Brighton & Hove Council: Grants to smaller organisations

Aims of Fund

Supporting a thriving third sector that promotes engagement and equality by encouraging cohesive communities to have active voices

Who can apply

Organisations must have an income of £35,000 or less.  You need to state which one (or more) of the following criteria your application fits into:

• Strengthening Communities and Involving People: Tackling Inequality, Working to Create a Fairer City & Engaging more Groups across the City
• Improving Well-Being & Promoting Learning: Culture & Leisure Opportunities for All, Promoting Healthy Lifestyles & Supporting Vulnerable People
• Reducing Crime and Improving Safety: Encouraging ‘responsibility’… delivering effective & accessible early interventions… involving communities in reducing crime & antisocial behaviour
• Enhancing the Environment: Creating a more Sustainable City, Living within Environmental Limits & Promoting Sustainable Transport

You will need to have a constitution or set of rules, and a bank account with at least two signatories.

NB Organisations/Groups which are managed by a umbrella organisation or community development project may apply even if they haven't got a constitution or bank account of their own and even if the umbrella organisation is in receipt of a council grant in that year.

Examples of past applicants:

Woodingdean Youth Centre; South Portslade Community Association; Brunswick Westward U3A; Asho Bangla Shiki; Woodies Parent & Toddler Group; Four Deans Stroke Club; Black Minority Ethnic Young Peoples Project; Brighton Alliance of Sound Systems; Pinks Dance Group; Whitehawk Crime Prevention Forum; Holy Nativity Senior Citizens Club; The Migrant English Project; Whitehawk Parents Community Project; B&H National Childbirth Trust "Choices"; St Lukes Advice Service; Cruse Bereavement Care; Brighton Science Festival; Sudanese Women & Children Group; Brighton, Hove & District Schools Rugby Assoc; Brighton Ourstory; Coastline Harmony Chorus.

A full list of groups that have received grants is available on the City Council website.

How much and what can you apply for

Examples of past grants and for what use if available

Annual awards of up to £5000 for community organisations.

You can use the money to:

• Contribute to the core costs
• Cover specific costs of a certain activity
• Purchase small items of equipment

You cannot use the money to fund capital building works.

You can apply several times, but will need to show that you are sourcing some of your group's income from other funders.

Total anticipated budget for 2012-13: Approx £150,000

Brighton & Hove Council also administers the Hedgcock Bequest, a separate grant-making charitable trust. See separate sheet for more information.

How to apply

Phone for an application pack or download from the website. It is advisable to speak to Jonathan Best about your application before submitting it.

Deadlines for application

2012-13 Deadlines: 29 February 2012, 18 May 2012, 10 August 2012, 09 November 2012.

Applications that miss the deadline will automatically be transferred to the next round. It takes 6-8 weeks to receive a decision on your application. Please allow sufficient time to plan your proposed activity. Awards should be spent before 31st March 2013.

Other details

For grants over £1,000 you will need to provide information on outcomes (the impact your project is having), outputs (what you have done) and monitoring.

Your application is more likely to be successful if you have raised at least 50% of your costs from other funders or through fundraising activities. It may also be advisable to apply early in the financial year if this is possible.

Background info held at Resource Centre

Guidance notes, application form.

Contact details

Date & initials

27/1/12 DA