Deadline: 8-Jan-21
The Arts Council England is inviting applications for its Thriving Communities Fund which is designed to increase social connectedness, and help communities cope with the impact of COVID-19.
This fund will support local voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCSFSE) projects that bring together place-based partnerships to improve and increase social prescribing community activities – especially for those people most impacted by COVID-19 and health inequalities.
Objectives
By working with those communities most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including black, Asian and ethnically diverse communities, the projects will fund will help to:
- Enhance collaboration and networking between local organisations
- Strengthen the range of social prescribing activities offered locally and enable social prescribing link workers to connect people to more creative community activities and services
- Explore ways to make these partnerships and activities sustainable over time
Funding Information
- Total fund: £1.4 million
- Grant range: £25,000 – £50,000
Eligibility Criteria
- Applications can be led by voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCSFE) organisations working in any of the following sectors:
- Arts, and culture, including libraries, museums and heritage
- Sport, leisure and physical activity organisations
- Financial wellbeing, advice, food and practical support
- Environment and nature-based organisations
- Non-statutory health and care organisations, working with social prescribing link workers
- These organisations may be registered charities, community interest companies, co-operative societies or community benefit societies. A key part of each funded project will be to bring together the necessary place-based partners to work together across all these sectors to plan and deliver community activity.
- All applications must demonstrate a commitment to work with partner organisations from all of the above sectors in the course of the funded period.
- All applications must evidence the commitment of three core partner organisations – including at least one partner organisation from the arts and culture sector – at the point the application is made.
- Applicants will need to provide 20% match funding, which could include: NHS partners (Clinical Commissioning Groups, Primary Care Networks, Integrated Care Systems); local government; other trusts and foundations; philanthropy or corporate social responsibility; or a wide range of other possibilities. In-kind contributions can include support provided by partners, in addition to cash match – such as staff time, venue hire, project materials and equipment and online services.
- A statement of support from the relevant social prescribing link worker(s) for the geographical location of the proposal is required to support each application, which ensures that social prescribing link workers can connect people to the community activities being funded.
For more information, visit https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/thriving-communities-fund#section-1