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Our Community Impact Fund helps voluntary sector organisations and registered charities do even more to build stronger communities across Liverpool and Merseyside.
The closing date for applications to this round of funding is 9am, Friday 2 July 2021.
How it works
Eligible organisations can apply for grants of up to £3,000 for projects that meet one or more of our four main priority areas:
- Health
- Education
- Income stability
- Arts and culture
Applications will be assessed on the impact that the project will have on the lives of those who benefit. We’re looking for projects that help make a change for those most in need.
For this round, we are particularly interested in funding projects that support mental health and family relationships, because these are areas identified as having been negatively affected by the Covid pandemic.
What you can apply for
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a real impact on communities and on organisations working in those communities. We recognise the vital work that voluntary and community organisations have been doing throughout the current crisis and the pressure on budgets as a result of lockdown. While many organisations have been able to adapt their services to support people during lockdown, we are aware that many have been unable to do so, owing to the nature of their service. These organisations in particular will have been hit hard as they have not been able to access funds from the various Covid Response grants available.
We want to try to support organisations to get back on track and will support general running costs; including staff costs, alterations to buildings to ensure Covid-secure environments and projects that help bring communities back together in a safe way.
Important information
We only fund activities that can evidence the outcomes for those most in need in Liverpool and across Merseyside.
Based upon the high level of applications in previous years, we can only fund projects that align with our priority areas. Unfortunately, it’s for this reason that some good projects won’t be considered.
Please note; play schemes are not eligible as they are funded through our Positive About Play Programme.
Who can apply
Organisations must be registered charities, or have charitable aims as part of their governing document, and must be able to register with the Charity Commission if their income exceeds £5,000.
In addition organisations must have:
- At least two cheque signatories
- An adopted Constitution or set of rules and have a bank account in the name of the organisation or group
- Child Protection Policy/Vulnerable Adults Policy where applicable and evidence that staff and volunteers are DBS checked
Community Interest Companies
A Community Interest Company is a specific legal model registered with both Companies House and the CIC Regulator. Community Interest Companies can apply for funding, as long as they satisfy the following criteria:
- The CIC must have at least 3 directors and be able to demonstrate how they have engaged with local people to identify the need
- The application is to fund charitable activity (charitable activity means activity that supports a charitable purpose, as defined by the Charity Commission, and that meets the public benefit requirement as detailed in the Charities Act 2011)
Additional guidance
It is important that organisations are able to tell us how they have identified the need for the project or their ongoing work. Generic local statistics are valuable but it is more important to be able to demonstrate that local people have been consulted.
We envisage that most grants will be for one-off projects that have direct public benefit. Where an LCVS grants is part of a larger project, organisations must be able to evidence that they have other funding in place.
Organisations must be able to demonstrate how those most in need will benefit from any grant made by LCVS. General appeals will not be funded.
How much you can apply for
The maximum amount an organisation can apply for is £3,000.
Monitoring and evaluation
Any organisation in receipt of funding must agree to provide detailed monitoring and evaluation. This monitoring must show how many people have benefited from the funding and what outcomes were achieved. This is important if we are to be able to measure the community impact of the limited funds we have. It is also helpful for us as we can use this information to support our work in growing philanthropy and giving in Liverpool. Groups must also agree to use our logos on any publicity and marketing materials connected with their funded project.
Exclusions
This funding is not for:
- Start-up costs for new organisations
- Play schemes (see note above)
- Medical research
- Vehicles
- Schools or activity taking place in school time
- Sports kits or general fees (league fees etc.)
- Individuals
- The advancement of religion
- Animal welfare
- Other grant making bodies
- NHS Trusts
- Parent Teacher Associations
- Replacement funding (e.g. statutory funding coming to an end)
- Loans or business finance
- Universities
- Sponsorship/marketing appeals/fundraising costs
- Overseas projects/travel
- Safety equipment for individual households
- National charities
- CCTV installation
Applications
The closing date for applications to this round of funding is 9am, Friday 2 July 2021.
Please follow this link to apply online to the Community Impact Fund.
Late or incomplete applications cannot be accepted. Please read the form and guidance notes carefully before completing your application.
Other formats (PDF etc) will not be accepted and LCVS cannot accept any responsibility for processing applications not in the correct format.
If we can be of any help, or you would like to talk to us about your project, please email grants@lcvs.org.uk with your contact details and we will arrange for a member of the team to get in touch.