5,000): Expanded sporting opportunities for individuals with learning disabilities, promoting wellbeing, inclusion, and self-confidence

Hearts Together (£5,000): “Supporting You” project offering counselling support for relatives of medical patients

Dementia Friendly Parishes Around the Yealm (£1,000): Supported 1:1 family care for over 40 families with dementia across five parishes

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Focus on the foundation's three strategic priorities for 2025-26: children's mental health, women's health, and child obesity—these are clearly stated areas where applications are more likely to succeed
• Demonstrate clear links to local health strategies in Plymouth and South West Devon; applications that align with regional health priorities score more highly
• Target beneficiaries must be within the specific postcode areas (PL1-PL10, PL16, PL19-PL21, TQ7, TQ8, TQ10)—applications outside these areas will be rejected
• Small grants offer more frequent opportunities; if your project suits a £1,000 grant, you have quarterly opportunities rather than one annual window
• Invest time in your application preparation: Draft in Word first, include clear outcome metrics, demonstrate cost-effectiveness per beneficiary, and prepare a 5-minute video explanation
• Ensure strong organizational foundations: Have adequate board members, safeguarding policies, financial governance, and a demonstrable track record before applying
• If rejected, wait 12 months before reapplying for large grants; use this time to strengthen your application based on feedback

References

1. The Livewell Foundation Official Website - Homepage. www.livewellfoundation.org.uk
2. The Livewell Foundation - What We Fund. www.livewellfoundation.org.uk/what_we_fund.aspx
3. The Livewell Foundation - Grant Guidance. www.livewellfoundation.org.uk/grant_guidance.aspx
4. The Livewell Foundation - Projects Funded. www.livewellfoundation.org.uk/projects_funded.aspx
5. The Livewell Foundation - About the Foundation. www.livewellfoundation.org.uk/about_the_foundation.aspx
6. The Livewell Foundation - Apply for Funding (Charities & Third Sector). www.livewellfoundation.org.uk/apply_for_funding_-_charities_third_sector.aspx
7. Charity Commission - The Livewell Foundation (Charity Number 1172401). register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5098181
8. Devon Funding News - Livewell Foundation. www.devon.gov.uk/fundingnews/fund/livewell-foundation/