Grants are available for non-profit LGBT+ organisations across the UK to address the additional needs of LGBT+ people and communities most adversely impacted by the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.
Funding body: National Emergencies Trust (NET)
Maximum value: £ 15,000
Application deadline: None specified
Background
The LGBT+ Futures Fund is provided by the National Emergencies Trust (NET). The Fund is managed by the Consortium of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Voluntary and Community Organisations.
Objectives of Fund
The funding is intended for LGBT+ organisations and projects which require support to enable them to continue through the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic and which are meeting the immediate needs of LGBT+ people and communities adversely affected by the pandemic.
Value Notes
Two levels of funding are available:
Small grants of up to £5,000.
Main grants of between £5,001 and £15,000. Most grants will be for between £5,001 and £10,000 and larger grants will be exceptional.
Each organisation can apply for one grant only – either a small or a main grant.
A total of £350,000 will be awarded in grants.
Who Can Apply
UK based non-profit groups and organisations that work with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans + (LGBT+) people can apply.
To be eligible organisations must:
- Have objects in their constitution specifically outlining their support of LGBT+ communities and/or be clear in their public facing materials (eg, website) that their existing work proactively engages LGBT+ people or communities.
- Be fit for funding. This means having good governance, appropriate financial management in place and high standards of safeguarding for staff, volunteers and those using their support or services.
- Have a governing document eg, a constitution.
- Have two or more unrelated trustees, board members or directors.
- Be able to provide a correspondence address.
- Have relevant Safeguarding and Diversity and Inclusion Policies.
- Have a bank account in the organisation’s name or be able to nominate a registered charity that will hold a grant in trust for them.
- Organisations do not need to be a member of the Consortium to be eligible to apply.
Location
United Kingdom. Applications from areas of the UK which are under-served in terms of LGBT+ support are particularly encouraged.
Restrictions
The following are not eligible for funding:
- Any organisation, group or project that is not specifically LGBT+ focussed, or cannot demonstrate that the organisation already works with LGBT+ people
- Work which does not respond directly to needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Organisations which do not deliver services (eg, Prides and other event based organisations).
- Activities that take place outside of the UK.
- Organisations which cannot demonstrate that they are working in an inclusive, non-discriminatory way.
- Standalone or large capital purchases.
- Research.
- Political groups.
- Work that promotes religion (i.e. work that evangelises or proselytizes).
- Organisations or projects that will distribute the grant money to others.
- Retrospective costs.
- Work that duplicates existing local or thematic work.
- General appeals.
- Any organisation currently or previously in receipt of a grant from Consortium which has a history of non-compliance with grant conditions.
Eligible Expenditure
The funding is for immediate responses and support for LGBT+ organisations, individuals and communities in need as a result of the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.
Grants will be awarded towards ongoing work, core costs and additional work which strengthens the position of organisations and their ability to respond to community needs at this challenging time.
Applications for projects supporting those LGBT+ people and communities that are underrepresented and/or subject to higher levels of marginalisation are particularly encouraged.
The following are eligible for funding:
- Wellbeing Services
- Delivering a range of wellbeing services and/or offering targeted specialist services.
- Examples of activities that can be funded include:
- Befriending and outreach support to reduce social isolation.
- Creative arts and healthy living workshops.
- Fitness classes.
- Counselling and therapeutic sessions.
- Emergency Accommodation
- Providing shelter and accommodation services to people experiencing homelessness.
- Examples of activities that can be funded include:
- Housing advice services.
- Temporary housing for victims of crime or those living in difficult households.
- Organisation Running Costs
- Supporting organisations to adapt and respond to the pandemic.
- Examples of what can be funded include:
- Purchase of equipment to deliver virtual services.
- Salaries and sessional staff to meet the increasing demand.
- Support for organisations to continue services following a loss of income.
- Education and Training
- Offering formal training and skills development and educational coaching.
- Examples of activities that can be funded include:
- Tutoring and homework clubs.
- Digital provision to support LGBT+ young people.
- Ensuring children and young people are equipped so they can successfully access educational support (for example, through the provision of internet and/or IT devices).
- Employment and skills development.
- Food, Medicines and other Essentials
- Providing essential delivery services ensuring the practical needs of vulnerable individuals and families are met.
- Examples of activities that can be funded include:
- Foodbanks.
- Home delivery of essential items, including care packs and medication.
- Information and Advice
- Providing specialist and general information, guidance and advice online or by telephone.
- Examples of activities that can be funded include:
- Helplines to connect people to wellbeing services.
- Curation of content for distributing to local audiences by radio, YouTube TV, websites and community newsletters.
- Temporary Emergency Response Coordination
- Supporting community and volunteer-led resilience and response coordination to the pandemic.
- Examples of activities that can be funded include:
- Covering the expenses of volunteers who are delivering essential services to response agencies and residents in their local community.
- IT and communication expenses for coordinators to help them galvanise support and work effectively with local agencies.
Grants are for short-term work only and all funds awarded must be fully spent by 31 May 2021.
How To Apply
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until all the funding has been awarded. There are no deadlines.
Funding will be awarded in tranches to ensure funding is carried forward to meet the needs of later applicants.
Organisations will be informed of the outcome of their applications within six weeks of applying.
Guidance notes and application forms are available on the website of the Consortium. There are separate application forms for the Small and the Main Grants.
Useful Links
Consortium – LGBT+ Futures