More than half a million pounds of Government grant money is up for grabs next year to provide those excluded in the community with mentoring support, Home Office Minister, Lord Filkin, announced today.
Groups are being encouraged to apply for a share of a new £600,000 Mentoring Capital Grant Fund (for the financial year 2003-4). At the same time, Lord Filkin announced the allocation of grants totalling £250,000 of grants under this year's (2002-3) fund.
The grants will fund mentors to work with older people, young people excluded from school, people with learning/physical disabilities and physical/mental illness, offenders and those at risk of offending, adults with young families and people from black and ethnic minorities to help them contribute to, and succeed in, society.
Mentors are volunteers who give ongoing personal support to another person. They give valuable help and guidance to those who may be vulnerable or in need, helping them to grow in confidence and ability.
Lord Filkin, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Voluntary and Community Policy, said:
"Mentoring encourages people to work together and support each other at difficult times in their lives. Mentors can help others to achieve their full potential.
"Mentors can make a real difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our society, and help to make our society more inclusive. There are already some excellent examples of schemes which really work and I am keen to see even more people benefit from the support of a mentor.
"We are working closely with the Government Regional Offices who will be involved in assessing the applications and monitoring projects once grants have been awarded.
"I want to congratulate the organisations who have successfully bid for this year's money and encourage those now thinking of applying for a slice of the fund for next year."
Organisations can apply for grants of up to £30,000 from the 2003/4 fund. They must show how the money will support or improve their project and how they will monitor the impact of the goods or services purchased on project delivery. The closing date for bids is 14 March 2003.
Notes to editors:
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For further information on the 2003-4 fund and an application form call 020 7035 5348. Details of the funding are available at http://www.volcomgrants.gov.uk Information about the Active Community Unit is available at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/acu/acu.htm Information about mentoring in general can be found at and http://www.nmn.org.uk
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On 11 January 2001, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced funds for a mentoring programme from April 2001 to March 2004. In addition to £3.5 million for Project funding the fund offered £1.8 million for Capital over three years. The Capital amounts for 2002-3 and 2003-4 (£600,000 per year) were unclaimed.
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