PLEASE NOTE APPLICATIONS FOR THE SMALL GRANTS PROGRAMME ARE NOW CLOSED

Introduction

Witton Lodge Community Association is inviting community organisation collaborations based in Erdington Constituency to apply for funding under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) supports the UK government’s wider commitment to level up all parts of the UK by delivering on each of the levelling up objectives:

• Boost productivity, pay, jobs, and living standards by growing the private sector, especially in those places where they are lagging.
• Spread opportunities and improve public services, especially in those places where they are weakest.
• Restore a sense of community, local pride and belonging, especially in those places where they have been lost.
• Empower local leaders and communities, especially in those places lacking local agency.

Aims of the fund

Two grants are available to apply for:

VCFSE Collaboration Funding Programme

Grants are available up to £10,000 for projects which deliver against the following themes:

• Community events, engagement and reach: Providing services to vulnerable communities. For example, older people, young people, Black and Minority Ethnic Communities, refugees and asylum seekers, etc; holding events to celebrate communities or improve community resilience.
• Health and Wellbeing: Working with communities to promote healthy lifestyles, improve well being and promoting positive mental health.
• Job, Skills and Enterprise: Provide support to people to develop their skills and support people into employment or enterprise.
• Environmental activities and Improvements: Increasing biodiversity such as tree planting, gardening, habitat creation; improve green spaces or turning unused land into pocket parts; sow and grow projects.
• Community Safety: Improve community safety, tackle anti-social behaviour, reduce crime.

Who can apply?

• Community, voluntary, faith or social enterprises collaborations. (Collaboration must be between 2 or more VCFSE groups)
• One of the organisation should act as the lead organisation in the collaboration
• Letters of support must be provided from partner organisations
• A memorandum of understanding must be in place between the organisations detailing each of the respective roles in the collaboration.
• Must have a bank account in the lead organisations name.
• Applications will be considered for grants up to £10,000 per collaboration.
• Only one application per collaboration will be considered.
• Funding must be spent and reported by March 2025.
• Organisations must be based in or providing services in the Erdington Constituency which includes the following wards:
  • Castle Vale,
  • Erdington,
  • Gravelly Hill,
  • Kingstanding,
  • Perry Common,
  • Pype Hayes,
  • Stockland Green

 

VCFSE Micro Grants Funding Programme

Grants are available up to £2,000 for organisations which deliver against the following:

• Organisational capacity building: Building your organisations capacity and capability, this could include purchasing equipment; providing training and development to staff, volunteers and management committees members; undertaking governance audits; developing or improving policies and procedures; commissioning professional support for example developing fundraising strategy, marketing analysis, business plan.
• Developing or delivering services: Funding towards developing or delivering services that meet one of the following aims:
  • Health and Wellbeing: Working with communities to promote healthy lifestyles, improve well being and promoting positive mental health.
  • Job, Skills and Enterprise: Provide support to people to develop their skills and support people into employment or enterprise.
  • Environmental activities and Improvements: Increasing biodiversity such as tree planting, gardening, habitat creation; improve green spaces or turning unused land into pocket parts; sow and grow projects.
  • Community Safety: Improve community safety, tackle anti-social behaviour, reduce crime.

Who can apply?

• Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprises (you do not need to be incorporated).
• Must have a bank account in the organisations name. Organisations who do not have a bank account can still apply for funding, under the umbrella of another constituted group who has a bank account and will act as the fund holder for the grant (sponsor).
• Applications will be considered for grants up to £2,000 per organisation.
• Only one application per organisation will be considered.
• Funding must be spent and reported by March 2025.
• Organisations must be based in or providing services in the Erdington Constituency which covers the following wards:
  • Castle Vale,
  • Erdington,
  • Gravelly Hill,
  • Kingstanding,
  • Perry Common,
  • Pype Hayes,
  • Stockland Green