Advice and ideas on grants and funding

[debutante]

Hi,

Im working on looking for grants and funding as i wish to enrol on a therapy course called Bowen Therapy, i have to firstly complete 5 sections on the human therapy taking around a year before i can enrol on the equine section of the course. I plan to run the two alongside each other to try and help riders and horses, and plan to help horses in rehabilitation centres also.

I am getting in touch with my local Business Link, and have put together a letter outlining details of the course funding needed etc along with a 5 year business type plan to be able to send to possible grant or funding providers and have found a few contacts to send these to,  however im just wondering do you have any ideas to help me get this off the ground a little more or who i can write to for the grants or funding.

Someone advised me it may be a good idea to write to the larger equine companys as it would be like sponosrship and would get them advertising etc so any ideas welcome 

[debutante]

Upping this

[jenb]

My only thoughts are that there are already a lot of Bowen therapists around, so what would your USP be in order to attract sponsorship from large equine companies?  What would they get from it?  Sponsorship is often the first thing to go in times of recession.

I don't have any advice apart from to ask Business Link, they deal with grant funding regularly so would have a good idea of what is out there.

[debutante]

hi thank-you for your reply , suppose that is something i need to give thought to.

However i have done research in my area and there is no equine bowen therapists listed within 2 hours of my area also there are only around 8 human therapists who run from clinics rather than mobile so thats a difference in the service i would be offering

 

[Mandeigh]

What about an ILA?

[debutante]

Thank-you madeigh ive just googled that as i hadnt heard of it, however i think thats just for scotland im not sure if there is an equivilant that covers my area. 

[Mandeigh]

Sorry I just went for a look myself...seems the English scheme was shut down. 

I did get some money for traiing from the Princes Trust a few years ago...there is also Fund Finder  http://www.funderfinder.org.uk/

[Heather]

I rang Business Link last week with regard to some grant funding and was told that there wasnt a hope, many grants have been cut due to the recession and nothing seemed to be available. Sorry to seem so pessimistic, but it has never been harder to get help, it seems.

Heather

[intouch]

Offer to  host a training course - you might get a free place out of it?

[debutante]

Thanks guys, i have been on fund finder and have a few addresses to send my letter too, if i find any good ideas heather i will let you know incase you could apply for them.

Im not sure the hosting a course on this course would work but worth a try especially with any others i could do :0)