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Our Community Impact Fund is currently closed.
This fund opened on Friday 8 September 2023 and closed on Friday 6 October 2023 at 5 PM.
If we can be of any help, or you would like to talk to us about your project, then please contact either:
- Becky at becky.lazare@lcvs.org.uk / 01512275177 (extension: 3219)
- Steph at stephanie.gregory@lcvs.org.uk / 01512275177 (extension: 3222)
- Or grants@lcvs.org.uk
Please include your contact details in the email/voicemail and we will get in touch.
Introduction
Our Community Impact Fund helps voluntary sector organisations and registered charities do even more to build stronger communities across Liverpool and Merseyside.
How does it work?
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 people and communities to combat the problems caused by the current cost of living crisis.
What you can apply for
The current cost of living situation is having a real impact on communities and on organisations working in those communities. We recognise the vital work that voluntary and community organisations continue to do throughout the current crisis, and the resultant pressure on budgets.
For this round of funding, we will support general running costs, including staff costs. Please note that applications for staff costs of existing employees will be prioritised over bought-in or freelance staff costs. Please make the type of staff cost you are applying for clear in your application budget.
Please note, requests for the purchase of food for redistribution in communities (e.g. stock for foodbanks) is not eligible, as funding is available elsewhere (e.g Feeding Liverpool Household Support Fund).
Please note, play schemes are not eligible for support from this fund.
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.
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/Vulnerable Adults Safeguarding 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 if 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 can 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 grant 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 can I 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
- Food for redistribution (see note above)
- 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.
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, then please contact either:
- Becky at becky.lazare@lcvs.org.uk / 01512275177 (extension: 3219)
- Steph at stephanie.gregory@lcvs.org.uk / 01512275177 (extension: 3222)
- Or grants@lcvs.org.uk
Please include your contact details in the email/voicemail and we will get in touch.