Archives for December 2018
Consultation on the new Thriving Communities Strategy
Hounslow Council have drafted a new Thriving Communities Strategy as the current strategy will come to an end in April 2019. The new strategy builds on current successes, reflects the context
within which the VCSE sector operates and takes into account new and emerging need of residents and communities.
The councilÂ’s Community Partnerships Unit has undertaken extensive engagement with the voluntary & community sector, residents groups and other key stakeholders and has developed a draft Thriving Community Strategy. They are now consulting on that draft and would like your feedback on the challenges, objectives and plans contained in it.
The consultation will be open until 31 January 2019
Community Grant 2019/20
Hounslow Community Grant
The Hounslow Community Grant provides funding of up to £15,000 for voluntary and community sector projects or services that can show a clear benefit to Hounslow residents and help to achieve our key outcomes.
Applications for Round 1 (2019-2020) are now open and close at 12 noon on 21 January 2019.Â
Download an Application Form
Everything you need to know about the Community Grants
Small Grants Programme
The Small Grants Programme provides grants of up to £500 to support local community events or activity across the borough. This includes street parties, local events or activities for residents that help prevent social isolation or allow neighbours to get to know one another better. Only one grant can be allocated to any organisation or group of residents in any financial year.
There are three funding rounds in 2018 -19. Decisions on funding are made by the Cabinet Member responsible for communities in consultation with members of the Community Investment Advisory Panel and will normally be made within four weeks of the closing dates below.
Round 3: The closing date for Round 3 (the final round in 2018/19) is 12 noon on Friday 25th January 2019
Everything you need to know about applying for a Small Grant
Make an application for a Small Grant
For more information click here
New community funding for pocket parks
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is providing a £1 million fund to support the development of new pocket parks and to refurbish existing parks that have fallen into disrepair where their restoration could have a significant positive impact on the local community and address a specific local need.
Please send completed application forms to pocketparksplus@communities.gov.uk by 5pm on Friday 25 January 2019.
Prospectus and guidance here
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pocket-parks-plus-supporting-parks-and-public-spaces
Highlights:
- define a pocket park as a piece of land of up to 0.4 hectares (although many are around 0.02 hectares, the size of a tennis court) which may already be under grass, but which is unused, undeveloped or derelict.
- expect to allocate grants of up to £15,000 for new pocket parks and £25,000 for refurbishment of existing parks split between capital and revenue.
- Grants will be paid to the appropriate principal local authority that is supporting the application (under section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003) so that they can be released to the community as needed to deliver the project.
- Will consider projects for refurbishment of a park or part of a park where this will bring those currently in a state of disrepair back into public use for the long-term and provide a safe accessible place for people in the local community to use. This could include improving access for those with limited mobility or building or refurbishing a childrenÂ’s play area, enabling the park to be a focal point for young families. This does not include funding of general maintenance or repairs which remains the responsibility of the local authority.
- keen to see applications from projects aiming to improve their local town centre or high street with a community green space. The aim is to increase access to good quality green space in a sustainable and community-led manner.
Safeguarding Training Fund
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and the Big Lottery Fund have launched a joint funded programme investing £1.14m until 2022, as part of the wider Government strategy to improve safeguarding practice across the voluntary sector in England. This funding will be used to develop training, support and advice for the sector and will be delivered in two phases:
Phase 1: Safeguarding resources for England launched 10 December for Expressions of Interest, closing on 14 January with projects commencing by the end of March 2019.
This is up to a maximum of £570,000 worth of funding for an organisation or partnership of organisations with the track record and knowledge to develop high quality resources which will be freely available to the voluntary sector to improve safeguarding practice.
Phase 2: Safeguarding training and development to be launched in spring/summer 2019. Funding to a small number of organisations or partnership(s) to share the resources developed during Phase 1 and support grassroots charities and community organisations to improve their safeguarding practice.
