Bid Writing and Consulting

As an independent funding consultant and bid writer, Lara offers her expertise to independent clients, supporting in identifying, finessing and curating their strategic aims. 

These services include: 

1. Project Development & Curation

Lara offers a dedicated service for developing and curating ideas, helping you turn a creative concept into a realistic, fundable project. She works with you to refine your vision, identify a clear mission, and define achievable outcomes. This process is about moving from "what if?" to "how?" by building a solid framework that will resonate with funders and set your project up for success.

2. Developing Funding Applications on Your Behalf

Lara acts as a dedicated grant writer, taking the lead in creating your application from start to finish. This service is for clients who have a clear project idea but lack the time or expertise to craft a compelling proposal. Lara will work with you to understand your vision and goals, then translate your ideas into a strong, persuasive narrative that aligns with the funder's criteria. This includes writing the project description, budget, and all supporting materials needed to make a powerful case for funding.

3. Creating Effective Fundraising Strategies

Raising money is about more than just one application. Lara helps you develop a comprehensive, long-term fundraising strategy to secure the support you need. She'll identify and research a tailored list of potential donors, including major trusts, foundations, and public bodies like the Arts Council and National Lottery Heritage Fund. This service ensures your fundraising efforts are targeted, efficient, and sustainable, helping you build a diverse and reliable network of support for your projects and organisation.

4. Providing Thorough Application Reviews and Feedback

If you prefer to write your own applications, Lara offers a detailed review service. She provides expert feedback on your draft, helping you strengthen your narrative, refine your budget, and ensure every section is as strong as possible before you submit. This is particularly useful for improving and resubmitting an unsuccessful bid. Lara can identify why your previous application may have failed and guide you on exactly what needs to be changed to give it the best possible chance of success the second time around.

Testimonials…

  • Lara was an anchor throughout the DYCP application process. I have felt supported, guided, and encouraged. Most importantly, I felt heard. Lara really understood exactly what I wanted to express in my application and was able to translate my thoughts into a full-blown application.   Lara is a lovely easygoing person which made the whole experience calming. She’s extremely knowledgeable about creative practice and the visual arts, which made it easier to talk about my work without having to change my language. She would keep me on track whilst not enforcing deadlines (which would have triggered anxiety). The whole process felt smooth, not a big looming mountain to climb, which is often how I feel with applications and deadlines. I didn’t get stressed once!

    Katie Oswell

  • Lara was amazingly helpful in helping me write my funding application. She went above and beyond to not only guide me through the process but more importantly to help me clearly articulate what it is I wanted to say. THANK YOU!

    Robbie Crace

  • Lara really clarified many things for me when working on my Under 30K NLPG, and helped to draw out some key aspects that were under-emphasised in my own view of the project. I really appreciated her getting down into the trenches alongside me to conduct the writing of the application and for working closely on a moving target, that was such a huge help in getting the momentum up and the application over the line.

    Eoghan O’Keeffe

  • Lara and I worked together in parallel on my DYCP application. Lara made my application process feel easy and pretty seamless. She looked at my drafts, listened, and then distilled and edited the best ideas into the proposal.

    Peter Gomes

  • I had the pleasure of working with Lara on an NLPG funding application and couldn't be more impressed with her professionalism and expertise. She has a remarkable grasp of the intricate application system. She made this complex task feel very manageable to me and brought precision to every aspect of my project.

    Djanan Turan

  • I had no idea how to begin with my Arts Council application, or even if my idea was coherent enough to put forward. Lara not only explained the process to me (along with the right language to use, how to lay out a budget, and other hugely helpful tips) but she also gave me confidence in my project—taking it from a germ of an idea to a fully-fledged initiative that I can move forward with. Applying is not as simple as it sounds and it helped so much to have someone who knows their stuff guide me through. I’d definitely recommend Lara to anyone wanting to apply for funding.

    Alanna Duffield

  • Lara was a real pleasure to work with. I find these kinds of applications extremely challenging but Lara has devised a simple form that helps you distill your idea down to its core, and how you can execute it effectively should you be awarded funding. During each session we worked on refining and improving the submission to make it as strong as possible. She is extremely knowledgeable and has a wide understanding of the arts. I can’t recommend her enough.

    Will C

  • Lara was an amazing mentor for the DYCP application. She was very helpful in helping me articulate my ideas efficiently and eloquently in a way I would not have been able to do myself. She made herself available whenever I had any questions and went above and beyond to help me in any way she could. I felt like she really cared about my project and had a great level of involvement without being at all heavy-handed or altering my ideas.

    Lipley and Parker Design

  • Lara was a dream to work with. She is a great listener and a trustworthy sounding board. In the space of a couple of sessions, she was able to see clearly through my jumble of ideas and visions for the project and helped me pull out my intentions into a succinct application. Her in-depth knowledge of the requirements of the application process was invaluable and I look forward to working with her in the future.

