Grant scheme applications now open for community organisations to provide crisis support for residents

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Several grant schemes are now available for registered charities, not-for-profit and Voluntary Community and Social Enterprises (VCSE) organisations in West Northamptonshire, or who are prepared to operate within West Northants, to apply for funding to support vulnerable households most in need with the cost of living.

Using funds from the sixth tranche of the Household Support Fund for West Northants, £955,000 has been allocated for grant funding to support those in financial hardship, with funding being available until the end of March 2025.

To ensure funding can support as many residents as needed, three grant schemes are available for organisations to apply for. These include:

  • £545,000 available for projects or services supporting the Food Aid Network
  • £225,000 available for projects or services supporting vulnerable households struggling to afford energy bills and energy saving essentials.
  • £185,000 available for projects or services supporting vulnerable households struggling to afford household and wider essentials.

All applications must demonstrate they can offer services that cater for immediate needs as well as providing support that has a long-term sustainable impact.

Closing date for this funding is 5pm on Wednesday 6 November 2024.

Further information and the full criteria for applications can be found on the WNC website and in the Council’s Community Funding Grants Framework.

For an application form and guidance please email communitygrants@westnorthants.gov.uk.

More information on the Household Support Fund (HSF) can be found on the West Northamptonshire Council Website.

Accelerating Reform Fund money

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Both North and West Northamptonshire Councils, along with the Integrated Care Board, have successfully bid for a portion of Accelerating Reform Fund money.

Northamptonshire Carers has been commissioned to deliver on the following priorities for Unpaid Carers:

 

  • Priority 11 (focuses on unpaid carers): ways to better identify unpaid carers in local areas
  • Priority 12 (focuses on unpaid carers): ways to encourage people to recognise themselves as carers and promote access to carer services

 

There are currently opportunities for local VCSE organisations to receive a small grant through Northamptonshire Carers if they have a robust proposal that supports Northamptonshire Carers in achieving success with outlined priorities.

 

Please find  an application form to submit your proposal to Northamptonshire Carers, This is to be done by Monday 7th October 2024 via email to community@northamptonshire-carers.org

 

Proposals will need to outline strictly how you will meet Priority 11 and/or Priority 12. Small grants available from £1,000 to £10,000

Funding available for community groups to support mental health initiatives

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Voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations across West Northamptonshire are invited to apply for grant funding to deliver community-based projects which seek to improve the mental wellbeing of local residents.

Click here for more information.

The Lloyds Bank Foundation continue to support charities

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For ten years, the Lloyds Bank Foundation has been investing in helping small and local charities to build on their strengths and grow more resilient so they can thrive over the long term.

The Foundation wants to share their organisational development support offer with charities they cannot fund. This will include the full range of tailored support together with guidance from their Regional Managers. The support could include working with a specialised consultant, a mentor, or a skilled volunteer, participating in peer networks, members and delivering or facilitating events.  Through this programme the Foundation will help charities to identify and prioritise their development goals, building on what they are already great at and supporting them to respond to and overcome challenges.

This year, the Foundation will be  supporting up to 60 charities that help refugees and asylum seekers through this Organisational Development Support Programme:

https://www.lloydsbankfoundation.org.uk/funding/organisational-development-support-programme

This offer is only available to charities with an income between £25k and £500k PA. This programme does not come with a cash grant, but all the requisite support provided is completely free of charge.

West Northamptonshire launch a new phase of Community Grants

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The grant scheme is open to local registered charities, not-for-profit and VCSE organisations that operate, or are prepared to operate, within the geographical area of West Northamptonshire.

Eligible applicants must address an identified local need, and support, enable or facilitate the achievement of one or more of the Council’s strategic aims, objectives, or priorities.

Applications for this round of funding should be submitted no later than 5pm on Wednesday, 26 June 2024.

For more information on how to apply click here:  Fresh grant funding available for West Northants Voluntary and Community Sector | West Northamptonshire Council

 

Grant Funding for Volunteering – Round 3

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West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has launched a third round of grant funding which aims to create additional volunteering opportunities in West Northants.

Local charities, voluntary or community groups, clubs, community interest companies, and not for profit organisations are invited to apply for a grant up to £1,500 to recruit new volunteers for use for projects which address a local community need.

For more information click here: Third round of grant funding launched to help recruit volunteers in West Northants | West Northamptonshire Council

Further information and the full criteria for applications can be found on the WNC website and in the Council’s Community Funding Grants Framework.

