Comic Relief: Levelling the Field International

Overview

This is a £2.2 million initiative funded by Comic Relief and the Scottish Government. Grants made in Malawi, Zambia and Rwanda (partner countries for the Scottish Government’s International Development Fund in Sub-Saharan Africa) will be joint funded by Comic Relief and the Scottish Government. Grants made in Colombia and India will be funded by Comic Relief only. They will make the grants under this initiative in two rounds. A second round of funding will be announced later in 2017.

They are encouraging a variety of different types of projects. This could be a pilot for an innovative piece of work or the continued development of a proven piece of work. Funding is available for project delivery, research or for a campaign.

Eligibility

Proposals are welcomed from both UK based organisations working in partnership with a local organisation leading the delivery of the project, and from non-UK organisations playing this role directly. Applications are particularly encouraged where the local organisation delivering the project is embedded in the communities where the work will take place.

Applicants should have been registered for at least 3 years and have a turnover of at least £100,000.

Outcomes

They are looking for creative solutions which influence, motivate, and inspire women and girls to break down the barriers that prevent them reaching their full potential. Organisations may address the many challenges faced by women and girls in different ways. All proposals must use sport as a tool for change in their approach.

Proposals must work towards the overall outcome of inspiring women and girls to reach their full potential. In addition, proposals must work towards a minimum of one of the following outcomes:

• Reduce gender stereotypes that have a negative impact on women and girls – the use of realistic role models may be appropriate
• Increase social inclusion of women and girls – please note that proposals must focus on more than just bringing women and girls together
• Increase opportunities for women and girls to access education, employment and training - these may, or may not be within the sport industry
• Improve the leadership skills of women and girls – equipping women and girls with the skills to become leaders, in the setting appropriate to them.

They will also support proposals that tackle violence against women and girls, which enable women and girls to live free from harm, and with access to crucial support. This approach aligns with ‘Equally Safe’ - Scotland’s strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls domestically.

If you are focusing on tackling violence against women and girls, your proposal must work towards one or more of the following priorities:

• Increasing positive gender roles
• Ensuring healthy relationships are understood and promoted
• Women and girls are safe, respected and equal

Proposals must be targeted, and do not need to address all of the above outcomes.

They also appreciate that men and boys can be part of the solution. They welcome applications that include work with men and boys, however the main focus of the work must be change for women and girls. They are more likely to prioritise applications which are targeting the most vulnerable and marginalised groups, rather than women and girls as a general cohort.

Sport for Change

They know that taking part in sport leads to an increase in self-esteem and self-confidence for most people and for this initiative, they are making the assumption that this underpins all programming. However, for this programme they want proposals go above and beyond confidence building and to demonstrate how sport can be used to achieve positive social change. Proposals to this initiative will need to demonstrate wider social outcomes and not just focus on increasing female participation in sport.

For more information on their approach to Sport for Change click here.

For more details see the website