by John Harris | Oct 14, 2026 | news
The result: John has worked with Step by Step fundraisers for a couple of years now – in a mentoring role with their fundraisers. Having worked through a long and detailed BBC Children in Need application we have just been informed that this was successful to the tune of £97,000 over three years. This is a huge result – given the dire fundraising situation in the UK right now. Who Step by Step support: Step by Step support a diverse user base of 220 children with disabilities that span a spectrum of physical,emotional, learning, and mental impairments. These impairments include but are not limited to spina bifida, global development delay, Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, hearing impairments, and other complex conditions. Due to their multiple disabilities, our children face many issues and barriers. What the funding supports: The funding will support the Stay’n’Play after-school club Monday to Thursday from 3:30-6:30 for 43 children with disabilities ages 3-18. The children arrive straight from school to the Hub and participate in a range of calm though to stimulating activities. They serve a hot, nourishing supper cooked onsite daily. Users are supported by volunteer carers whilst team leaders ensure that sessions run smoothly. Stay’n’Play takes place everyday after school throughout term time,45 weeks a year. They serve a nutritious balanced supper of veg soup, protein, starch and cooked veg. A variety of cut up fruit and vegetables is on hand for snacks throughout the session. The difference this makes: they support children to enjoy mealtimes (which can be stressful at home) as well as being able to eat independently and learning table manners and using cutlery. The sessions offer the chance to make new friends along with the support of a trained volunteer thus reducing isolation,advancing social skills and improving emotional health. Sessions are children led as much as possible.Their voice is asked for, heard & acted upon. They choose which game or activity they’d like to play (or don’t want to), which song should be sung during circle time, how to fill up free-play time, their seat and which food to eat for supper.
by John Harris | Jul 25, 2026 | news
We are really pleased to be able to report that through our support the Bridge Church has been awarded £250,000 from The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for a project which will include replacing the sanctuary roof and installing solar panels on the hall roof. John Eveleigh (Elder of the Church) said: “HLF awards are extremely hard to come by, and the Investment Manager has told us that the round in which we were successful, was exceptionally competitive, which makes the success all the more gratifying. The grants panel were particularly impressed by the commitment to make this an environmental project as well as a heritage project. I would like to thank John and Rachel from Third Sector Consultancy who have been working closely with the church for nearly two years, and who have been responsible for obtaining the HLF grant as well as £60,000 in other grants for the Bridge Church.” As well as providing the capital funds for us to carry out the necessary work, the project will include; Employing a part-time, fixed term Heritage Engagement Co-ordinator (for 15 months) Engagement with community and church groups (including local schools) in heritage and environmental matters Producing heritage material, including improvements to our web-site Setting up a heritage and environmental working groups (including running study groups) creating wildlife habitats in our grounds
by John Harris | Jul 24, 2026 | news
Recently it’s been a real drought for John’s work (as an associate with Moneytree Fundraising) with no grants coming in for months. At last, this brilliant residential community for adults with learning and physical disabilities has been awarded two grants from trusts – one a new one and one which has been a supporter before. The two grants total £18,000 and are for core costs. This is great news and a relief in these difficult times for fundraising. The Stanly Grange community has several houses based around a village type green. It is a safe site where residents can come and go as they please and as they are able.
by John Harris | Jun 25, 2026 | news
As part of John’s pro bono contribution to the town of Knaresborough where he lives, he worked on a grant application with the CIC that runs the non-profit Buttercup Community Cafe in the heart of the town. The Cafe is a small base for any people who who, for whatever reason, don’t feel comfortable in the commercial cafes in town. They have a consistent clientele of people with mental health issues and a lack of funds, as well as hosting meetings for community organisations working to protect and enhance the local natural environment. A grant of £18,000 was secured.
