Deadline: 14- April-23
The Bedfordshire & Luton Community Foundation (BLCF), on behalf of Luton Rising (formerly London Luton Airport Ltd (LLAL)) is seeking applications for the Near Neighbours Fund.
Objectives
Luton Rising near Neighbors Fund provides short term funding to not-for-profit groups that can deliver in the geographic areas detailed & against the main objectives of this fund. Applicants are expected to show, in a proportionate manner, how their project contributes to the objectives. If you are not sure if your project falls within these objectives, please call, and speak to one of our team who will advise.
The main objectives and outcomes are:
- Securing a strong economic recovery from COVID-19, which protects jobs, incomes and businesses and enables them to build a more inclusive economy
- A skilled workforce that meets the needs of local employers
- More of their residents in high-value, well-paid jobs
- Diversifying their economy by supporting and growing key sectors including the green economy, digital, creative industries, manufacturing, and aviation
- A thriving town/village, with the right mix of office, retail, residential and leisure space
- More money spent locally, with increased social value from the public sector and anchor institutions
- Protecting the most disadvantaged in their towns and villages by prioritizing services and interventions that focus on prevention, alleviate the impact of poverty, and reduce health inequalities.
- Making child-friendly towns and villages, where their children and young people grow up feeling happy, healthy, and secure, with a voice that matters and the opportunities they need to thrive
- Becoming a greener and more sustainable town or village, to meet the long-term ambition to be carbon neutral and climate resilient by 2040
- A strong and empowered community supporting fairness, equality and local pride and speaking with a powerful voice
Funding Information
Grants of up to £5,000 can be considered, generally but not necessarily limited to one year only to support community and voluntary activity in Luton.
Eligibility Criteria
They are only able to consider applications from not-for-profit constituted groups that have clear charitable aims. To be considered for funding, an organization should be able to demonstrate the following:
- That the activity undertaken directly contributes to the key objectives and outcomes for the funding programme.
- That it has the capacity, knowledge, skills, and resources to deliver its activities effectively.
- That it is properly constituted according to its form, and is effectively governed and managed with, wherever appropriate, user involvement or participation in the planning, development and management of the organization and its activities.
- That it is properly financially managed, in good financial health, and not holding an amount of unrestricted funds that is disproportionately high in relation to annual expenditure.
- That it is committed to the promotion of equality, cohesion, and inclusion both within its client group and across the community as a whole, and that this is demonstrated through the way it plans and delivers its activities.
- That its estimate of the funding required to deliver its activities is realistic and reasonable and represents good value for money.
- That it has an effective complaints policy, procedure, or mechanism (if someone complains about the service you provide, how you deal with it?)
- That, where it deals with children, young people, and vulnerable adults, it has an effective safeguarding policy in place, and that the governing body, staff are thoroughly and regularly trained and monitored to ensure compliance.
- That it has a track record of partnership working, wherever appropriate, with others working in the same, similar, or complementary field of activity.
- That it is not in receipt of any other Luton Rising funds for the same project
- That it recognizes that it cannot expect continual funding from Luton Rising, and that it has a track record of, wherever possible, seeking funds from different sources, has made efforts to become sustainable, and has a clear exit strategy for dealing with a situation where funding stops.
For more information, visit https://blcf.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant/central-beds/near-neighbours/