The National Lottery Community Fund has awarded £100,000 to Norfolk Community Foundation which will be used to deliver activities to support communities through the Covid-19 crisis.
James is encouraging charities and community organisations to apply for grants if they continue to face additional/ unplanned costs to deliver their services, due to new working practices, exceptional demand, or required safety measures as a result of the continuing pandemic.
The Fund can also consider funding towards your ongoing services or activities, whilst you adjust to the impact of the pandemic on your organisation.
Grants may be used towards core running costs by organisations able to demonstrate strong pre-pandemic governance and finance.
Please note if you are applying for core cost funding, you will be asked to evidence your organisation’s current financial position and plans for return to sustainability within a known timescale, including:
- Information to explain current financial position
- Operational plans and financial forecast, covering the next 6-8 months minimum
- Smaller community groups can submit a simple budget/ plan showing projected income and expenditure for 6-8 months
Grants cannot be awarded to organisations that are currently inactive / not delivering services and activities, unless a grant will enable the immediate re-start.
Capital costs that clearly meet the Fund aims can be considered, providing action can take place promptly if a grant is awarded.
Priority will be given to applications able to show that funded activities will primarily benefit the most vulnerable communities impacted by Covid-19.
Please note: Priority will be given to smaller voluntary and community organisations with limited access to other funding or income, and those yet to benefit from NCF’s Covid response funding. It is unlikely that organisations that received funding from the Norfolk Recovery Fund will receive further funding in this round unless it can be shown to support new and/ or clearly different work.
Who can apply
Applications are invited from established charitable organisations which already have a clear track record in delivering effective services in relevant field/s in the county, and have the capacity to adapt/ enhance their services in response to the current and longer term impacts of Covid-19.
Applicants will have appropriate systems and procedures in place to protect and care for the vulnerable people they help – please note applications must evidence an understanding of best working practices in the light of Covid-19 and the challenges it presents, both to those delivering services, and beneficiaries.
We expect demand for funding to be high – it is expected that one application will be accepted to the Norfolk Covid-19 Response & Recovery Fund per organisation, unless the organisation is involved in multiple, distinct activities that meet Fund priorities.
Funding available
Grants of up to £10,000 are available to support action that clearly meets the fund aims.
It is expected that grants awarded will be put to immediate use, and in most cases fully spent within 6-8 months.
In exceptional circumstances a larger grant may be considered. Please contact the Grants Team before applying.
Exclusions
- Funding cannot be used to support private or publicly funded/statutory health services.
- Funding cannot be used to meet the personal needs of individuals through hardship payments or other direct financial support offered on an individual basis.
- Applications will only be considered from charitable organisations who are already established and have a strong track record of delivering relevant services in Norfolk.
- Grants cannot be awarded to organisations that are currently inactive / not delivering services and activities, unless a grant will enable the immediate re-start
- Grants will not be awarded towards capital costs where the balance of funding needed to proceed has yet to be secured.
Process for application and decision making
The deadline for applications is 5pm on 19 February 2021.
As the Norfolk Covid-19 Response & Recovery Fund comprises funding from a range of different sources, decision making timescales and grant terms may differ. All applicants will have been notified of their outcome by the end of April 2021.
Please visit www.norfolkfoundation.com/funding-support/grants/groups/Norfolk-Covid-1…;
Please direct any queries to [email protected]
