Tag Archive for: Local Funds

South Cambs. District Council Community Chest Grant/Cost of Living Crisis/April ’23

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Grants available: up to £2,000 (ringfenced total sum of £20,000)

Deadline to apply: Expanded criteria until April 2023

Who is the funding for? To support projects to help residents deal with the cost of living crisis for voluntary and community sector groups, charities and public sector bodies wishing to further improve quality of life locally. Parish and Town Councils of any size can also now bid.

District: South Cambridgeshire.

Link: Community Chest Grant Funds

About: The Council’s Community Chest grant fund criteria has been expanded to support projects to help residents deal with the cost of living crisis. Parish Councils of any size and Community groups can apply for up to £2,000 until April 2023.

The Council’s Community Chest fund provides grants to voluntary and community sector groups, charities and public sector bodies wishing to further improve quality of life locally.

At the meeting of the Council’s Grants Advisory Committee on Friday 28 October, Councillors unanimously recommended that the Community Chest criteria were expanded to allow bids that include contributions for any project that has a positive impact for communities related to the cost-of-living crisis. The change also mean it will support ongoing costs, including staffing, as well as one-off purchases as it had previously. Those amendments have now been confirmed by the Lead Cabinet Member for Resources.

Parish and Town Councils of any size can also now bid for Community Chest grants linked to the cost of living crisis. Previously, Parish and Town Councils were not able to bid for Community Chest funds apart from those linked to creating a Community-Led Plan or Biodiversity grants, unless they had fewer than 160 registered electors in their areas.

A ringfenced total sum of £20,000 has been made available for these new Community Chest grant applications relating to the cost of living crisis. This funding has been provided by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System, to ensure support is co-ordinated effectively and directed at those in need locally this winter.

It is anticipated that this new grant funding could go towards projects such as the setting up or running of lunch clubs to provide low-cost meals for those in need, or establishing or building the capacity of food hubs, food banks or community fridges. However, given the limited funds available, the scheme is not able to be used to purchase food or subsidise the cost of the food distributed.

The amended criteria for the Community Chest will be in place until April 2023.

New 2022 dates for the Innovate and Cultivate Fund

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Cambridgeshire County Council is pleased to announce that the next deadline for Innovate & Cultivate Fund applications is 1st February 2022. Pre-application advice appointments will be offered in December (details below).

The aim of the fund is to support initiatives that strengthen our communities and reduce pressure on County Council services, thereby giving a return on investment. Council services that are inviting applications are adult social care and children’s services.

The fund is open to voluntary, community and social enterprise sector organisations based in and outside of Cambridgeshire, and public sector organisations in Cambridgeshire. Please note that projects serving Peterborough residents are not eligible.

This funding round is for Cultivate grant applications (£2,000-£15,000) for projects that build community support networks for vulnerable people.

 

Pre-application advice

We strongly urge organisations to seek pre-application advice on their project ideas before submitting an application.  Telephone advice appointments for projects supporting vulnerable children, young people and families are offered on 1st and 9th December. Appointments for projects supporting vulnerable adults are offered on 14th and 16th December.  These 15-minute appointments must be pre-booked and are available on a first come first served basis. Please book here.

 

Cultivate Project Ideas

Do you want to do something for your community but need some inspiration to start a project? We’ve developed application guidance for 7 Cultivate project ideas – Mobile Warden Schemes, Community Youth Worker, Digital Inclusion, Timebanks, Good Neighbour Schemes, Dementia-Friendly Communities and Men’s Sheds – that can help people to remain independent and active within their community, encourage volunteering, and complement more costly Council services. You can find guidance on how to apply for a start-up grant for each of these projects here.

 

Applications and further information about fund priorities and criteria may be found on the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation (CCF) website.

New dates for Innovate and Cultivate Fund – Feb 2021

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Cambridgeshire County Council is pleased to announce that the next deadline for Innovate & Cultivate Fund applications is 1st February 2021. One-to-one pre-application advice will be offered on 10th December (details below).

 

The aim of the fund is to support initiatives that strengthen our communities and reduce pressure on County Council services, thereby giving a return on investment. Council services that are inviting applications are adult social care and children’s services.

