What the grant can be used for

  1. Information on what the grant can be used for.

  2. The terms of the City Living, Local Life grant.

  3. Things you need to do before applying for the City Living, Local Life grant.

  4. Guidance on how to complete the City Living, Local Life application form and how we make decisions.

  5. Frequently asked questions we receive about the City Living, Local Life grant.

What we fund

The City Living, Local Life grant can be used for:

  • A project - A series of activities or sessions that bring members of the community together. A project will have a clear start and end date and take between 7 days and 6 months to deliver. This can be extended for up to 12 months in exceptional circumstances and with the prior agreement of the Lead Member for Communities and Community Safety, in partnership with the Director for Communities. You can email us for more details about extending your project.
  • An event - An event or outing that brings members of the community together for a duration of 1 to 7 days.
  • A product - A product (physical object) that helps to bring members of the community together.

Eligibility

  • Applications that meet one or more of the City Living, Local Life aims:
    • Enhance the understanding of local areas (including local history, local people, the area itself in terms of geography and places within it).
    • Build stronger connections and relationships between local people.
    • Help to identify, assess and prioritise improvements in local areas.
    • Devise practical solutions that involve local people, to address local issues.
    • Work with local people and organisations to deliver solutions.
  • Applications from a charity, Community Interest Company, resident’s association, faith group, voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisation or constituted group that has a bank account in the organisation’s name and requires two unrelated people to sign cheques or other payments.
  • Projects that take place inside of the borough and that are up to 6 months long (12 months in exceptional circumstances), with a clear start and end date.
  • Events that are up to 7 days long and that take place inside of the borough.
  • Outings that take place both inside and outside of the borough for the benefit of residents living in the borough.
  • Multi-ward applications limited to neighbouring wards (wards with which they share a border).
  • The maximum City Living, Local Life grant that can be applied for is £5,000 for an event or project and £1,000 for a product. Where there is a multi-ward application, the maximum that will apply is £10,000 (event/project) or £2,000 (product).
  • Applicants with the following documents, where applicable:
    • Safeguarding policy.
    • Health and safety policy.
    • Data protection policy.
    • Relevant (standard, enhanced or enhanced with barred list) DBS documents for all staff and volunteers.
    • Risk assessment for funded projects or events. 
    • Licenses (Temporary Events Notice (TENs) or other relevant licence) and permissions for use of land and property.
    • Employers’ liability insurance in accordance with the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance Act) 1969 with a limit of indemnity of not less than five million pounds (£5,000,000) per claim or series of claims arising out of any one incident.
    • Public liability insurance with a limit of indemnity of not less than five million pounds (£5,000,000) per claim or series of claims arising from one event.
    • Professional Indemnity liability insurance with a limit of indemnity of not less than two million pounds (£2,000,000) per claim or series of claims arising from one event. 
  • Publicity material for projects or events that benefit residents of the borough.
  • Staff fees linked to discrete time limited projects and events or the development of a product.
  • Service fees, including performers, trainers and catering.
  • Volunteer expenses.
  • Travel expenses.
  • Venue hire (for the use of a City Living, Local Life projects or events only).
  • Purchase of materials, products or decorations.
  • Food and non-alcoholic drinks.
  • Repeat projects, events and outings.

We don't fund:

  • Statutory services.
  • Infrastructure (permanent or semi-permanent sculptures/renovations/bike hangers).
  • Religious symbols.
  • Events and projects that promote religious interests and objectives and/or exclude people based on religion.
  • Events and projects that promote political interests and objectives and/or exclude people based on politics.
  • Purchase of alcohol.
  • Core running costs, including staff salaries, organisation’s utility bills, ongoing premises rent.
  • Any fees or costs that are deemed not to be relevant to the City Living, Local Life project or event.  

Last updated: 2 April 2024