Funding news: benefitting local communities

Groundwork has worked with Comic Relief since 2019 as an intermediary funder in England, supporting grassroots community organisations.

Who is eligible?

Funding is available to organisations with an income of less than £250,000 who are working in one of the following areas: 

Tackling immediate impacts of hardship - Organisations that directly address the immediate impacts of poverty, including providing food, warmth, shelter and financial advice such as food banks, community hubs, homeless shelters or welfare advice agencies.

Building resilience to poverty and hardship - Organisations that deliver activities to empower people to take positive steps out of poverty in the longer term. Examples include skills training, job search, volunteering, mental resilience and financial confidence skills.

Working to support equity and inclusion - Organisations that champion social justice, diversity and inclusion. This could involve service or projects to tackle inequalities which can lead to poverty and exclusion including gender, sexuality, age, race, language or ability.

Working to support climate justice - Supporting activities that improve energy efficiency, environmental education and resilience-building within communities most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such communities at risk of flooding or urban heat islands and those more vulnerable to extreme weather events, such as older people, isolated communities or people with disabilities. Projects might include community awareness sessions, carbon literacy training and practical measures.

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What is funded?

Funding can be used on core organisation costs, direct project related costs or a combination of both.

An example of core funding could be a contribution to organisation’s annual budget to continue its good work, funding to expand the work, or to add something new that amplifies results. It could also be allocated for expenses that are harder to fund, such as salaries of senior management or administration, or ongoing costs that are not covered by other grants.

Core funding has to be used for an agreed purpose, and in an agreed time period, by the end of September 2025.

Examples of direct project costs could include:

• Counselling and support services
• Paying staff or volunteer expenses
• Costs for equipment or materials
• Core, ongoing running costs of your organisation, such as, rent, utilities, and other general running costs.
• Training for staff and volunteers
• Consultant time to help develop your organisation or key policies
• Website development to improve the marketing and promotion of your services
• Buying food and equipment for a foodbank
• Employing seasonal workers to deliver activities for young people, tackling inequality issues
• Creating a community garden to help refugees come together, tackling family isolation and mental health issues
• A creative arts project to help tackle gender-based violence through workshops and exhibitions
• Renting space to support people to recover from homelessness

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Timescale

Applications for applications opened on Monday 14 October 2024 and will close on Friday 8 November 2024 at 5pm. Around 140 grants will be awarded, and a high number of applications are expected, making the application process competitive.

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How to apply

Visit: https://www.groundwork.org.uk/comic-relief/apply/ and read the guidance notes and take the eligibility quiz.

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