    Jess Mulvey

  • I am so happy I had the opportunity to write my DYCP application with Lara’s guidance. I came to our first online meeting with a lot of ‘stream-of-consciousness writing and notes. But, conditioned by years of frustrating experiences, I felt fearful that structuring it all into relevant texts which stayed within the DYCP’s word limits would involve a huge amount of time and plenty of anxious doubting. Lara supported me through the whole process and helped me get past my anxieties.

    Carly R

  • I would have given up with the whole process if Lara had not provided her calming reassurance and encouragement. The NLPG application is daunting. Her sessions provided the structure I needed to complete the application to a tight deadline, she made me concentrate on specific areas between sessions which helped break down the enormity of the task. Having someone with Lara’s knowledge and experience to read through the final application is invaluable, she picked up on something I had randomly added in one section and not another!

    Olivia Atkinson

  • Lara’s help was instrumental to my application. Faced with an application my mind froze and my body went into flight mode but by breaking the process down and with guidance throughout the process, Lara helped me create my first funding application which I’m so proud to have accomplished. Whatever the outcome of the application, I now know exactly what path my creative career needs to follow. Lara was kind, insightful and thorough in the whole process. I highly recommend using her support.

    James Boswell

  • Working with the new Project Grant criteria and application for 2022, I was nervous as my project relied solely on external funding. The sessions with Lara acted as a sounding board and were very reassuring and helpful in fine-tuning my application and helping to navigate the often confusing and vague language. Her enthusiasm and praise for the project itself have been highly motivating moving forward.

    Felix Choong

  • After many failed attempts to access funding, I’d all but given up on it as an option! Working with Lara turned a normally overwhelming and stressful process into a smooth, manageable, and achievable one. Her knowledge and enthusiasm calm the nerves and makes the whole process actually enjoyable! Thanks again!

    Femi Idowu-Read

  • Lara has been an incredible help to me through my Art’s Council application. From when I tried to start the process on my own but felt overwhelmed by the application process, to proudly submitting an application I was proud of, Lara was a calm and encouraging presence throughout. I found the financial planning and organising side of things, particularly challenging. Lara was able to talk me through what I needed to do step by step and clarify the type of things I needed to take into account. She also was incredibly helpful at editing and streamlining what I wrote. I would highly recommend working with Lara and hope to work with her again on any future applications.

    Lonan Jenkins

  • I have always found applications to be intimidating and stressful, affecting how I write my responses. However, working with Lara on my DYCP application filled me with confidence and helped me to clarify and simplify what I wanted to say. Lara gave me advice on time planning, budgets, acquiring additional supportive material and how to formulate my answers to get maximum impact and information across. It has been one of the most helpful and educational experiences since I graduated 6 years ago. Lara’s support was uplifting and made the experience of applying for DYCP enjoyable rather than stressful. I look forward to working with her again in the future!

    Jeanne Bliss Robertson

  • Lara was an absolute pleasure to work with. Lara was always punctual and communicated well throughout, making the whole process smooth. I had to delay my submission date twice due to other commitments, and Lara was always very flexible and understanding. Something I didn't expect was her sense of empathy and encouragement, when I got partners confirmed, to the trickier times when I was struggling with the bid. Lara's access support has truly unlocked something within my practice, enabling me to have the support that I have needed for years, and therefore pushing my work to places I could only have imagined, by doing it alone. Thank you again, and I look forward to working with you in the future.

    Cat Scott

  • The assistance and guidance Lara provided while collaborating on my DYCP grant application were invaluable. As someone who struggles with structuring my ideas to fit the required format, her expertise ensured clarity and adherence to relevant guidelines. She played a crucial role in refining my application and outlining my objectives for the development period, making them realistically attainable. Her counsel on budget and structure was accurate. Our brainstorming sessions were fun and productive. Collaborating with her was a pleasure. I highly recommend her services and would work with her again without hesitation.

    Gabrielle Motola

  • If you're like me and often find it difficult to organise your thoughts then Lara is the perfect person to get in touch with. I had absolutely no clue how to approach the DYCP application process. It's certainly harder than it seems. With Lara's help it almost felt too easy. She's a very attentive listener and a master of language. I don't know how but she managed to make sense of my ramblings and distill them into a very comprehensive application. What she did in tour time together might have taken me two years. She's honestly the best.

    Phodiso Dintwe

  • Lara is truly brilliant to work with, she is patient, clear, compassionate, and efficient. Applying for DYCP felt like a minefield to me, but Lara made the process so accessible and feel 100% achievable. Already looking forward to working with Lara again soon and looking forward to recommending her to others, who will undoubtedly benefit from her magic.

    Grace Lister

  • Lara was an incredible support when applying for the DYCP grant. Her approach was calm, clear and patient. She spent time explaining the application process, which I really appreciated. Lara was also very flexible with our meetings and worked around when it was best for me whilst I was looking after my baby on maternity leave. 

    Gemma Pearce

  • Lara has been a fantastic support. I couldn’t have gone through this tricky process of writing and submitting my DYCP application without her skills and experience. Lara offers such a talented, professional, and vital service for those with disabilities.

    Leah Stone