by John Harris | May 8, 2026 | news
We have been working with the Wharfedale Men’s Shed for a while – first this was pro bono to help them organise themselves and get ready to fundraise. We are now working with them as a client as they want to speed up progress. They are fundraising to have new premises in Otley. Where they are based they only have one day – now they have the chance to construct a modular building in the grounds of another community organisation where they can open several days a week. This needs funds and we are delighted to have raised their first large grant towards this – £20,000. With the reserves they can commit to this they are now only around £15,000 short. We will continue to support them! They do such a great job in mutual support and also contribute hugely to many other community and environmental groups.
by John Harris | Feb 19, 2026 | news
We have both worked on this project – with Rachel taking the lead. It was quite a marathon! At the core of Otley Action’s services is transport which is a vital element in enabling older people that are housebound due to their disabilities to access vital services. Over the past 20 years they have developed a transport system to complement the work that they do. This includes two wheelchair accessible minibuses with tail lift and clamping facilities. These vehicles pick up service users from their homes and deliver them to a variety of specific destinations. Including the countryside, cafes and restaurants, museums and other similar places of interest. We have been working with Otley Action to expand this much needed service with an application to Motability. They will recruit a Transport Coordinator to a 4-day post. This role will recruit, train and support new drivers, develop the booking system, organise regular maintenance and safety of vehicles. This role will input into the monitoring and evaluation of the transport service. The goal is to provide personalised travel for all disabled people who need it in Otley and surrounding areas where the destinations are of their choice and at a time convenient to them where possible. They will recruit more drivers which will allow them to increase the number of journeys, ensuring that disabled people have more choice and control over their travel needs. This means people will have access to more places, for example a car scheme driver taking a user to the countryside or to a medical appointment outside of the local area.
by John Harris | Feb 11, 2026 | news
John has been working as a coach/mentor for fundraiser at Step by Step for a couple of years now. The work is all about supporting them through coaching and training – then reviewing draft applications so that they are the best they can be. This has resulted in the latest success – wth £30,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation for core costs.For 25 years, Step by Step has enhanced the lives of local families with disability in London.Step by Step provides recreation for children with moderate to severe physical, emotional and learning disabilities, from age two to adult. They arrange activities, sports, day trips, and playschemes, helping children thrive while giving parents a break on holidays and half-term.
by John Harris | Feb 11, 2026 | news
We have been supporting the OYCC with pro bono work for some time now – we believe that youth club facilities are vital to many young people. John worked with OYCC on a grant application (building up the consultation feedback) which has led to a grant for £17,000. This is significant in that this will pay for the sessional staff who work with OYCC over the next 12 months. We had supported them during Covid – running two focus groups online with high school students – this led to the formation of the youth club – but they needed more up-to-date feedback from their ‘customers’. It’s good to help fund a win!
by John Harris | Dec 20, 2025 | news
What great timing for the Bradford African Community to hear this news from Reaching Communities. As consultants on the Lloyds Bank Foundation register, we have been working with them on stages 1 and 2 since May this year and it has been a delight to collaborate with Asumani (CEO). This grant over 3 years will enable them to continue their work – and to develop it.The charity supports people from number of refugee camps across East Africa including the Congo Kinshasa, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Zambia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Somalia and enables them to ‘become productive members of society’ as Usmani put it. This includes ESOL classes and job readiness programmes and helps people into volunteering roles so that they can gain much needed experience. The charity states that “Through our integration in the British main Communities, we experienced various challenges such as: Language barriers, Isolation, Difficulties to navigating new system, Emotional health difficulties and Limited income.”
by John Harris | Dec 17, 2025 | news
We are very pleased to be working with the Wharfedale Men’s Shed. Men’s Sheds are places bringing men together in mutually supportive and constructive ways. As well as breaking down isolation and loneliness, making new friends and learning or teaching practical skills, the Shed is contributing to the local community. Thet carry our projects with local wildlife groups, schools and businesses – creating bird boxes, benches and items made to order. Their quest right now is to generate the funds to instal a building which gives them enough space and access – at the moment they have only one day per week based at the Otley Courthouse. We will be supporting them in this mission.
