Community Capacity Grant Application

The Community Capacity Grant funding applications will open on Thursday 2 January 2025.

Do you have an idea or vision for a new group, club or activity that helps to support families locally but need support to get this up and running?

Do you need financial support to set up a new activity that will support local families?

Grants of up to £5,000 are available. The grants are for providers who want to organise activities for families, parents, carers or young people up to the age of 19 (up to 25 with specified additional needs).

You could use the grant for

youth work including outreach sessions
family-based groups
mental health and wellbeing sessions
outreach support and community-led groups

Applications close at 12pm on 20 January 2025.

If you would like more information or help with your application join a support session.

In person at County Hall, Newport, PO30 1UD

• Thursday 9 January 2025 from 5.30pm to 7pm

• Saturday 18 January 2025 from 10am to 12pm

Email earlyhelpgrant@iow.gov.uk or call 01983 823169 to book.

Who can apply?

Voluntary, community and third sector organisations
New organisations
School provision but only if the provision is:
- inclusive and open to all children/young people on the Island
- out of school hours
- allows other children travel time to attend
- It will not be considered if the provision is only for children/young people that attend the school.

Important

Funding can only be given to new Early Help provisions on the Isle of Wight that have not yet started.

You will need to have the correct insurances, policies and DBS requirements, prior to receiving funds.

For this application process a 'Provision' means activity service or session.

We would like to set up a provision for school leavers aged 16 to 19 years, would we be eligible for funding?

Yes, the grant covers ages from 0 to19 years, or up to 25 years with SEND

Aim of the grants and eligibility criteria

The Early Help Community Capacity Grant aims to support local families by working with the community to help develop and promote community resources, spaces, and activities. The intention of the funding is to build community capacity to promote positive outcomes for Children, Young People, Families, Parents, and/or Carers on the Isle of Wight.

This Grant round seeks to address the following key priorities. You must be able to evidence all four of the criteria below:

Promoting emotional resilience/ mental health and wellbeing
Creating and developing sustainable provision
Meeting an evidenced community need (taking a community led approach to provision)
Value for money

What grants are available?

Grants of up to £5,000 are available. The grants are for providers who want to organise activities for families, parents, carers and/or young people up to the age of 19 years (up to 25 years with specified additional needs).

These provisions must support local families working within the community. They must help develop and promote community resources, spaces, and activities on the Isle of Wight.

Our main focuses for last round of grants were

Expectant parents and parents with children up to 2 years old
Youth focussing on school transitional Years 6 to Year 7
Youth outreach
Family wellbeing sessions for all ages

Successful applicants will become part of the IOW Early Help network of provision. This will be endorsed and supported by the Isle of Wight Council. Successful applicants will also become a member and be expected to attend the Early Help Community Resource Forum.

Our vision is that Early Help is everyone’s responsibility. By implementing effective Early Help systems we can help to create competent and empowered communities and better outcomes for everyone within them. The Early Help System guide - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) outlines the national vision.

Additional funding

The council has received some additional funding this year from the Integrated Care Board. This is for any Perinatal Mental Health provisions. Commonly known as bonding with your bump and baby. The provisions to be delivered must address concerns during pregnancy or in the first year following the birth of a child.

If you apply for this the grant the activities must not normally be provided by the NHS. They must still have an impact on the parents/carer’s wellbeing and child development. You will be required to agree to attend the perinatal training programme. For more information call 01983 823169.

Helpful information for completing your application

When completing your application open and use the guidance at the same time. The guidance provide tips and useful information to help you complete your application in details.

The guidance has been designed to help you to get a high score. The higher your score the better chance you have of being awarded a grant.

Open the application form guidance

Application process

The next round of applications will open January 2025

Can we have all of our community capacity grant funding at the beginning?

No, payments will be made on a quarterly basis released in arrears in four stages over the year.

What is expected from you

If you are successful and awarded a grant. You will need to provide monitoring information. This is to meet the Early Help grant agreement terms. Monitoring arrangements Include:

spend data
progress reports required quarterly

Important Information: We understand that new provision will not have these policies in place at point of application. It is mandatory that they are in place prior to provision starting. Policies needed:

Safeguarding policy - The provider lead is expected to have level 3 safeguarding training. Links to all training and Perinatal Mental Health training if relevant are provided if the application is successful.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) - This should be a Clear Enhanced DBS for all staff and volunteers.
Public Liability Insurance - Which Currently stands at 10 Million Pounds.
Employers Liability Insurance- Which is Currently 5 Million Pounds.

You will also need to attend the Early Help Community forum quarterly. Learn more about the Early Help Community forum.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about community capacity grant funding

We would like to buy some new equipment; can we use community capacity grant funding for this?

Yes, you can apply for some of the funding to be paid as capital (upfront) costings for equipment. However the majority of the funding must be for your provision and or activity to take place. Funds will be released in four quarterly payments in arrears. Please make sure you read the guidance which explains what can and cannot be bought with upfront payments.

How is community capacity grant funding released to us?

It is released quarterly. Your payment quarters will be set out within your agreement. A quarterly report will need to be submitted by you at the end of each quarter. A template will be provided to you upon you being awarded funding. This will be approved by the Project Officer. The Administrator will advise you when you can then submit your invoice to the revenue team for processing. It can take up to 30 working days from receipt of your invoice to receive payment.

Are there restrictions on where I can source my equipment from?

As long as you can provide a receipt/invoice for within the set guidelines specified in your contract. You can source the equipment from anywhere you would like. For example: Charity shops, local businesses. Please make sure you adhere to council guidelines about conflict of interest when buying goods.

When can I go out and buy my equipment?

Once your agreement has been signed and you have received confirmation that your purchaser order has been set up. Then you can buy any equipment needed that was agreed as part of your application.

We want to a run a new session for a limited amount of time. For example through the summer holidays, would we still be eligible?

No, the funding is designed to fund a full year. It is paid in four quarterly payments. The aspiration is for the provision to be sustainable and continue after the funding ends.