Building Strong Communities Fund in the UK

Deadline: 8-Aug-22

The GLA is inviting applications from London’s voluntary and community sector organisations to the new Building Strong Communities Grant Fund, which was created to support London communities that have been most affected by the Covid-19 crisis.

The Building Strong Communities Fund aims to make sure funding reaches grassroots groups and communities that have been most impacted by COVID-19.

Funding Information

Microgrant
- Funding between £1,000 and £5,000
- Projects may start at any time after their award is finalised but all microgrant projects for round two must be completed by 29th December 2023 and for round three by 28th June 2024
- Project must align to one Building Strong Communities mission outcome.
- Available for groups with an annual turnover/income of £50,000 or under in their last set of financial year accounts or financial document. This turnover limit is set to encourage smaller organisations to apply. Turnover must be between £0 and £50,000 in the applicant’s last year’s financial accounts or financial document equivalent.
Small grant (available for funding rounds one and two only)
- Funding between £5,001 and £10,000
- Projects may start any time after their award is finalised, but all small grant projects must be completed by 28th June 2024 (up to 18 months delivery)
- Project must align to up to two Building Strong Communities mission outcomes
- Available for groups with an annual turnover/income of £0 to £200,000 in their last set of financial accounts or financial document equivalent.

Outcomes

Londoners are supported to shape their communities post Covid-19
Unheard voices are amplified and heard so that communities have influence and control over decisions
Feelings of belonging are increased; loneliness and social isolation are decreased
Feelings of connection within and across communities are increased

Eligibility Criteria

This Fund is targeted at smaller grassroots groups or organisations who have projects that will involve the communities most affected by COVID-19 with:
- Annual turnover in their last set of financial accounts or financial document equivalent of £0 to £50,000 for a microgrant
- Annual turnover in their last set of financial accounts of £0 to £200,000 or financial document equivalent for a small grant.
To be eligible to apply, applicants will need to be one of the following:
- Registered Charity
- Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
- Community Interest Company (CIC) limited by guarantee
- Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG)
- Constituted Group/Organisation
- Excepted or exempted charity
- Community Amateur Sports Club
- Community Benefit Society
If your organisation is not legally constituted (e.g. mutual aid group or unincorporated association) you can apply through a constituted partner organisation (with annual turnover of any size) who will support your application as your sponsor. Regardless of the sponsor’s organisation type, they will need to have three Trustees/Directors/Management Committee members who are not related.