Smart Funding


Get smart with your money
Our Smart Communities team offer a range of support and advice which will help you make the most of the funding opportunities available. Get our Smart advice tailored to your needs whether it’s to approach a number of targeted funders or going to one funding provider. From start to finish we can help with your funding strategies, funding plans, funding applications and critiques.
New Warm Spaces Funding Opportunity List!
The Smart Communities team has compiled a complete list of funding pots that will help your facility, group or organisation create a warm space for anyone struggling to keep their heating on this Winter.
Click here to downloadFor more information on creating a Warm Space visit: www.sparksomerset.org.uk/

Smart funding successes
Otterhampton Village Hall, Bishops Hull Hub and BickWatch Electric Vehicle Pilot Project raised a total of over £780,000 with the support of the Smart Communities team.
What was most useful is you were ready to deliver and we knew you knew what you were doing
Otterhampton Village Hall Chair
Burnham on Sea Community Centre secured vital funding for their roof with our support!
“Thank you for your help, advice and support in the funding arrangements. It proved extremely valuable and I’m sure avoided much unnecessary work. I don’t think that any of us realised how long the journey would prove to be, but we are now able to consider other pending maintenance and move forward.”
Paul Hambleton – Burnham on Sea Community Centre
We can help you with funding plans, decipher application guidelines, prioritise who to apply to and critique applications. Whether you need support from the start of your project or use our knowledgeable Smart Communities team to review your application, we are here at any point you need us.
Be smart with your application and ensure you evidence the need – it isn’t just about your wants when it comes to applications. Independent, robust and appropriate consultation is key to evidencing need.
Our Smart team offer:
- Pre-survey expert advice
- Custom questionnaire design
- Paper or online surveys
- If paper-based, we can input responses or train your volunteers
- Analysis, report writing and presentation of findings
- Funding plans
- Assistance with bid writing
- Business Planning
- Budget and cash flow advice