 

The fund is open to voluntary, community and social enterprise sector organisations based in and outside of Cambridgeshire, and public sector organisations in Cambridgeshire. Please note that projects serving Peterborough residents are not eligible.

 

The 1st February funding round is for ‘Cultivate’ grant applications (£2,000-£15,000) for projects that build community support networks for vulnerable people.

 

Pre-application advice

We strongly advise organisations to seek pre-application advice on their project ideas before submitting an application.  Bookings are now open for telephone advice appointments on Thursday 10th December between 9:30am-12:00pm and 1:00pm – 3:00pm. These 15 minute 1-1 appointments must be pre-booked and are available on a first come first served basis. Please book here.

 

Cultivate Project Ideas

Do you want to do something for your community but need some inspiration to start a project? We’ve developed application guidance for 3 new Cultivate project ideas – Mobile Warden Schemes, Community Youth Worker and Digital Inclusion Projects – that can help people to remain independent and active within their community, encourage volunteering and complement more costly Council services. We also continue to invite applications for Timebanks, Good Neighbour Schemes, Dementia-Friendly Communities and Men’s Sheds. You can find guidance on how to apply for a start-up grant for each of these projects here.

Digital Inclusion Project Cultivate Model- guidance

 

Applications and further information about fund priorities and criteria may be found on the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation (CCF) website.

 

Cambridgeshire Local Lottery will not go ahead

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In a report to Cambridgeshire County Council Members of the Commercial and Investment Committee in November 2019, it was agreed that while there may be some financial benefit for charities of creating a County Council sponsored lottery, this could be outweighed by the possibility of losing support through direct contributions.

The Council had undertaken considerable engagement with the voluntary sector and good causes in Cambridgeshire and while some were enthusiastic, others had concerns that a new lottery might actually reduce funding for them – at least in the short term – as the overall pool of people who donate to good causes wasn’t likely to increase without a considerable amount of additional effort.

The Council has, therefore, thanked all those charities and good causes who gave their time and expertise in helping to consider the concept of the Lottery idea over the past year, and has refocused its efforts on developing and supporting other commercial initiatives.

It has also reminded them about grants of between £2k – £50k, available from the Council through its Innovate and Cultivate Fund.

Coneygear Seniors taking shape

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Working in partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council’s Innovate and Cultivate Fund, Huntingdon Town Council have secured funding to run a programme to support older people in Huntingdon.

The sessions are held between 9am and 1pm every Wednesday and will run until March 2021.

If you are over 65 you can attend the Medway Centre (and then the new Coneygear Centre when it opens) and enjoy a morning of activities. There will be no cost to start with, but a £2 fee will be introduced when the programme moves over to the new centre (which purely covers the cost of food).

As part of the programme, everyone attending has the opportunity to make new friends, partake in gentle exercise, receive advice and support from lots of different organisations, get help with any problems they may be facing, play general board games or puzzles, take part in arts and crafts and receive a nutritious hot lunch,  including lots of tea, coffee and biscuits.

In addition, the Town Council are hoping to set up a monthly Dementia Carers Support Group.

If attendees want to stay beyond 1pm then they are welcome to join the bingo session (a charge applies for this) which starts at 2pm.

If this is of interest please contact the Medway Centre in Huntingdon 01480 388 677 and speak to either Sally or Shilpa.

The capacity for each session is 100.

 

Cambridgeshire Local Lottery

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Cambridgeshire Local Lottery is launching in Autumn 2019.

In March 2018 Cambridgeshire County Council councillors approved plans to launch a local lottery, where 60p in every £1 spent will go to local good causes (more info here). After various consultation events, the team is gearing up to launch the lottery to local organisations with an event on 24 July, 7-9pm in the Kreis Viersen Room, Shire Hall, Cambridge CB3 0AP.

The event will provide an opportunity for local community groups to find out more about becoming a member of the lottery and to either register on the day or take away information to register later. If you are interested in attending the event or would like more information on the Cambridgeshire Local Lottery please email cambslottery@cambridgeshire.gov.uk. The official website (www.cambslocallottery.com) will be open to local groups to register from 24 July. Tickets can be brought from 3 September and the first draw will take place on 12 October.

