Application Guidance

The focus of our grant-making is to fund the delivery of activities that improves people's ability to become more financially capable in their present and future circumstances.

We have adopted a two-stage application process, in a bid to save prospective applicants time and resource and for the Charity receiving inappropriate applications.

Pre-application - Eligibility Quiz - check your organisation meets our general grant making criteria by completing our online quiz. Completing the quiz is the best way to discover whether or not we could potentially fund your organisation.  More details can be found by looking at our Frequently Asked Questions page. 

Stage 1 -  Outline Proposal - this is a brief form that enables you to tell us about your organisation and proposed financial capability project.  See guidance below.

Stage 2 - Full Application - once the Grants Panel have considered your outline proposal, invited short-listed applicants will be required to complete a full application form. This will require more detailed information to be provided, about your organisation; the project - evidence of need, the activities; the team's experience; the outcomes you are hoping to achieve; and submission of supporting documents -  a detailed project budget; your latest Accounts and a recent bank statement.

The Grants Advisory Panel will consider and review the Outline Proposals received, and make decisions on which organisations to invite to make a Stage 2 application during February.  All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their Stage 1 application by Friday 28 February 2025. 

Please note - If you are not sure how to answer any questions, or need additional support to access, we will be happy to help. Please email in the first instance and we can answer your query, or we can arrange a phone call back.

4) What strategies will you use to attract people to, and ensure continued engagement with your project? 

We know it can be challenging to recruit and attract people to attend projects even if you have a great course and trainer.  The pandemic and the current cost of living crisis for some has created more barriers to engage, home-schooling, working from home, increased anxiety, less money coming in, digital exclusion.  On the positive side programmes can be designed to be completed at peoples own time and pace, they can be as creative and engaging just in a different way. Using technology to build and maintain learning relationships is possible and it may improve commitment level.  From the many projects we have funded over the years, here are some useful tips and learning points. 

a) Keeping programmes short, up to 4 sessions increases initial commitment and continued engagement.

b) Using incentives during the project and for completing the programme can increase motivation and continued participation. 

c) If working with schools, make sure your activities are planned well in advance and you have a key contact that will make it happen.

5) What activities and services will your project deliver?  

Please outline your project activities as objectives. They should be: Specific, Achievable, Relevant and Time Bound.  Please include the expected number of sessions /workshops /appointments to be delivered.

Examples

Specific:

To deliver crisis support, advocacy support and financial literacy training using CAB approved resources to 40 Dementia Carers living in Birmingham and Solihull who are experiencing debt and money management issues.

To deliver financial skills and confidence building sessions to 10 adults with learning disabilities living in Swindon. This will include one to one work and where relevant small group work.

Achievable:

The activities are based on numbers that can be supported using a 7 hour a week post and a volunteer.

Through experience of delivering project for adults with learning disabilities we know we can deliver 4 short courses over a year, based on the work of a 5 hour per week project co-ordinator post. 

Relevant:

Debt Advisory Agencies in Birmingham and Solihull have reported a 30% increase in enquiries in the last six months.

We work with a group of adults with learning disabilities to develop independence skills. This work does not cover financial capability, so there is a gap in what we offer.    From our experience of working with this client group we know there is a need for a  personalised approach that enables and empowers individuals.

Time Bound:

A one year funding period will enable us to make a positive impact on the financial literacy of people with mental illness. Due to health matters, family issues etc...we envisage some beneficiaries may need to start and stop their engagement with the project, and re-join our training sessions at a later date.

A one year funding period will enable us to make a positive impact on the information and training that professionals receive. We will be able to give an overview of the financial landscape at the time and give professionals information on reliable sources in the future.

6) What Outcomes will your project deliver?  

Outcomes are the changes, benefits, learning or other impacts that happen as a result of services and activities provided. Please note these will need to be reported upon at the end of your project.  

a) Project Outcomes - These relate to the impact on other work streams or the organisation’s capacity to provide evidence for future service delivery. 

Examples 

10 Volunteers will report being more confident about helping with financial learning, and will have been upskilled to deliver services in the future.

4 community partner organisations will report improved awareness of the financial needs of people with mental health issues. 

b) Beneficiary Outcomes - These can be quantified by the number or percentage of beneficiaries you anticipate will realise some degree of change, benefit or impact. 

Examples

50 young people to immediately apply their learning in a practical way, as a result they will report self pride and greater confidence about managing money. 

90% of participants will be able to manage their household budgets more wisely.

70% of people attending will demonstrate improved communication about financial matters. 

If you need more support, please refer to our FAQs page, if you can’t find an answer, please contact us via email and our Operations Manager will assist you further. 

Please provide a full and detailed breakdown of the total costs associated with your project.   

We support full cost recovery, this means that you can request funding for direct project costs and for a proportionate share of your organisation's overheads up to a maximum of 15% of your project budget.

If the total cost of the project is over £10,000 please state which budget item/s you would like us to support.

Please note we only fund up to a maximum of £500 per application for essential IT equipment for project delivery.

Please indicate any income budgeted towards the cost of this project and indicate whether it has already been secured; either as an in-kind contribution or match funded.

Please note if your application is successful the MSE Charity reserve the right to ask for financial receipts to be provided to audit grant expenditure.

Please explain how each cost has been calculated, see example budget below.

As part of the Terms & Conditions of any grant we offer, two mandatory reports are required to be completed, the Interim Progress Report (around 6 months) and an End of Grant Project Feedback Report. 

Please make yourself aware before you apply, what information we expect to receive from your organisation in return. 

The final 10% of any grant agreed, is withheld until satisfactory completion of the grant reports.  

Future applications will not be considered if the reports have not been returned.