Nominet Trust invests £2m in new projects  

Nominet Trust has announced its latest round of funding, distributing £2m to 13 projects in the largest single funding round the organisation has ever made.

It specialises in funding projects that use digital technology to tackle major social challenges. In addition to partnerships with organisations including The Design Counciland the School for Social Entrepreneurs, projects include:

• Comparefutures, a new resource from the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, which will allow users to compare the educational, employment and personal circumstances of young adults in every neighbourhood across England and tailor interventions accordingly

• The Impact Assessment App, this impact assessment tool will allow workers on the ground to record free text on the subject of how clients are being services/ helped. This text will be connected to video and audio stories and used to approach policy makers. The tool will ultimately be used to change the face of public engagement when it comes to policy making.

In addition to funding, Nominet Trust provides projects with a range of ongoing business planning and communications support.  

Head of development research Dan Sutch said: “The projects we’ve supported marry positive social change with a clear recognition of the current economic challenges.  For example, the Tyze Personal Networks, the creation of private, secure online networks which the older generation and caregivers can tap into, will not only improve health and social outcomes but will save a considerable amount of money and time for formal caregivers."

Secret philanthropist leaves money in white envelopes

A secret philanthropist has been stuffing white envelopes with euros and leaving them in significant places in a small German town with the aim of helping local residents. So far, 19 envelopes containing a total of 190,000 euros (£159,000) have been found in Braunschweig, 145 miles west of Berlin. They have often been hidden with instructions about where the money should be spent, for example, one was found under the doormat of a hospice worker, another behind hymn books in a church.

The first recipient was a man who had thousands of euros stolen in a burglary. Another envelope was left for a boy who had been disabled after a swimming accident.

Michael Knobel, a manager of a hospice which specialises in comforting the terminally ill, received the largest gift, 10,000 euros (£8,380) to spend on the hospice.

There is speculation among the local population about whether the gifts are an old person nearing the end of his/her life or a few people working together.

Sport Relief gets matched funding from DFID

Sport Relief is to receive matched funding from the Department for International Development when it raises money for work in African slums between March 23 and 25. 

The matched funding will come from UK Aid Match funding, an initiative launched last summer by DFID. Secretary of state for international development, Andrew Mitchell, said: "The slums that Sport Relief is targeting are home to some of the largest groups of the poorest people in the whole of Africa. The British public has repeatedly shown its generosity when it comes to supporting the charity's life-changing work. We're matching that support pound for pound with the aim of helping Sport Relief bring safe water, improved health and education to over one million people."

The money raised will provide clean water, toilets and basic health care; a better education for children and create jobs. Donations to Sport Relief can be made by phone, text or online here.

The last time Sport Relief was held, in 2010, it raised £44.2m.