Grants for overseas projects

sazaccount

Hi guys,

I am posting this on the small biz and charities fourms as well to get a wider audience. (Mods if this is wrong please delete one of the threads)

I have been selected for an amazing opportunity to go to Latvia in Sept 14 for 3 weeks though girlguiding GOLD projects, :j

This is a national project and there are 48 of us from all over the UK in total going to 8 different countries with teams of 6.

We are going to be working with the guiding and scouting organisation (Latvijas Skautu un Gaidu Centrālā Organizācija) to help them develop there organisation; adult recruitment, international opportunities and training. for this I need to fund raise £2300!! :eek:

I'm made a start with a few small fundraising projects and events and have written to various other organisations, does anyone know of any grant schemes or other organisations I can apply to for a grant or for equipment such as rucksack, sleeping bag (I do have one but I have been warned by last years team that Latvia is COLD in the autumn especially when we are on camp with them ), thermal under layers etc.

I am currently 25, single (I'm 26 in a couple of weeks :T), I'm in a low paid job (just above minimum wage by 20p an hour) and live 200 miles away from my parents and family.

Any help would be brilliant :rotfl:

Thanks
sazaccount

laurel7172

If you're in guiding, surely you know somebody who could loan you a rucksack and decent sleeping bag??? Perhaps the Scouts if the Guides don't have their own?

sazaccount

Hi Laurel7172

Thanks for your reply, yes I can/will ask to loan the equipment but due to the nature of the project and the travel that the previous years have done within the country, going to a couple of different camps and to hosts houses/camp sites and hostels in Riga I'm not sure how suitable the equipment will be when I return home.

Thanks again
xx

kingfisherblue

A a Guide, I would expect you to be able to do some research into appropriate charities, as well as fundraise yourself. I am a guider and know others who have been abroad with Guiding, paying for it via bag packing in supermarkets, writing and selling challenge badges, and investigating other fundraising ideas. Small fundraising events are great, but you have to do a lot to gain enough to finance your trip. A bag pack in a supermarket can result in anything between £300 and £1000, depending on the size of the supermarket, the day of the week, and the amount of tills that you an cover. Someone in a local unit is bound to have buckets that you can borrow. Some supermarkets request lidded buckets, whilst others are fine with open topped ones - remember to check beforehand. Also remember to write a thank you letter afterwards, and tell them how much you have raised.

I assume that you have already requested some financial support from your division, local Trefoil Guild, and Friends of Guiding. Ask if there are others in the division or county who have represented Guiding abroad before, and if you can pass on your contact details so that they can advise you. Your division or county International Advisor should also be able to help.

You could write to companies with an explanation of what you are doing, and ask them to donate something - so try an outdoors company for a sleeping bag, for example.

You could also apply to https://www.lesliesellct.org - a charity specifically supporting Guides and Scouts going on trips.

Good luck with your venture. Guiding can offer some really exciting opportunities, as you are obviously aware. I'd love to hear how you get on in Latvia - maybe you can write to Guiding magazine afterwards, so that guiders can read about your time there.

KFB x

sazaccount

Hi Kingfisherblue :wave:

Thanks for your response.

I have applied to district, Division, county, region and the national Trefoil. Due to the amount of local members going on various internationals this year the local trefoil are unable to give a donation to everyone, but they are organising a coffee evening and inviting everyone to have a stall (I'm doing a tombola). I have gone though the turn2us grants site, which was fun and there are some random organisations :rotfl: and written to some of the more suitable organisations.

Thank you for the lesliesellct.org website I wasn't aware of this and the friends of guiding, this is the reason I had posted up to get some more information and ideas. :T

The bag packing has been suggested however I work night shift over weekends so weekend mornings are not really suitable, I'm also a rainbow leader I have a feeling that they would make more mess than help . I think a couple of the SS are planning on doing it in the local supermarkets. I have a rainbow and brownie disco planned as well as currently organising the venue for a fish and chip supper race night.

We are currently developing a blog for our trip (well I say we, its one of the other leaders as i'm not very technology knowhow) I am more than happy to send this too you when its up and running.

Thanks for your response again :T

Sazaccount