Deadline: 29-Apr-22
Submit applications for The Leeds Fund Micro Grants to improve the lives of the people in their communities through volunteer-led activities that aim to make a positive difference.
Themes
Below are the funding themes with linked examples of activities we would consider:
Health and Wellness
- Activities to address physical and mental health such as local support groups enabling exercise like walking groups, or activities that increase awareness of mental health. Activities could also address isolation and loneliness in communities.
Enriching Experiences
- Activities that bring joy, creativity and expression to life such as gardening, sports, language or dance sessions. Projects might also focus on environmental conservation, such as litter picking or community vegetable gardens.
Safe and friendly Communities
- Projects that play a part in addressing issues such as anti-social behaviour, housing support or help community integration such as activities that help people feel safe in their community or groups that bring together and create understanding of different cultures in the same community.
Learning and Skill Building
- Activities and projects that encourage learning and could for example support people in gaining life skills and employability skills or tackle disadvantages and barriers to learning.
- Importantly, all activities should bring people in the community together for positive change and action.
Funding Information
- Grants of up to £500 will be awarded.
What can the Fund support?
- They can fund a wide range of items including volunteer expenses, publicity costs, equipment, room hire, materials for activities, etc.
- A contribution to tutor or sessional worker fees can be considered when there is a clear need to bring additional expertise to an activity.
- The grants can be used to extend current activities or to introduce new ones.
What can the Fund not support?
Grants will not be awarded to or for:
- Activities that promote political or religious beliefs.
- Sponsorship/fundraising events.
- Individuals, groups or activities based outside Leeds.
- Funding for activities that have already happened or would happen without the funding.
- Applications from private sector businesses or statutory organisations.
- Activities that will only benefit a very small number of people.
- Payment for salaries or for an individual’s time on the project.
- One off activities that do not provide opportunities for learning, development and sustainability for applicants.
Eligibility Criteria
Individual people who are active in the community (sometimes called social entrepreneurs) or unincorporated and un-constituted groups with income of under £2,500 in the past 12 months or who are new to funding. Priority will be given to individuals and the above un-incorporated and un-constituted groups who work in more deprived communities or have new and innovative ideas to improve the lives of local people. We can only accept one application per individual/informal group during each calendar year.
To be considered for funding your activity needs to:
- Be community led i.e. local people are involved and support the idea.
- Make good use of local resources such as volunteers or community spaces.
- Be open to different people from the community and have a clear community benefit.
- Be based in Leeds and benefit residents of Leeds.
- Evidence consideration of safeguarding if working with children and/ or vulnerable adults. Funding can be used to cover the cost of mandatory DBS checks for people working with these groups.
For more information, visit https://www.leedscf.org.uk/grants/the-leeds-fund-micro-grants/