Funding Advice 
When looking for funding, it is always important to have already established some very clear principles through decisive thinking by asking yourself some basic questions -
- What project do you have in mind?
- Is there anything similar happening in your area?
- What is the title of the project and how would you describe it very briefly?
- How have you identified the need for the project? - survey, questionnaires, observation, requests?
- Who is the project aimed at? children, young people, older people, everyone, black minority and ethnic, asylum seekers, carers, disabled etc.
- What change or improvement will the project make?
- How much total funding will the project need, and how have you arrived at this amount?
- Can you list all the capital items (eg equipment) required and the costs?
- Can you list all the revenue items and costs (eg salaries and national insurance [10%?] rent, electric, gas, telephone, telephone, employers liability insurance, insurance for contents and building, stationery, postage, photocopier and printing, repairs & maintenance, internet and computer maintenance, annual accounts examination, management fee (5-10%) financial control, recruitment/selection, induction/familiarization, travel (30p mile) parking, events expenditure, training, marketing/advertising/promotion, sundry contingency).
- Quantify volunteer hours you have anticipated the project will need and where they will come from.
- What funding are you looking for from the grant and how much will you be raising yourself and how?
- When do you want the project to start and will it have an end date?
- If it is a project without an identifiable end date, how will you ensure sustainability?
- If it has an end date, what is the exit strategy ie how will it conclude?
Excellent help and advice can be obtained from the Saltbox's development support officers: 
For Stoke-on-Trent:
Kirsty Scullion - kirsty@saltbox.org.uk
For Staffordshire (exc. S-o-T):
Helen Anderson - helen@saltbox.org.uk
Funders will expect you have policy documents in place. A selection of various draft documents can be downloaded here -
Aims, CRB, Equality & Diversity, Health & Safety, Letter of support, Protection of children and vulnerable adults, Constitution A, Constitution B, Costings spreadsheet,
Help and advice on various employment issues can be found at the government's Business Link