Deadline: 21-Nov-21
The Bedfordshire & Luton Community Foundation (BLCF) has launched its Luton Citizen’s Fund.
The Luton Citizen’s Fund is administered by the Bedfordshire & Luton Community Foundation (BLCF), on behalf of Luton Council (LBC). The fund observes the principles of Participatory Budgeting (PB). PB is a form of citizen participation in which citizens are involved in the process of deciding how public money is spent. Although frameworks vary from region to region, the process of democratic deliberation and decision-making is at the core of its design.
Aims
- Luton 2020-2040 is a town-wide vision built around a shared ambition that by 2040, Luton will be a healthy, fair and sustainable town, where everyone can thrive and no-one has to live in poverty. During the summer of 2020, residents and organisations in Luton and the surrounding areas were consulted through virtual consultation sessions and on-line surveys.
- The consultation raised several important points for strengthening the vision, including a greater focus on aspiration and inclusion by broadening the focus from no-one in poverty to one of thriving and prosperity for all and a greater emphasis on the short-term objectives of the vision.
- The vision document sets out how LBC will lay the foundations for the journey from 2020 to 2040 over the next five years. LBC will work together with residents and partners across Luton and the wider region to overcome the economic and health impacts of COVID-19, while beginning deliver on the overall ambition for no-one in poverty by 2040.
- One of the three underlying commitments at the heart of the vision is to tackle inequality and build the town on fairness and social justice. BLCF are working alongside the Fairness Task Force to identify and overcome structural barriers and enable all parts of the community to make a real difference by delivering this PB programme. BLCF are members of the Funders for Race Equality Alliance network and as part of the commitment to being an equitable funder, have agreed that all eligible organisations serving communities experiencing racial inequity and are also led by members of those communities (majority board and management staff) will be fast-tracked to the participatory budgeting event days.
Thematic Areas
The Luton Citizen’s Fund has 3 key thematic areas for 2021/22 which organisations can apply to:
- Mental Health and Wellbeing: This funding is part of a Public Health England grant to support in the prevention of mental health crisis and all round good mental health. Organisations that are delivering projects/initiatives supporting mental health and wellbeing can apply under this theme.
- Violence and Crime Reduction: This funding is from the Office of the Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner/VERU to support voluntary organisations who are empowering young people to seek positive change. Organisations that are delivering projects/initiatives related to youth empowerment and positive social change can apply under this theme.
- Contain Outbreak Management Fund: This funding is from the Coronavirus Outbreak Management Fund to support for voluntary and charitable organisations experiencing a rise in demand for their services, and in particular, funding innovative or new projects. Organisations that are delivering new projects/initiatives or have seen an increase in demand for their current projects/initiatives can apply under this theme.
Funding Information
- Approximately £360k will be awarded across the town.
- Awards up to £3,500 can be considered for organisations working to address good Mental Health and Wellbeing, Violence and Crime Reduction, and new projects/ ideas in Luton.
- For grants of £1000 or under, the community and councillor panel will review these, with the decision-making events ratifying the outcomes. Those in receipt of grants for £1000 and under will not need to present at the decision days but will still need to attend to be eligible for the funding.
Eligibility Criteria
- They are only able to consider applications from not-for-profit constituted groups that have clear charitable aims.
- Applications from the following types of organisations/groups will be considered:
- Registered UK charities, including charitable incorporated organisations
- Constituted Community groups and non-registered charities
- Companies Limited by Guarantee with clear charitable aims and without share capital
- Community Interest Companies Limited by Guarantee without share capital, social enterprises and community benefit societies
- Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs/PTFA’s)
- Churches and other religious organisations (if the funded activity is not for religious purposes
- If you are applying in partnership or as part of a consortium the organisation that submits the bid will be known as the lead organisation and must be an eligible entity from the list above, this organisation will manage the funds and the outcome monitoring if successful. The lead organisation should have a signed partnership agreement with all the other organisations in the consortium. Please speak to a member of the Grants team in the first instance if you are looking to apply as a consortium/partnership.
- You must be able to make a strong case for support or have evidence of need.
For more information, visit http://blcf.org.uk/luton/luton-citizens-fund.php