Asset Based Community Development – Small Grants Funding 2021

NOW CLOSED FOR APPLICATIONS

Please note that this 2021 Round only covers certain geographical areas.

Background

The Bradford District and Craven Health and Wellbeing Plan is clear about the changes required across our ‘place’ to deliver a sustainable health, care and support system. This will require integration of a significant nature and a paradigm shift for the NHS towards population health improvement and not just provision of health services. Transformation has already started with a vision for Happy Healthy at Home underpinned by a range of programmes of work designed to manage rising demand on services through different approaches. The most significant area of transformation is culture, behaviour and changing mindsets of service providers, commissioners and the people we serve.

Funding History

Following a hugely successful rounds of funding from Bradford District and Craven Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and a number of Community Partnerships which have funded 344 community-based projects between 2018 and 2020, we’re pleased to say that 3 Community Partnerships across the area have each invested additional non-recurrent funds to support and activate a range of grassroots community activities and ideas which will improve the health and wellbeing of local people.

Principles of ABCD

The intention is that the funding will promote the values and principles of the Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) approach which builds on the assets that are found in the community and mobilises individuals, associations, and institutions to come together to realise and develop their strengths.

ABCD is a set of values and principles which:

• Identifies and makes visible the health enhancing assets in a community
• Sees citizens and communities as the co-producers of health and wellbeing, rather than the recipients of services
• Promotes community networks, relationships and friendships that can provide caring, mutual help and empowerment
• Identifies what has the potential to improve health and well-being
• Supports individuals’ health and well-being through self- esteem, coping strategies, resilience skills, relationships, friendships, knowledge and personal resources
• Empower communities to control their futures and create tangible resources such as services, funds and buildings

(Foot and Hopkins 2010)

Project Description

The 3 Community Partnerships involved this time, and their approximate areas are:

• Bradford City and Horton Collaborative (CP6) – West Bowling, Little Horton
• BD4+ Community Partnership (CP9) – Tong, Holme Wood, Bierley and Low Moor
• Wharfedale Community Partnership – Ilkley, Addingham, Burley in Wharfedale and Silsden

 If you are unsure whether your project will be delivered in these areas, please contact us for advice. Applications for work in other areas will not be considered.

Each of these Community Partnerships have agreed a set of local priorities they are working to address and are inviting applications for grass roots VCS projects to help with this work:

The exact approach required will vary from place to place, with some communities having a good understanding of assets and needs, whereas other areas may need to develop this work. In all cases, representatives from the VCS Community Anchor organisations will work with Ward Officers, local Councillors, Community Partnerships leadership teams, Community Action Bradford and District (CAB&D) and those with connections in local communities to develop a comprehensive understanding of existing assets and identify potential opportunities that could increase capacity in those communities.

Communities and neighbourhoods need to feel confident that with this is the opportunity to improve things for local people and that they will have control over potential solutions. Small Grants Funding and support will be available to facilitate the development of solutions with the aim of creating sustainable opportunities to improve health and wellbeing and meet these priorities.

The resources are available for 7 months only and therefore cannot be spent on things requiring funding going forward beyond March 2022. Developments must be self-sustaining by the communities or services themselves.

This model has demonstrated to be an effective way of reaching projects and smaller organisations who can benefit from community development work as well as strengthening Community Partnerships and leaving a legacy within communities. This proposal has been put together in conjunction with the sector and the Community Anchors.

The VCS Alliance are providing the following:

• Project set up
• Central financial administration and distribution
• Collation of monitoring and final evaluation
• Support and co-ordination for local Community Anchor organisations

Criteria for applicants

• This funding is only open to not-for-profit Voluntary and Community Sector organisations and Social Enterprises. Private businesses, sole traders, individuals or statutory organisations are not eligible.
• Projects must demonstrate how the funding will be used to support the health and wellbeing of people in the respective area.
• Applicants must be able to explain how the project will be sustainable into the future, once the project period has finished.
• Projects must describe how they will ensure that activities are delivered in Covid-secure ways.
• Projects must not duplicate existing services or activities.
• Projects must not cover work undertaken by existing statutory health and care services.

Application Process

There is a simple application process using a simple and accessible form.

Applications will be assessed by an independent decision-making panel which will include local Ward Officers/Councillors. The assessment will be based on how the group is planning to meet the stated priorities in their area of work, using a community development approach.

Please apply using the online form available here

The deadline for applications is Friday 30^th July 2021 at 5pm.

Funding Available

The size of grants available depends on the different areas. Please make sure that you are clear on the limit for the area you’re applying for. If you apply for more than the maximum amount, for your area, you will only be eligible for that maximum amount.

Part of the reason for these differences are the levels of funding available being very limited and varies depending on the Community Partnership area. They are trying to balance ensuring that as many organisations are able to benefit, whilst ensuring that all the money is spent. How the funding is allocated will be decided by each local Decision-Making Panel.

Organisations can apply for more than one grant in each Community Partnership area, if they have access to a number of different community groups. The key focus is for local community groups to have an ownership of the opportunity.

Organisations who have not previously received funding, and those who have previously received funding AND have satisfactorily returned Evaluation Forms will be prioritised. If you are unsure if any of your organisation’s previous Evaluation Forms have been received, please check before submitting your application.

Outcomes and Monitoring

Successful applicants will be required to report the following information about those they reach with their activity:

• How their project went
• The number of people reached
• Their self-reported gender
• Their self-reported age ranges (0-10, 11-18, 19-30, 31-50, 51-65, 65+)
• Their self-reported evidence of improving health and wellbeing
• Case Studies

Progress Updates should be submitted online by Friday 26th November 2021 via www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ABCD-R2-2021ProgressUpdate

The deadline for returning your final End of Project Report is Friday 25th March 2022 via www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ABCD-R2-2021FinalEvaluation

Community Anchor Support

Support to develop projects and to complete applications is available for grass roots VCS organisations from these local Community Anchor Organisations:

A copy of this guidance is available to download below.