Mobilising Communities Small Grants Fund 2016–2017

General Principles

The purpose of theMobilising Communities Small Grants Fund is to assist communities to take local action addressing issues of crime and community safety. Weparticularly encourage applications that:

•Try new activities or projects

•Work locally

•Work in partnership with other groups

•Leave a legacy

The Small Grants Fund supports these outcomes:

  • That organisations and groups have a better idea and understanding of what works in communities, particularly in addressing local crime and community safety issues.
  • That community based activity is better connected to the agencies and organisations responsible for responding to crime and community safety issues.
  • That community organisations and groups collaborate to help respond to and solve local community issues.

Applications for Funding

Applications for funding will only be considered from voluntary and community groups which have a bank account in the group’s name. Grants will not be paid to individuals. Statutory organisations are not eligible to apply. However, community or voluntary groups can work in partnership with statutory organisations to apply.

Applications from£500 up to £5000 are invited. Organisations can apply up to twice within a 12 month period. Joint and partnership-working between applying organisations is encouraged.

You are welcome to apply for the first time or if you were unsuccessful last year. Applications are also welcome from those who were awarded funding in2015-16 but for new projects. These organisations will only be eligible to bid again in 2016-17 once they have completed their 2015-16 project evaluation. Funding will not be considered to repeat activities and projects from 2015-16.

As a general aim, monies should be used for projects addressing issues of crime and community safety which benefit people and not, for example, to improve buildings. Funding will not be granted to individuals or for salaries, but applications for projects that involve sessional staff to help facilitate change may be considered.

All applications should meet one of the priorities identified by the Birmingham Community Safety Partnership (BCSP) orWest & Central Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) or your local Neighbourhood Tasking Group.BCSP Priorities can be found at . Local priorities and Neighbourhood Tasking priorities, where relevant, can be found on the West Midlands Police web site, just add your postcode under the tab “Your Local Police”.

West & Central Local Community Safety Partnership particularly welcomes applicationsaddressing the following:

Mental HealthChild Sexual Exploitation

HomelessnessYouth Employment

Private Rented SectorCyber-Fraud

Substance MisusePreventing Violent Extremism

The project must be delivered in Birmingham. Where appropriate, the applying organisation must also have a satisfactory Child Protection and or Safeguarding policy in place.

All applications for Ladywood and Perry Barr Constituencies will be assessed by West & CentralLocal Community Safety Partnership (LCSP). Completed application forms should be returned to:

Grant Criteria

The assessment of your application will take into account the likelihood the project will succeed in its goals and the legacy or sustainability of the project beyond this initial funding. We use the following criteria:

  • Relevance to local community safety priorities.
  • Evidence of community engagement or involvement.
  • Evidence of partnership working–particularly with other groups and organisationsbut also public agencies.
  • Value for money.
  • Legacy and/or sustainability once the funding comes to an end. For bids over £3,000, consideration will also be given to the sustainability and strength of the organisation applying for the funding.

A scoring matrix will be used to assess each application. This can be obtained along with the application pack.

It is important we learn from all the projects and so we will ask you to answer some short questions at the end of your activity to help us understand what has worked well or not so well.

We will require proof that you have spent the grant, such as receipts, and funding must be used for the stated purpose, otherwise the Partnership may ask that the grant is repaid.

Most grants will be awarded in advance. Payment will be made by BACS (electronic bank transfer).We may phase the payments for larger grants.

We wish to mobilise communities through one-off projects which do not require ongoing funding. For example, applications to fund a vehicle (which would require tax and insurance) or a CCTV camera (which needs maintenance) are unlikely to be considered.

Information Sharing

To help with how this and other funds are allocated and developed in the future, your application may also be shared with other funders. This includes public sector organisations such as West Midlands Police, as well as grant-giving organisations such as the Big Lottery Fund, for instance.

To provide some joined up support to the voluntary and community sector organisations your details will also be added to a Small Grants network. This may result in useful information being sent to you about other funding opportunities, support or development opportunities, or invitations to relevant events and meetings.

Promotional Logos

Successful applicants shouldprovide photographs and information for press and publicity purposes, where requested. We expect you to include the Birmingham Community Safety Partnership and Police & Crime Commissioner logos on all promotional materials.

The logo for Birmingham Community Safety Partnership can be downloaded from the following website:

To use the logo for the Police and Crime Commissioner, please speak his team on 0121 626 6060.

If you have any further questions please contact:

Nicci Collins –Safer Neighbourhood Partnership Manager,

West & Central Local Community Safety Partnership

Email –

Tel: 0121 675 1300

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