If you would like an application form or wish to speak to the Community Funding Grants Team about your project or your eligibility to apply for this grant simply E Mail: communitygrants@westnorthants.gov.uk including your contact telephone number. 

More information about the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) can be on the Gov website.

Second Round Launch on Volunteering Opportunities.

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West Northamptonshire Council is launching its second round of Grants to create volunteering opportunities.

The link to this fund can be found here: Council launch second round of grant funding to create volunteering opportunities in West Northants | West Northamptonshire Council

Successes from round one includes:

Free 2 Talk CIC who were recently awarded funding to support new supervised volunteers work which aims to improve outcomes across academic, behavioural, emotional, and social areas of young people’s lives in Northampton.

Northamptonshire Mind received a grant to deliver their Rural Outreach Project which will recruit supported volunteers to provide community outreach in areas identified as being at the highest risk of social exclusion.

Renew169 Wellbeing Café in Towcester received funding to enable the recruitment of volunteers to support safe space sessions, which aim to reduce loneliness and isolation in people with emotional or mental health difficulties.

If you would like to speak to the Community Funding Grants Team about your project or your eligibility to apply for this grant, email: communitygrants@westnorthants.gov.uk  and include your contact telephone number.

£950K grants scheme launched to support community transport initiatives in West Northants

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West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has launched a new £950k grants scheme to create new and support existing community transport initiatives in West Northants, as well as support the expansion of current grant funded transport projects and services.

This grant funding will be available over the financial years 2024/25 and 2025/26 for eligible community transport projects from 1 April 2024, following £547,181 funding from Central Government via the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) and £60,337 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), in addition to £342,000 of Council funding.

The grant funding will be allocated to community transport projects and services that meet identified needs and assist the Council in achieving one or more of its corporate priorities, including improving accessibility to employment, healthcare, leisure and education services; addressing unmet needs where there are gaps in the commercial bus network provision; and connecting rural communities to the locations they need to access. 

Find out more on the website.

Warm this Winter

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Northamptonshire Community Foundation have launched their annual Warm this Winter Appeal to tackle fuel poverty and to keep the older and vulnerable residents who are experiencing financial hardship across our county fed, warm and well as the cold weather hits.

This appeal has been running every winter since 2010 and has raised over £255,000 to protect some of the most vulnerable members of our local communities.

please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/warmerthiswinter23

Their Winter Wellbeing Funding Programme is now also open with grants of up to £2,000 available to Northamptonshire-based groups focusing on supporting vulnerable older people this winter.

Projects must meet two out of five aims:

Keeping the home warm.

Dressed for warmth.

Staying warm at night.

Eating well OR

Keeping active.

For more information, please see here https://www.ncf.uk.com/warm-this-winter

Grants scheme launched to mitigate youth violence and knife crime in West Northants

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West Northamptonshire Council (WNC), in partnership with the Northamptonshire Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (OPFCC) has launched a new grants scheme to mitigate youth violence and knife crime in West Northants.

Grants of up to £10,000 are available for Voluntary and Community Sector organisations who have identified projects, either new or existing, that aim to alleviate youth violence and knife crime in local communities.

These projects can be prevention or intervention projects, including projects that promote community safety, deter potential offenders, or provide support and resources to at-risk individuals or groups to prevent their involvement in violence and crime.

Registered charities, voluntary or community groups, constitutionalised clubs that engage with young people, and not-for-profit organisations can submit an expression of interest form to WNC outlining their project to be considered for the funding.

Cllr David Smith, WNC’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Engagement, and Regulatory Services, said:

We want to make West Northamptonshire a safer place for everyone and working in partnership with other organisations and community groups is crucial to achieving this.

This funding will enable these organisations to continue their valuable work with young people while enabling local people to become actively involved in developing solutions to protect and improve our communities.

Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Stephen Mold, said:

Tackling youth violence and knife crime at the earliest stage is something that can only be achieved by all the agencies working together, and local community groups.

Communities are often best placed to make a difference and understand how best to prevent crime and support young people in their area, and I am certain that investing in these groups will be a powerful tool in tackling violence.

Find more information and view the full criteria for applications on the WNC website and in the Council’s Community Funding Grants Framework.

If you would like to speak to the Community Funding Grants Team about your project or your eligibility to apply for this grant, email: communitygrants@westnorthants.gov.uk including your contact telephone number, as a telephone conversation can sometimes clarify a question more efficiently.