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Community Grants illustration

The Community Grants programme offers Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations grant funding from £10,000 to £20,000 to deliver local projects that make a difference within local communities in the South East Midlands.

The programme is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). Unlike many other grant funding schemes, Community Grants do not require ‘match’ funding so grants can cover 100% of the project cost.

SEMLEP manages the Community Grants programme. Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire provide dedicated and free support to help local organisations understand and complete the application process. 

*The Community Grants programme will not be affected by the EU Exit timetable.

The Community Grants programme funds projects that support individuals who are currently unemployed or economically inactive to take up training or get back into work.

Projects should support people to develop confidence, self-esteem, enhance employability skills and transferable life skills. With, the grant programme keen to receive applications from organisations that can create bespoke ways to engage with people from the hardest to reach communities. 

Possible projects include those that:

  • provide training, advice or counselling to support a job search
  • assist with financial numeracy and literacy
  • build digital literacy skills and increase confidence
  • provide work experience opportunities with a clear path back into employment

For round seven, the programme was particularly looking for projects that can support those who have recently been made redundant, particularly those that are 50+. Projects should be delivered safely in the current climate. 

It’s anticipated that each project will support around 15 to 20 individuals.

Grants will be paid in up to four instalments, 25% will be paid upon the signature of the contract. Then, the remaining 75% will be paid in up to three instalments, in line with project performance monitoring. Each project should run for a maximum of 12 months.

If you are successful in your application, it is crucial that your organisation is ready to implement and manage the project.

Priority will be given to projects that work with people who live in areas with higher levels of deprivation.  

Applications are encouraged to support these target groups:

  • People with disabilities, health conditions & neurodivergent traits
  • Households on a single income with dependent children
  • Individuals who are homeless or in temporary accommodation
  • People aged 50 or over
  • People from ethnic minority groups
  • Ex-Offenders [not receiving HMPPS support]
  • Women returning to work e.g. from maternity leave, a long period as a carer or parent or women whose circumstances have changed

Are you eligible to apply for a grant through SEMLEP's Community Grants project? 

  1. Does your organisation support people in the areas listed below?
  2. Does your organisation have less than £300,000 annual income?
  3. Does your organisation have fewer than 50 full-time equivalent paid employees?
  4. Are you able to demonstrate complete autonomy from any organisation that has in excess of £300,00 annual income or 50 or more full-time equivalent employees?
  5. Do you have a constitution of rules saying how your organisation is managed and what it does?
  6. Do you have a UK bank account?
  7. Do you have professional, employers and public liability insurance and public indemnity insurance?
  8. Is your organisation legally constituted?
  9. Do you have a legal structure that demonstrates that you are a VCSE organisation?

Geography: The European Social Fund and Education Skills Funding Agency awarded the Community Grants funding to SEMLEP on the basis of the ESF investment that was allocated in 2014. Therefore, the geographic basis upon which projects can apply reverts too: Milton Keynes, Northampton, Corby, Kettering, Daventry, South Northamptonshire, Cherwell, Aylesbury Vale, Bedford and Luton. 

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The Community Grants programme is closed for applications. The seventh round closed at 12 PM on Thursday 30 September 2021. 

Information about future rounds of funding will be available via this webpage shortly. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact communitygrants@semlep.com.

To find out more about the programme, eligibility criteria, and the application process, please take a look at the Grants Guidance.

Case Studies

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