Funding and Grants
Back in January 2021, Emma, our founder, set up a brand new company to support families in our local community. The impact of COVID: isolation, lack of social contact and minimal support groups meant that many new parents were feeling alone. With a lot of borrowed kit, many of flasks of hot water and a couple of bean bags, Muddy Toes Baby group was born.
Since Muddy Toes was launched, we have welcomed nearly 100 families to our sessions, made well over 300 cups of hot chocolate and eaten a few hundred marshmallows too. We couldn’t have got to where we are now without the support from our incredible grant makers, and, very excitingly have some amazing news to share about our future. Read on below to find out more….
Since Autumn 2021, we are incredibly proud to have received three grants to support the work we do with our community, EVOLVE Advice, Long Buckby Feast and now, The National Lottery Community Fund (cue streamers and excited jazz hands!).
EVOLVE Advice
Back in the Autumn of 2021, we applied to EVOLVE and their “Get Out” grant scheme, open to schools, colleges, CIC’s, micro businesses and charities. We applied asking to use the grant money to help cover our insurance costs for the following year and purchase essential equipment to really help our babies thrive at group. This included or trusty trolley, new large flasks and an urn, to help speed up the prep prior to group starting each week.
To find out about the work of EVOLVE Advice and their grant programme, head to: https://www.evolveadvice.co.uk/grants
Long Buckby Feast
We were delighted to be awarded a grant from our local village charity, Long Buckby Feast, to help us afford exciting play equipment as well as a gazebo to be used at our weekly group session. Our children were delighted with the new Mud Kitchen and fire bowl that is used every week. Have a look at our gallery to see some pictures of these both being used.
In 2022, we supported the Long Buckby Feast and can’t wait to support again in future years.
To find out about Buckby Feast and the work they do, head to: https://buckbyfeast.org.uk
The National Lottery Community Fund
We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded funding from The National Lottery Community fund for our project “NN6 Outdoor Connections”.
The grant money has been vital to the success of our project, focusing on helping all sectors of our community to get into the great outdoors, to make connections with our green spaces and with each other. We are fortunate to have access to some beautiful green spaces within the NN6 postcode, however research has shown that many of our community do not use these spaces routinely and have been unlikely to use these without a specific reason.
Our project focused on using these green spaces for group activities that help to focus on learning about the areas around them, support learning new skills based on nature crafts as well as providing relaxed social situations to help people feel at home. We ensure to look after everyone that comes along, promising to make a great cup of tea and provide delicious snacks from biscuits, cakes to fruit and veg too.
The funding will allowed us to run these sessions for all many different groups within our community for a year during 2022 and the beginning of 2023.
Northamptonshire ACRE
Northamptonshire ACRE provided funding to fully subsidise our dedicated parent and baby group in Autumn 2023. This vital funding ensured that 15 families could attend our outdoor wellbeing session, make connections with other families and parents, as well as enjoy hot drinks, snacks and take home beautiful keepsake crafts.
A huge thank you to Northamptonshire ACRE for their grant.