NNS Connected Communities
The aim of NNS Connected Communities is to administer
a small grants/capacity building programme which will work to a set of
principles outlined below. This is an integral part of the NNS model and will
work within the overall aims, objectives, and Prevention First Outcomes of NNS.
Where possible it will also work according to Asset Based Community Development
principles.
The panel will only fund community-based preventative
support which could not otherwise be funded via a Constituency NNS grant panel
and is not a priority in any of the Constituencies.
The priority will be to fund and develop preventative
support to benefit groups who are spread ‘thinly’ across city, or who might
prefer not to meet where they live.
Each application needs to demonstrate that it will
benefit communities / interest groups that constituency NNS cannot reach.
If one, two or three constituencies only are
involved this should not go to the city-wide panel. This should be managed with
a single application form either through a joint panel or taking to each NNS
panel.
You
can call us on 02477 800 520 for advice on your project before applying.
Fund
Aims
Following a gaps
analysis NNS Connected Communities seeks to support the following communities:
·
LGBTQ
+ communities
·
Deaf
communities – Specifically BSL users
·
Gypsy,
Roma & Traveller communities
Available
Funding
Grants of up £5,000
are available
The panel has the
discretion to award grants for more than £5000 if the applicant demonstrates an
exceptional need for the proposed project.
What
will we support?
- Applications
should be for a project that lasts no longer than 12 months
- New or
existing activities/services
- Grants
for a wide range of purposes including sessional salary costs, project or
activity costs, equipment, consumables or volunteer costs
- Capacity
building
What
we will not support
NNS Connected Communities will not tackle generic
wider ‘big issues’ in the city such as – healthy eating, covid recovery,
digital inclusion, accessible transport
Eligibility
You can apply to
this fund if your organisation is one of the following:
·
Registered
charities
·
Constituted
Community groups
·
Companies
Limited by Guarantee with charitable aims
·
Community
Interest Companies (not limited by shares)
·
CIO
with demonstrable social purpose
·
Co-operatives
– registered Community Benefit Societies and registered Industrial and
Provident Societies
Sorry,
we cannot fund:
·
Do
not support the current priorities set by the steering group
·
Individuals
or sole traders
·
Companies
Limited by Shares
·
Capital
builds
·
Direct
replacement of statutory obligation and public funding
·
Promotion
of religious or political activities
·
Groups
with significant financial free reserves
·
Retrospective
grants
·
Contribution
to endowment fund, payment of deficit funding or repayment of loans
·
Overseas
travel or expeditions
·
Medical
research and equipment for statutory or private healthcare
·
General
appeals
·
Animal
welfare, unless the project benefits people
·
Any Statutory
services / work including educational institutions
·
Sponsored
or fundraising events or groups raising funds to distribute to other causes
·
Schools,
Churches, Parish Councils or PTA’s unless community benefit is demonstrated
·
Activities
generating private profit
·
Projects which are purely
about research
- Costs of ongoing
staff who are not working directly on the project – including salaries of
permanent or fixed term staff
- Costs incurred in
putting the application together
- Core costs of the
organisation – (utility bills; rent; management
costs etc.) which are not directly related to the project activity
- Contingency costs
e.g. funds to provide a source of income or for fundraising activities
- Political or
religious activities
- Projects that
take place outside of Birmingham.
- VAT that can be
recovered
- Loans or interest
payments.
- Purchase of
alcohol or illegal substances
Additional
Supporting Information
To be eligible to
apply you must provide proof of:
·
Your
organisation / company has a management committee / board of trustees / board
of directors with at least 3 unrelated people as members, a list of those
directors will be required showing who has bank authorisation
·
A
written constitution / articles / set of rules
·
A
copy of your most recent annual accounts or financial records showing your
organisation’s balance of funds, income and reserves
·
A
bank account in the name of the organisation with at least two unrelated
signatories.
·
A
bank statement from the last 3 months
·
Copies
of Safeguarding and Equality Opportunities Policy.
·
Quotes
for capital items over £300
Your organisation must also have the
following policies and procedures in place:
·
Health
& Safety
·
Counter
Fraud, Anti Corruption, Gifts and Hospitality
·
Whistle
Blowing
·
Complaints
All grant applicants You will need to provide project
updates and photographs throughout the time of the grant. You will need to
complete an end of grant monitoring form and supply at least one case study.
All grant applicants will be expected to participate in any appropriate publicity as requested by HoECF and Birmingham City Council.