Lions Clubs

Aims of Fund

Lions Clubs support charitable causes in their own area.

Who can apply

Local community groups and charities can apply for funding.

How much and what can you apply for

Examples of past grants and for what use if available

There are no set limits, but grants tend to range from £50 to £1,000.

They put no restrictions on what you can apply for, but on their website they have their Objects and Code of Ethics. It is worth looking at this before you make you application. The first three objects are most relevant to grant applications and are:

• To create and foster a spirit of understanding among the peoples of the world.
• To promote the principles of good government and good citizenship.
• To take an active interest in the civic, cultural, social and moral welfare of the community.

There are three local Lions Clubs:

• Brighton
• Hove (which covers Hove and Portslade)
• Rottingdean and Saltdean

In 2009/10 the following grants were made by Brighton Lions:

• £10,000 to Martletts Hospice
• £1,000 - £3,000 to: Princess of Wales Royal Regiment, Leo House Hospice, Dogs for the Disabled, Children's outing, Rockinghorse appeal, Downsview School, Haiti eathquake appeal.
• £200 - £900 to: Children's pantomime outing, 9th Brighton Boys Brigade, Cumbria flood relief, Lion sightsavers, St Peter and St John Hospice, Tuesday Club, Sussex Housing and Care, Girls' Brigade, Brighton West Guides.

It is worth noting that Hove Lions have had fairly limited funds available in recent years, so are unlikely to be able to give very large grants.

How to apply

Apply in writing, on headed note paper if you have it, to the relevant address. Your letter should include a summary of your group and what it does, plus details of how you plan to use the money that you are asking for. They also like to have supporting information, eg summary of accounts, copy of constitution.

You can phone them first to see if your application is appropriate and what information they would like you to send. This is particularly important if you are asking for a larger amount of money.

The fund want to see that a lot of effort has gone into the initial application that you send to them. They stress that a good, clear, informative application is important. You need to justify your cause. If you just send a letter asking for some money and expect to get some - think again! 

Deadlines for application

Applications are considered by the fundraising committee, and then the trustees who meet monthly.

It takes 4-6 weeks to process applications. However, if they have to contact you for further information this may take longer.

Contact details

Brighton Lions contact for grant enquiries and applications

Hove Lions

Rottingdean and Saltdean Lions

Date & initials

JG 14/6/11