Aims

The Lipman-Miliband Trust exists to fund:

We have a broad interpretation of these aims but they are at the heart of what we do. All applications must demonstrate how the project furthers these aims.

To get a better idea of how we apply these aims in our funding, you can read through our mission statement and look at projects we have funded.

How much money is available?

You can apply for any amount up to and including £3,000.

Who is eligible?

• Organisations of any structure, apart from universities (e.g. charity, community interest company, limited company, unincorporated association, grassroots groups etc.).
• Individuals.
• All applicants (individuals and organisations) must be based in the UK, with a UK bank account (please see below for an exception relating to organisations and individuals based in the Republic of Ireland).

Organisations based in the Republic of Ireland

Organisations and individuals based in the Republic of Ireland are eligible, provided some of the the work they are applying to fund takes place in Northern Ireland or aims to create impact in Northern Ireland or the UK. These organisations must have a bank account based either in the Republic of Ireland or in the UK.

Faith-based work

Faith-based organisations or individuals carrying out faith-based projects are eligible to apply, provided the proposed work is open to all and does not involve promoting or recruiting individuals into a particular faith.

Academic institutions and researchers

We do not fund applications made by or on behalf of universities or other academic institutions. We also do not fund projects whose primary purpose or impact is within academia.

We will consider applications from academics as individuals or in groups, provided the work is not primarily academic in nature and is clearly grounded in collaboration with broader movements, grassroots groups or community networks.

Who is not eligible?

• Organisations/individuals based outside of the UK (with the exception of organisations or individuals based in the Republic of Ireland and carrying out work with impact in the UK).
• Universities and academic institutions.
• Organisations or individuals who have received a grant from the Trust in the last two years.
• Organisations or individuals wishing to carry out work aimed at promoting or recruiting people to a particular faith.

What we fund

• Entire projects.
• Small parts of bigger projects.
• Projects that will have a wide outreach and will contribute to transformative change.
• Projects that demonstrate clear engagement with their proposed audiences and that promote active outcomes.

You can find some examples of previously funded work at the end of this page.

What we do not fund

• Any element of undergraduate or postgraduate studies For example, tuition fees, costs of carrying out research for an assignment or dissertation or living costs while studying.
• Projects where the primary purpose or impact is within academia. For example, conferences where the primary audience is academics, or research developed and led by academic researchers, without significant collaboration with broader movements, grassroots groups or community networks.
• Projects focused primarily on support rather than educational activities. For example, an application by a foodbank or homelessness charity where the main focus is providing support to service users, rather than carrying out educational activities related to our aims. We appreciate that in some cases these things can be linked and encourage you to contact us ahead of applying if you’re unsure about which category your project falls into.
• Work primarily impacting people outside of the UK and Ireland. Your project may involve activity outside of the UK but it must demonstrate public benefit inside the UK.
• Work connected to political parties, or with party political aims; or that does not adhere to both Charity Commission guidance on campaigning and political activity and, during election periods, Charity Commission guidance on elections and referendums. Please be aware that work carried out with this funding must adhere to this guidance regardless of whether or not the recipient is a charity.
• Retrospective costs (i.e. applications cannot be made for expenditure that has already occurred or will occur before the grant is received).

What makes a good application?

• Please try to write as clearly and straightforwardly as possible. Even if one or more of our trustees is familiar with your work, we can only make decisions based on the information provided in the application.
• You must ensure that your application clearly outlines how your project furthers the aims of the Lipman-Miliband Trust. You can learn more about how we apply these aims by reading our mission statement and reading about projects we have funded.
• We are interested in applications that demonstrate clear engagement with their proposed audiences and that promote active outcomes. We would like your project’s audiences to be as large and as diverse as possible, but we know this depends on the project. We fund small scale projects where audiences might necessarily be small but we want you to show us that you have worked at reaching out and engaging. We like big projects as well, of course.
• We are looking for diversity in our applicants and in their projects. You may be an individual, a member of a small group or part of a larger organisation. You may be just getting going or well established. You may work for an NGO; you may be a volunteer or work freelance.
• We are looking for things that can have a lasting impact on the lives of individuals and their communities.
• We have a preference for work that is freely accessible to intended participants. If you plan to charge people to access your project, please ensure you include information about your reasoning and any steps you are taking to provide free or reduced price access for people unable to pay.
• Please make sure you double-check the numbers given in your budget breakdown. We need to see that you can understand and manage a small budget.

How long does the application process take?

We try to keep our application form as concise as possible. You can download the application questions and draft your application using this document if you would like to. However, you must submit your application via our online application form.

There are two application rounds per year. The deadlines are:

• 31st January
• 30th September

You will receive a decision within 8 weeks of the application deadline. Grants are then distributed within 4 weeks of the decision being communicated.

Please take this timeline into account when planning your project, to ensure that your project start date is realistic.

What happens if I’m successful?

If you are successful, we will aim to transfer the grant to you within four weeks of communicating the grant decision.

If you have applied on behalf of an organisation with a bank account, you will need to provide a bank statement from the last three months.

If you have applied as an individual and the name on your application doesn’t match the name on your bank account, we may require you to provide a bank statement and/or photo ID in order to verify your identity. If you think this might be difficult for you to do, please contact the Trust Coordinator, Oonagh Ryder, at info@lipman-miliband.org.uk.

Do you provide feedback?

As we’re a very small organisation, we unfortunately don’t have the capacity to provide feedback on small grant applications.

Examples of previously funded work

Socialist research and education can take many forms and cover many areas of activity, so this list is not exhaustive or prescriptive.

• Publications: We have funded all sorts of print and digital publications including books and magazines.
• Websites: We have supported groups building, rebuilding or expanding their websites, or making them more accessible.
• Film, video and audio: We have supported organisations/groups seeking to reach a wider audience or work with a specific community through films, videos or podcasts.
• Conferences: We have supported conferences that have aimed to generate new ideas or engage with new audiences. We want them to be open and politically dynamic. We will sometimes fund travel expenses to enable people to attend.
• Educational events: we have supported a number of organisations/groups putting on workshops and facilitating seminars.
• Research projects: we have funded projects that bring new ideas or reinvigorate long-standing socialist discussions. We like to see research that is participative and has a good strategy for dissemination.
• Archives: we have funded projects that preserve working class and socialist histories, which are so often ignored. We are looking for those projects that aim at engaging with the widest audiences, and that inspire for the future as well as preserving the past.
• Artistic work: we have funded exhibitions, street art, music and theatre, where artists want to create political work and reach a wide audience.

Enquiries

If you have any questions about applying for funding from The Lipman-Miliband Trust, please contact the Trust Coordinator, Oonagh Ryder, at info@lipman-miliband.org.uk.