Q1: Who can apply?
Q2: Why is the Fund restricted to England?
Q3: Can I submit more than one idea?
Q4: What funding and support is available through the programme?
Q5: About the themes: what if my idea covers more than one theme?
Q6: About the criteria: What do you mean by innovation?
Q7: About the criteria: What do you mean by impact?
Q8: How will final decisions be taken to make awards through the Fund?
Q9: Are the workshops part of the assessment process?
Q10: What should I include in my video?
Q11: What is the timeline for assessing applications?
Q12: What's expected of people or organisations that are funded through the Innovation in Giving fund?
Q1: Who can apply?
A: This strand of the Fund is only open to applications from accredited Volunteer Centres or their host organisations (for example Councils for Voluntary Service). We will be looking for Volunteer Centres hosted by CVS's and those not. Applicants must be based in England the benefits of your proposal should focus primarily or significantly on England. Volunteer Centres can apply in partnership with other organisations but the Centre must be the lead partner/applicant.
We cannot fund activity which is party-political in intention, use, or presentation and we will not normally fund the purchase of capital equipment.
Applicants who applied to the first call for ideas can apply again to this programme, but should first read the feedback on the first round which is available here.
Q2: Why is the Fund restricted to England?
A: Giving - be that of time or money - is a devolved issue and each country will consider the most appropriate arrangements for implementing related policy within their area. While applicants can be established in any part of the UK, the benefits of their proposals should focus primarily or significantly on England.
Q3: Can I submit more than one idea?
A: No. We seek to encourage applicants to submit ambitious, innovative, distinctive ideas that can achieve impact and are of core strategic interest to the Volunteer Centre. It is likely that focusing on one big idea will stand a greater chance of success than a number of small ideas with limited scope for impact.
Q4: What funding and support is available through the programme?
A: The programme will offer financial and practical support to approximately 10 Volunteer Centres. Participating centres will receive:
Q5: About the themes: what if my idea covers more than one theme?
A: That is fine. You can explain how your idea relates to more than one theme but please apply under the theme that most closely fits with your core idea.
Q6: About the criteria: What do you mean by innovation?
A: We are interested in bold and radical innovation; which comes from looking at challenges and problems from completely new perspectives and vantage points; asking fundamentally different questions and open to being taken in completely new directions. These kinds of ideas may be potentially controversial, they may require a high degree of tolerance to risk and a willingness to experiment with radically different operating models; they may fundamentally change the nature of relationships and balance of power between people and organisations.
We will expect applicants to have a good awareness of other organisations who are attempting similar initiatives. They should be able to articulate the points of difference between theirs and others ideas - as well as having thought through opportunities for collaboration to achieve greater impact.
Q7: About the criteria: What do you mean by impact?
A: The Fund seeks to support solutions that can demonstrate high potential to achieve significant impact in catalysing collective action, encouraging positive behaviour change, increasing levels of volunteering and enabling much more efficient use of spare capacity and resources. Applicants will also be judged on their potential to deliver impact and positive outcomes in other areas pertinent to their idea (such as health, wellbeing, employability, environmental sustainability etc).
Q8: How will final decisions be taken to make awards through the Fund?
A: The selection panel will be made up of representatives of the Cabinet Office, Volunteering England and Nesta. The selection panel will make recommendations for all awards made through the Fund. The decision of Nesta, based on the selection panel recommendation, will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Proposals will be shortlisted on the basis of a written application form and a 3 minute video.
Q9: Are the workshops part of the assessment process?
A: No. The workshops are not part of the assessment process. Workshops are for Volunteer Centres that want to apply to the Fund and are designed to answer questions about the programme, inspire applicants with recent examples of innovations in volunteering and help develop thinking before formal applications are submitted. Attendance is not mandatory, but they will help you prepare and refine your application to the programme.
Q10: What should I include in my video?
A: Your video should be no longer than 3 minutes and should be posted on Vimeo, sending the link via the online application form (the form will be posted on Nesta's website by 21 December 2012). In line with our wider ambitions for the Fund, all of the video pitches will be publicly available. We do not expect videos to be high quality or expensive to make. You can create a simple, straightforward video recorded on a smart phone that sets out the key features of your idea. Your video should cover:
Q11: What is the timeline for assessing applications?
A: The timeline is set out in the below:
Stage 1: Workshop
You can attend one of two workshops - 21 or 23 January 2013.
Please confirm your interest in attending a workshop by 10 January 2013.
Stage 2: Application form and 3min video
Written applications and videos can be submitted (via the Nesta website) between 21 December 2012 and Noon on 8 February 2013.
Stage 3: Selection panel
The panel will be held in late February 2013
Stage 4: Notification
Applicants will be notified in early March 2013
Q12: What's expected of people or organisations that are funded through the Innovation in Giving fund?
A: In addition to making your idea work in practice, we will expect all awardees to contribute to our collective understanding and learning about how innovations in giving and reciprocity can support sustained growth in volunteering and participation in civic life. This will involve awardees taking part in occasional learning seminars, being interviewed, and making data available which clearly demonstrates the impact of the work they are undertaking.
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Find out more about the £10m fund supporting ideas with potential to deliver a significant increase in the giving and exchange of time, assets, skills, resources and money
T +44 (0)20 7438 2500
F +44 (0)20 7438 2501
Nesta Operating Company, a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with company number 7706036 and charity number 1144091. Registered as a charity in Scotland number SC042833.
