Apply Now: Knowsley Community Fund (UK)

The Fund will provide organisations with an opportunity to apply for funds for new project ideas, and funds to sustain and grow established activity.

Focus Areas

• The Council Plan has a clear vision of “Supporting Knowsley’s Residents to Thrive” and is focused around three key priorities:
  • Deliver effective, high-quality services and support – that positively impact the lives of Knowsley residents.
  • Encourage growth that benefits everyone – ensuring their communities and town centres can flourish.
  • Deliver targeted support to encourage fairness and opportunity – for those residents facing the biggest challenges.
• The Knowsley Community Fund will focus on the following priority themes:
  • Encourage growth that benefits everyone – ensuring their communities and town centres can flourish. They will do this by Building an inclusive economy, Place Leadership and by Responding to the Climate Emergency and Achieving Net Zero.
  • Deliver targeted support to encourage fairness and opportunity – for those residents facing the biggest challenges. They will do this by supporting Early Intervention and Prevention, Building Stronger Communities and Tackling Inequality.

Funding Information

• Organisations can apply for the following:
  • One allocation of up to a maximum of £2,000. This level of grant is intended for new organisations, by ‘new’ they mean groups or organisations who have been running for less than twelve months or new project ideas which require a small allocation of “seed” funding to allow ideas to be tested.
  • One allocation of up to a maximum of £5,000. This level of grant is intended to help residents stay warm, safe and well over a five-month period during winter, specifically throughout the months November to March only.
  • Organisations can also apply for one allocation of up to a maximum of £10,000. This level of grant is intended for established organisations wishing to sustain activity by expanding and or extending current activity.

Eligible Projects

• The following types of projects will be supported:-
  • Projects directly linked to the Knowsley Council Plan priorities.
  • Projects that fund new or enhanced activities (between November and March) that support the health and wellbeing of residents who are at high risk during the wintertime.
  • Projects that support organisations working to improve the lives of disabled children and their families in Knowsley that forms part of the wider range of services available to parents and carers of children with disabilities and special needs called the ‘Local Offer’.
  • Projects that provide a range of positive and engaging activities that meet the needs and wishes of children and young people across Knowsley.
  • Projects that support grassroots organisations in delivering creative physical activity projects, helping to build capacity and encourage healthier lifestyles across Knowsley.
  • Projects that directly support the Council’s Prevention and Early Intervention agenda.
  • Projects that directly support residents to thrive and support people to overcome inequality and strengthens community cohesion.
  • New and existing project activity which demonstrates additionality (such as wishing to scale up or replicate in a new area).
  • Projects applying for either capital and or revenue.
  • Projects which can demonstrate community support.
  • Projects delivering in Knowsley for Knowsley residents.
  • Projects which can demonstrate measurable outcomes and/or value for money.

What cannot be funded?

• Individuals
• Organisations with fewer than three unrelated Trustees/Directors/Management Committee Members
• Projects and activities classed as a statutory responsibility
• Purchase/maintenance of vehicles
• Private Businesses or Community Interest Companies limited by shares
• Retrospective activity
• Town and Parish Councils
• Exclusively religious activities
• Projects which have the potential to be deemed political
• Projects or events which promote or condone extremist ideology, activities, or terrorism
• Academic research, educational bursaries, or travel projects
• Schools and or Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs)
• Projects which are not linked to the Knowsley Council Plan priorities
• Projects which cannot demonstrate community support
• Projects from organisations that request continuation funding that cannot demonstrate additionality
• Pan-Liverpool City Region projects (funded activity must be exclusive to Knowsley)

Eligibility Criteria

• They will consider funding projects that have previously been funded by the former Stronger Communities Fund, Winter Wellness Grant, Physical Activity Grant, Youth Community Fund and Short Breaks Programmes.
• Registered charities, constituted voluntary, community and faith organisations, not-for-profit, community interest companies, companies limited by guarantee, community benefit societies, charitable incorporated organisations, and community amateur sports clubs who have been operating for at least 12 months and have a good track record of delivery.
• The Council is also keen to support newly established organisations which can demonstrate that they have strong governance structures in place.

For more information, visit Knowsley Council.