Comic Relief has launched its new funding strategy and is inviting grassroots voluntary and community sector organisations in England to apply for flexible grants of up to £5,000 to help support the delivery of services and activities that benefit their local communities.
The funding is intended for small organisations for work that delivers against one of the areas, which link with Comic Relief's new funding strategy:
- Tackling immediate impacts of hardship - organisations that directly address the immediate impacts of poverty, including providing food, warmth, shelter and financial advice such as foodbanks, 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.
It is anticipated that around 140 grants of up to £5,000 will be awarded. They can be used on core organisation costs, direct project related costs or a combination of both.
Not-for-profit organisations with an annual income of £250,000 or less, who are based within the area where they are carrying out activities and have a governing document may apply.
Groundwork UK, who is administering the Fund, anticipates the application process will be highly competitive and thus applications may close before the published deadline.
Applications will be accepted from 14 October 2024 to 8 November 2024 (5pm).
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