Funding made possible by National Academy for Social Prescribing (providing £1.15 million) and the Arts Council (providing £250,000), the initiative also includes NHS England, Sport England, Natural England, the Office for Civil Society, the Money & Pensions Service and NHS Charities Together as strategic partners
This funding is designed to increase social connectedness, and help communities cope with the impact of COVID-19.
By working with those communities most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including black, Asian and ethnically diverse communities, the projects we will fund will help to:
- enhance collaboration and networking between local organisations
- strengthen the range of social prescribing activities offered locally and enable social prescribing link workers to connect people to more creative community activities and services
- Explore ways to make these partnerships and activities sustainable over time
Grant range £25,000 – £50,000
Eligibility
Applications can be led by voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCSFE) organisations working in any of the following sectors:
- Arts, and culture, including libraries, museums and heritage
- Sport, leisure and physical activity organisations
- Financial wellbeing, advice, food and practical support
- Environment and nature-based organisations
- Non-statutory health and care organisations, working with social prescribing link workers
These organisations may be registered charities, community interest companies, co-operative societies or community benefit societies. A key part of each funded project will be to bring together the necessary place-based partners to work together across all these sectors to plan and deliver community activity.
All applications must demonstrate a commitment to work with partner organisations from all of the above sectors in the course of the funded period.
All applications must evidence the commitment of three core partner organisations – including at least one partner organisation from the arts and culture sector – at the point the application is made.
Applicants will need to provide 20% match funding, which could include: NHS partners (Clinical Commissioning Groups, Primary Care Networks, Integrated Care Systems); local government; other trusts and foundations; philanthropy or corporate social responsibility; or a wide range of other possibilities. In-kind contributions can include support provided by partners, in addition to cash match – such as staff time, venue hire, project materials and equipment and online services.
Application Open Date: 12pm (midday), 23 November 2020
Application Deadline: 12pm (midday), 8 January 2021
Full information: https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/thriving-communities-fund#section-1
