Deadline: 01-Oct-21
Lewes District Council is pleased to launch a brand new Community Grants Programme.
The council recognises the immense contribution that voluntary organisations and community groups make to the district, and has set aside an annual budget to support such activities in line with council priorities, providing a local response to local need.
Key Areas
- Advice Services
- Supporting access to quality advice and information services is a key focus for the grants programme, specifically free general advice and specialist case-work including:
- Debt management
- Welfare & Benefits
- Universal Credit
- Budgeting
- Employment rights
- Utilities (including fuel poverty)
- Discrimination
- Housing and homelessness
- Supporting access to quality advice and information services is a key focus for the grants programme, specifically free general advice and specialist case-work including:
- Community Infrastructure
- A thriving voluntary sector supports resilience and wellbeing in their communities. Agencies which help build capacity within the sector are vital. This category is looking for projects or services that will support new and existing groups (including those that run community buildings) with:
- Information, advice and guidance needed to establish appropriate governance, attract new members, volunteers and trustees, and plan for the future.
- Enabling volunteers and staff access to training, ensuring they work safely, effectively, and in compliance with the law.
- Access to effective information, support and training to generate income and secure grants to support their work
- A thriving voluntary sector supports resilience and wellbeing in their communities. Agencies which help build capacity within the sector are vital. This category is looking for projects or services that will support new and existing groups (including those that run community buildings) with:
- Environment & Wellbeing
- Category 3 invites creative applications, which demonstrate how their project or service will improve the mental health and wellbeing of residents, whilst nurturing the natural environment.
- Homeless Prevention
- Category 4 is around the delivery of housing support designed to prevent homelessness and/or help homeless households to secure sustainable accommodation.
- Equality
- The council is committed to principles of equality and fairness, and recognises that barriers are not limited to those defined in the Equality Act 2010. The Community Grants programme overall seeks to address inequality and disadvantage through-out the district, and recognises that a person may experience multifaceted barriers which fluctuate with circumstance.
Funding Information
- Advice Services: Annual fund up to £190,000
- Community Infrastructure: Annual fund up to £31,000
- Environment & Wellbeing: Annual fund up to £20,000
- Homeless Prevention: Annual fund up to £12,000
- Equality: Annual fund up to £10,000
Eligibility Criteria
The grants programme will focus on five key areas in line with the Community Grants Policy, and welcomes applications from voluntary sector organisations (including branches of national charities) and local constituted groups which can demonstrate:
- That projects or services benefit residents of Lewes District.
- Sound Governance.
- Service sustainability, remaining effective for three years at least (in line with the grants cycle) with sound financial plans in place.
- A clear commitment to principles of equality and safeguarding.
- A commitment to Community Wealth Building.
- The use of secure data systems which are GDPR compliant.
- A demonstrable need, i.e. the service is unlikely to be delivered without a grant. Evidence of any match funding or other contributions should also be included in the application.
For more information, visit https://www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/community/lewes-district-community-grants/