Community
- Grants

Funding to the Community and Voluntary Sector

We provide grant funding to a range of voluntary and community sector organisations (VCSOs) to improve the well-being of local residents. Grant funding is an important way for the council to acknowledge and support the contribution community and voluntary sector organisations make to the borough. Funding needs to be allocated carefully, fairly and equitably so that it has the most impact and gets the best outcomes.

Community and Voluntary Sector Grants Scheme
There are two types of grant funding available; grant funded programmes and strategic grants. Most organisations are only eligible to apply for grant funded programmes.

Where possible, we expect grant recipients to work closely together, and with the wider community and voluntary sector, so that there are complementary, not competing, programmes and services being delivered across communities.

Following a robust assessment and evaluation process, grants have now been awarded to a range of community and voluntary sector organisations, for the period up to 2019/20. Please see the document below for a full listing of the current grants portfolio.

Directory of community and voluntary sector grants (XLSX)

Directory of community and voluntary sector grants (CSV)

Community and Voluntary Sector Grants 2017/18 (PDF, 59 kb)

Future funding rounds

The Community and Voluntary Sector Grant Award Scheme is now open for applications for programme grant funding, for projects that will:

Take place between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2021.
Continue for between one and three years.
Require funding of up to a maximum value of £20,000 per grant, per annum.
Deliver specific, relevant activities that respond to identified local need.
Have monitored outcomes that will impact positively on council priorities.
Demonstrate partnership working, including involving communities in the design and delivery of services.

Priorities for funding

We want to fund clearly defined projects which can demonstrate that they will help to build communities where people thrive and feel they belong. Funded programmes should support communities to become more resilient by delivering sustainable activities that meet identified local needs.

All programmes should support the Council Plan priorities 2016-20:

Preparing for controlled and sustainable growth.
Improving residents’ quality of life.
Supporting those that need it.

Through this round of funding we are particularly seeking projects which can demonstrate that they will deliver positive outcomes in one or more of the following five themes:

1	Older people are less socially isolated	Enabling older people to access and get involved in activities which improve their wellbeing and reduce social isolation.
2	Families are more resilient	Supporting families, particularly those from more disadvantage backgrounds, to improve their confidence and parenting skills, to enable them to better meet the needs of their family and to cope with challenges.
3	Young people can maximise their potential	Supporting young people to raise their aspirations, develop the skills to cope with adversity and maximise their potential.
4	People who face barriers to employment move closer to the job market	Supporting people who face barriers to employment to improve their skills and access jobs and volunteering opportunities.
5	People reluctant or unable to engage are physically and mentally healthier	Encouraging people who face barriers and/or are more reluctant to take part in activities to make healthier life choices, reduce harmful behaviours and improve their physical and mental wellbeing.

We are looking for projects with high quality outcomes that will make a real difference to people’s lives, rather than activities that might engage with large numbers but have little impact. We recognise that some projects will reach only a relatively small number of people because of their complex needs.

How to apply

Please refer to the Guide for Applicants as this provides valuable additional information.

The closing date for applications is 5pm on Monday 9 October 2017. All completed application forms, and supporting documents, should be returned by this deadline, either by post to the council offices or to the email address shown below.

Applicants will be informed of funding decisions by 28 February 2018.

Please note that council funding cannot be awarded until 1 April 2018.