What the grant can be used for

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

  2. How to use the grant.

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

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

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

About the scheme

The City Living, Local Life grant brings members of the community together through:

  • Projects - a series of activities in the borough that take between seven days and six months to deliver. Projects can be extended for up to 12 months in exceptional circumstances. Contact us for more information about extending your project
  • Events - a gathering or outing for residents living in the borough with a duration of one to seven days. The event can take place inside or outside the borough
  • Products - physical objects inside the borough

Your proposal should benefit people from the ward you apply to. Funding cannot be awarded for proposals that were started before you submit your application. Any permissions and all health and safety requirements must be made before funding can be agreed.

Eligibility criteria

Proposals must meet the following eligibility criteria to apply for funding:

  • Applicants must be a charity, community interest company, residents’ 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
  • The purpose of the proposal cannot be for-profit

Applicants must have 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
  • licences (temporary events notice 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 £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 £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 £2,000,000 per claim or series of claims arising from one event

Funding amounts

Application can be made for the following amounts:

Proposal type Single ward application Multi-ward application
Project Up to £5,000 Up to £10,000
Event Up to £5,000 Up to £10,000
Product Up to £1,000 Up to £2,000

Please note:

  • multi-ward applications are limited to wards sharing a border
  • organisations are limited to a maximum of three grants a year (1 April to 31 March)
  • the maximum amount an organisation can receive in a single ward is £7,000 a year (1 April to 31 March)
  • the maximum amount an organisation can receive in total, including multi-ward applications, is £12,000 a year (1 April to 31 March)

What we fund

Examples of what we fund include:

  • 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

What we don't fund

We do not fund the following:

  • private limited companies
  • statutory services
  • infrastructure such as permanent or semi-permanent sculptures,renovations or bike hangers
  • religious symbols
  • events and projects that promote religious interests and objectives or exclude people based on religion
  • events and projects that promote political interests and objectives 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

Contact us

Contact the Voluntary Community Sector and Community Partnerships team

Last updated: 15 July 2025