Grants are available for local not-for-profit organisations across the UK to deliver community projects which support new opportunities and build better relationships across generations and with the natural world, in commemoration of Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Funding is intended to support projects which go beyond simply celebrating, and create lasting change for communities in line with the NLCF’s three priority areas:
· Across Generations – Strengthening relationships between generations and creating a legacy for future generations.
· Community Renewal – Supporting new opportunities for people to develop skills and experiences in their local community, as well as opportunities to bring people together in new ways, and in new or different places and spaces.
· Shared Natural World – Deepening care and action locally for the natural world.
There is a total funding pot of £3.5 million.
Grants of £30,000 to £50,000 are available. It is expected that 70 projects will be funded.
The following types of organisations in the UK may apply:
- Voluntary or community organisations.
- Registered charities.
- Constituted groups or clubs.
- Not-for-profit companies or Community Interest Companies.
- Schools.
- Statutory bodies (including town, parish, community councils or local councils).
Applicants must have:
- A UK bank account with two unrelated signatories.
- A board or committee consisting of at least two unconnected people.
- Appropriate safeguarding measures in place.
- The means to ensure that projects are addressing any potential barriers for people to take part, including communities experiencing ethnic or racial inequity, disabled people, Travellers, LGBTQ+ people, and people who are seeking asylum or are refugees.
Priority will be given to groups which:
- Have not received NLCF funding before.
- Do not have a current NLCF award.
- Are smaller or medium-sized organisations with an annual turnover of under £100,000, or can demonstrate that they have significant reach into communities and are able to engage a large number of people to get involved.
- Work in communities where there is a history of fewer funding opportunities.
- Work in areas where communities face more challenging economic circumstances.
The following are not eligible for funding:
- Individuals.
- Sole traders.
- Organisations that are aimed at generating profits primarily for private distribution.
- Organisations based outside the UK.
- One individual or organisation applying on behalf of another.
- People under the age of 18.
- Activities outside the UK.
- Alcohol.
- Items which will only benefit an individual or family.
- Contingency costs, loans or interest.
- Feed-in tariff payments.
- Political activities.
- Religious activities.
- Profit-making or fundraising activities.
- VAT which can be reclaimed.
- Statutory activities.
- Overseas travel.
- Activities that generate profits for private gain.
- Costs that have already been incurred.
- Capital costs including refurbishment or the purchasing of buildings.
- Work on land or buildings which do not meet the requirements around land ownership and permissions.
Eligible Expenditure
Projects must meet at least two of the following criteria:
- Connects people across generations through doing activities together.
- Makes use of significant local sites or spaces, eg parks, heritage buildings, community spaces.
- Considers future generations and how the Jubilee can leave a legacy for them in the community.
- Creates new opportunities for the people that live locally to contribute and/or to build skills and experience.
- Starts something new (a set of activities, a group, a community space, a service, a network) that marks the jubilee as a turning point in the community.
- Is designed and led by young people who want to be more active in shaping the future of their communities.
- Starts collective action in relation to the natural world, giving more people the opportunity to care for the planet at a local level.
Priority will be given to proposals that:
- Draw on the creativity of the community.
- Want to do something new and inventive.
- Bring new opportunities.
- Make use of sites of local significance.
- Use multiple channels through which people can participate.
- Will have impact on more than one area of focus.
- Are led by young people.
Grants can cover:
- Events and activity costs (though not celebratory or one-off events).
- Equipment and materials.
- Staff costs.
- People’s time (that may not be staff).
- Training costs.
- Transport.
- Utilities/running costs related to the project.
- Volunteer expenses.
- Translation costs.
Groups will have up to two years to deliver their activities from award in Spring 2022.
Funding projects must be running in time for Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Central Weekend on 5 June 2022.
How To Apply
The deadline for applications is 15 December 2021 5:00 pm or once 700 applications are received, whichever comes first.
Decisions are expected around two months from the closing date.