Mission: “Widening access to and participation in the arts”.
Our mission is to distribute grants to UK Registered Charities delivering high quality, creative projects, which widen access to and participation in the arts in Greater London and Yorkshire. |
As a funder we are keen to provide grants for high quality, creative and innovative arts projects that consciously engage those less likely to be involved, and / or aim to address barriers to participation. We believe that everyone should be able to access and participate in exciting and engaging arts projects, and our priority is to build the capacity of small charities who share this vision.
Our Funding Priorities
What: Through our grant making we aim to increase quality opportunities for those who are less likely to engage with the arts, or face barriers in doing so. Our focus is on funding projects and charities which make the arts accessible, inclusive, exciting, and enriching.
Who: We provide grants to small Registered Charities (income under £1 million), who directly provide high quality arts initiatives.
Where: We only fund projects which take place within Yorkshire, or within Greater London.
How: Didymus provides grants of up to £10,000 per year over 3 years, and will consider core costs, project costs, and capital costs. Didymus is an invite only funder. We will seek out organisations who align with our priorities, and aim to develop a balanced portfolio. Through our website charities who meet our criteria can let us know about their work, and a small number may be invited to complete a funding application.
Our Funding Approach
As a small grant funder, we are typically able to make 3 or 4 grants per year, each for a 3 year period. Didymus is adopting a proactive approach to its grant making, inviting charities to apply who align with our priorities, while considering current gaps in our portfolio. In addition to proactive research, the Trustees are open to hearing from charities who feel they are a strong fit with the Trust’s priorities, and can submit an expression of interest through the website. Only a small number of expressions of interest will be invited to full application.
Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria to apply for a grant from Didymus:
– A Registered Charity, with annual returns and accounts up to date with the Charity Commission.
– Annual income between £20,000 and £1 million for each of the past 3 years.
– Directly delivering arts projects with a focus on social inclusion, removing barriers to access and widening participation.
– An up-to-date safeguarding policy and evidence of safeguarding practice within the organisation.
– Project work taking place in Yorkshire or in Greater London.
For the purposes of our funding programmes, we define these areas as:
Greater London – Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, City of London, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Westminster;
Yorkshire – East Riding of Yorkshire (unitary authority), North Yorkshire (combined authority), South Yorkshire (metropolitan county) and West Yorkshire (metropolitan county).
We seek to fund charities who can demonstrate:
- A clear need for the project.
- Conscious widening of participation in and access to the arts.
- That they are well placed to deliver their project and have a track record of working in the arts.
- Effective use of resources, including people and finances.
- Projects planned with a focus on the difference they will make.
- Clear objectives and evaluation strategies which inform future planning.
- Robust safeguarding procedures.
Restrictions
We will not fund:
- Organisations which are not registered charities, or that are overdue in reporting to the Charity Commission
- Organisations with income of over £1 million within the past 3 years
- Organisations who have less than 2 years of returns with the Charity Commission
- Organisations with significant or recurring deficits
- Projects taking place outside of Greater London or Yorkshire
- Retrospective funding
- Unrestricted funding
- Replacement of statutory provision.
The Application Process
Didymus will invite registered charities who align with our funding priorities to submit an application. We hold Trustee meetings twice a year (November and June), after which the decision will be communicated to the applicant charity within four weeks.
Through our website, registered charities who meet our eligibility criteria can submit an expression of interest, to make the Trustees aware of their work. A small number of these will be invited to full application. Expressions of interest will typically be responded to within 4 – 6 weeks.
You can download our funding guidelines here – Didymus Grant Strategy July 2024.docx.
You can find out how to submit an expression of interest here.
