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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.

Projects funded through Community Grants should support individuals who are currently unemployed or economically inactive to take up training or get back into work.

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

Examples of projects could include those that:

  • provide training, advice or counselling to support with 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 six, we are particularly looking for projects that can deliver learning online or projects that can be delivered in line with the government COVID-19 guidelines – focusing, targeting unemployed and those who have recently been made redundant, particularly those that are 50+.

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. 

The Community Grants programme opened for its sixth round of applications on 09 June 2021.

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

This round of funding closed for applications at 12 pm on 30 June 2021. 

Interested organisations are also invited to attend one of our fully funded Community Grants information webinars to cover the funding, eligibility and application process in further detail.

Reserve your place below:

Tuesday, June 15th: Book your place

Thursday, June 17th: Book your place

*As of 19 August 2020, the Community Grants programme has a contract extension. This means we are now able to offer six to twelve-month contracts for round six.

If you have any further questions, please contact communitygrants@semlep.com.

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