Cambridgeshire online lottery

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Earlier this year (January 2019) we reported that Cambridgeshire County Council were moving towards a Cambridgeshire online lottery in support of local good causes.

The County has since run a number of focus groups and are planning to launch the lottery over the summer of 2019.

Over 30 local authorities across the UK have invested in online lotteries, achieving £130,000 in a two year period for various good causes.

Cambridgeshire County Council estimate that within a 24 month period, 9,779 prospective players will provide approximately £254,000 for good causes across the County (based upon a population estimate of 651,000 and a take up rate of 1.5%).

How will it work?

Online tickets will be available at £1.00 per week.

50% of the price of a ticket will go towards individual or specific listed good causes.

10% will go towards a community fund (which will be allocated to good causes chosen by elected members).

20% will go towards players and will act as prize money (the maximum prize that can be won is £25,000).

17% will go towards the Lottery Provider (a company known as Gatherwell).

3% is required for VAT compliance.

Cambridgeshire based organisations can list themselves as a good cause providing they benefit or provide services and activities across the 5 districts which constitute the County.

Organisations will need a formal constitution or a set of rules.

Organisations will also need a bank account with at least 2 unrelated signatories.

More details on how to list an organisation as a good cause can be viewed here:

Potential issues for voluntary organisations:

Organisations will need to think carefully about their fundraising strategy. If donors already support an organisation financially then redirecting them through the lottery could mean a reduction in income (as 50% only of the ticket price is directed towards specific good causes). However, the online lottery could be a way of attracting new and different potential donors, so how this is marketed needs to be well thought through and defined. Any organisations that need help with this can contact Support Cambridgeshire partners Hunts Forum (info@huntsforum.org.uk) or Cambridge CVS (alan@cambridgecvs.org.uk).

Cambridgeshire County Council have stated that the lottery is an additional source of funding for good causes and will not impact upon current grant processes (although there are plenty of other external factors which could).

If you wish to have your say about the proposed lottery you still have time: Simply E-Mail cambslottery@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

 

 

 

 

The sector has its view on the proposed County Lottery

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11 delegates from the voluntary sector recently attended the third Focus Group on the proposed Cambridgeshire County online lottery, including Support Cambridgeshire partners Hunts Forum and Cambridge CVS.

Over 30 local authorities across the UK have invested in online lotteries, achieving £130,000 in a two year period for various good causes.

Cambridgeshire County Council estimate that within a 24 month period, 9,779 prospective players will provide approximately £254,000 for good causes across the County (based upon a population estimate of 651,000 and a take up rate of 1.5%).

How will it work?

Online tickets will be available at £1.00 per week.

50% of the price of a ticket will go towards individual or specific listed good causes.

10% will go towards a community fund (which will be allocated to good causes chosen by elected members).

20% will go towards players and will act as prize money (the maximum prize that can be won is £25,000).

17% will go towards the Lottery Provider (a company known as Gatherwell).

3% is required for VAT compliance.

Cambridgeshire based organisations can list themselves as a good cause providing they benefit or provide services and activities across the 5 districts which constitute the County.

Organisations will need a formal constitution or a set of rules.

Organisations will also need a bank account with at least 2 unrelated signatories.

More details on how to list an organisation as a good cause will be provided by the County Council in a FAQ sheet which is currently being compiled.

It is envisaged that the lottery will commence in Spring 2019.

Potential issues for voluntary organisations:

Organisations will need to think carefully about their fundraising strategy. If donors already support an organisation financially then redirecting them through the lottery could mean a reduction in income (as 50% only of the ticket price is directed towards specific good causes). However, the online lottery could be a way of attracting new and different potential donors, so how this is marketed needs to be well thought through and defined. Any organisations that need help with this can contact Support Cambridgeshire partners Hunts Forum (info@huntsforum.org.uk) or Cambridge CVS (alan@cambridgecvs.org.uk).

Cambridgeshire County Council have stated that the lottery is an additional source of funding for good causes and will not impact upon current grant processes (although there are plenty of other external factors which could).

If you wish to have your say about the proposed lottery then simply E-Mail cambslottery@cambridgeshire.gov.uk