Lush: Wholeness Fund

Archived Community and neighbourhood development Community development Health promotion Health, wellbeing and sport Healthcare services Rescue and emergency Social inclusion Social welfare and poverty Africa Antrim & Newtownabbey Ards & North Down Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Asia and Middle East Australia Belfast City Causeway Coast and Glens Derry City and Strabane England Europe and Russia Fermanagh and Omagh Great Britain International Lisburn and Castlereagh Mid and East Antrim Mid Ulster Newry, Mourne and Down North America Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland Scotland South and Central America Wales Micro (up to £1,000) Small (up to £10,000)

Track grant Notes

Overview

Do you know any groups in your area that are doing great things for those struggling with mental health and wellbeing issues? Are there any unsung heros running self help groups or suicide prevention initiatives? Taking messages into schools, going out into the community, organising drop-ins, tea and chats or mental health walks? Are they struggling with raising money? Often these small local groups, who do invaluable work, only need small amounts of funds to keep them going and ensure they are there with a helping hand to those in their communities who may need it.

Lush currently have a fund available to help just this type of group. As part of their Digital Detox Day collaboration with Zoe Sugg (Founder of Zoella) and mental health campaigners #IAMWHOLE, theyare selling a limited edition bath bomb called IRL, with money going into a one-off fund taking applications for grants from small, grassroots groups who work on mental health issues. Grants of between £100 and £10,000 can be applied for, depending on the size of the project.

Groups do not need to be registered charities, you just need to show a track history of your work.

Applications can be made from any country, this is a global fund.

What will you need to provide?

Organisation Details

You will need to tell them a bit about your group. Some basic information, such as the group's name, address, and charitable status etc., as well as some detailed information, such as your total annual income and expenses, if you have staff, how many staff you have, and your group's background and mission statement. If you are a new organisation, you should provide a background for the main individuals in the organisation. Applying groups don't need to be registered charities, but if not registered will need to show a track history of their work.

Project Details

Think carefully about what you are planning, as you will need to submit a clear, focused and well-defined application. You will need to know how much funding you need, and when you need it by, and whether you could accept a partial award, they were unable to fund the full amount. You will also need to tell them what you want to do, why you think it’s needed, where your work is going to take place, and who your work benefits. You can also include web address links to any supporting documentation - for example, film trailers, photo's, online articles.

Budget

You will need to submit a budget for your project that clearly demonstrates in detail how you will spend the funds. Avoid generalised costs, for example ‘admin costs’ or ‘campaigning costs’ - this needs to be broken down into the constituent costs that make up this total. If you are budgeting to purchase an asset (e.g. a heater, a tent, a bicycle) indicate how many you are buying, and what will happen to all assets once your project is complete. If you are purchasing travel, indicate who is traveling and how (e.g. train, car etc.).

Bank Account

Grants cannot be paid into personal bank accounts, for example, an account held in the name of an individual (Mr. B Smith). Grants can only be paid into an organisation's bank account. This is an audit requirement and demonstrates your commitment as a group/project. However, if there is a particular issue preventing you from obtaining a group bank account, in exceptional circumstances you may be able to nominate an affiliated organisation to receive transfers on your behalf (a fiscal sponsor) - if you are unsure please email charitypot@lush.co.uk to discuss options. You will need to take extra care inputting the details for your bank account, as errors can significantly delay your application, and can result in failed payments, or application rejection.

Referees

Each application must be submitted with the full details of two referees. A referee must be independent of you/your group, but able to comment with experience and expertise on the activities, successes, and challenges your group faces. Your referee cannot be a funder, employee, volunteer, founder, or trustee in your group. Their email address should be an oranisational one (e.g. @greenpeace.org), and not a private email address (e.g. @gmail.com, @yahoo.co.uk). They also cannot be financially dependent on your group or know you only because of providing funding. However, providing referees from groups working in a similar field who have a good vision of your work, is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate how connected your group is to the wider community.

If your group is not based in the UK, at least one of your referees must be an international NGO. Examples of international NGOs include - International Rivers, Amazon Watch, Friends of the Earth International (including member groups), Indigenous Environmental Network, Rainforest Foundation, Survival International, War on Want, Global Justice Now, Oil Watch, World Society for the Protection of Animals, International Animal Rescue, Humane Society International.