The BEARR Trust Small Grants Scheme 2025
In 2023-4 the focus of much of BEARR’s work has been on Ukraine and Moldova, with the Ukraine Emergency Appeal at the forefront of activities. This effort will continue in 2025, but the main Small Grants Scheme will cover most of the countries with which we work.
It has been part of BEARR’s long-term mission to foster cooperation and partnerships, in the belief that this is fundamental to the operation of successful Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). Strand A applications should therefore be a joint application from two or more partner organisations.
A webinar was held on 10 January to assist organisations with the application process. The recording of the event is available on our Youtube channel in English, Ukrainian or Russian. The slides are available here.
Strand A: For projects on the theme “Joint projects that support the integration and inclusion of vulnerable people into their local community”. This strand will be open to CSOs in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Strand A applications should be a joint application from two or more partner organisations. Priority will be given to new partnerships or pre-existing partnerships showing clear signs of development.
Strand B (for Ukraine only): For projects to support the welfare of staff and volunteers, and organisational resilience. This strand will be open only to organisations in Ukraine which have received earlier support from BEARR, whether through the Small Grants Scheme or the Ukraine Emergency Appeal.
No grants can be made at present to Russian and Belarusian CSOs because of difficulties transferring funds to those countries.
Under Strand A we invite proposals for grants of up to £4,000. Our grant must be matched by resources provided by the partner organisations, and we will not fund more than 50% of the cost of a project. 20% of BEARR’s grant up to a maximum of £500 may be used to strengthen the applicants’ organisational capacity, including technology to improve communications with beneficiaries. Applications must be expressed in GBP, but grants may be paid in other currencies. Grant recipients will bear any costs of conversion into local currency.
Projects should normally be completed within six months of receipt of the funds, and grantees are expected to complete a monitoring form and to write an article about their project for publication on BEARR’s website. The BEARR Trust reserves the right to commission independent evaluation of any project funded.
Under Strand B we invite applications for up to £1,000 from former grantees only.
Please download:
· Guidelines and Tips for Strand A
· Guidelines and Tips for Strand B
All applicants must use the Application Form provided. All text boxes in the application form can be extended to fit your text. Application Forms must not exceed 5 pages, or 4 pages plus a budget in Excel. Longer applications will not be considered. Applications must be submitted in English.
Please refer primarily to the Application Guidelines & Tips for guidance on how to fill in the application form. However, if you still have questions about the application process, please feel free to direct them to info@bearr.org. You can email your questions in English, Russian or Ukrainian. However, please note that the application must be written in English.
Deadline for applications: 31 January 2025, 23:59 GMT. Please send your application to info@bearr.org.
Please put ‘SGS 2025/Organisation Name’ in the subject line of your email.
