One-off grants are available to not-for-profit organisations across the UK who employ people from disadvantaged or vulnerable groups and who have suffered a loss because of the coronavirus/COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.
Funding body: Social and Community Capital
Maximum value: £ 50,000
Application deadline: 29/06/2020
Background
Social & Community Capital (S&CC) is a charity and responsible lender funded and supported by NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland.
The mission of Social & Community Capital (S&CC) is to help social enterprises, trading charities and community businesses deliver positive impact. S&CC provide finance to organisations that cannot access mainstream funding. Many social enterprises, trading charities and community businesses have suffered a loss of income because of coronavirus lockdown restrictions. S&CC want to help bridge the income gap so that organisations survive the crisis and continue to have a positive impact in their communities.
Objectives of Fund
In response to the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic, S&CC has launched the £1 million Coronavirus Response Fund, which is for organisations across the UK that employ people from vulnerable or disadvantaged groups.
The funding aims to bridge the income gap so that organisations survive the crisis and continue to have a positive impact in their communities.
Value Notes
A total of £1 million is being made available with one-off unrestricted grants of between £5,000 and £50,000.
The grant must not exceed 25% of the organisation’s annual turnover or £50,000. For example, an organisation with a turnover of £50,000 can apply for a maximum of £12,500.
Who Can Apply
Applications will be considered from organisations with the following legal structures:
- Community Interest Company (CIC)
- Company Limited by Guarantee
- Community Benefit Society
- Co-operative Society
- Unincorporated association
- Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
- Charitable Trusts
- Registered Charity.
To be eligible, organisations must:
- Employ people from vulnerable or disadvantaged groups
- Generate at least 30% of revenue from trading income
- Have had a pre-coronavirus annual turnover of between £50,000 to £1 million.
- Have suffered a loss of trading income since March 2020, caused by lockdown restrictions
- Have been founded and trading prior to 1 January 2019
- Have been financially sustainable (or on a path to financial stability) up to March 2020
- Be constituted, operating and delivering impact in England, Scotland, Wales, and/or Northern Ireland
Location
UK
Restrictions
The following are not eligible for funding:
- Current S&CC customers.
- Organisations that operate overseas.
- Campaigning activities.
- Religious activities (religious organisations will be considered if their project benefits the wider community and does not include religious content).
- Political or lobbying activities.
- Retrospective costs.
- Activities that make profits for private gain.
- Loan costs (most lenders are being flexible on repayment terms).
Eligible Expenditure
The use of funds must:
- Have demonstratable impact. The grants are to help continue or resume delivering impact.
- Help the organisation to survive or adapt. Grants can be used to fund usual business activities or help to adapt their delivery model to coronavirus constraints. These grants are unrestricted and can be used for any purpose, including core costs.
- Be traceable. Organisations must retain proof of spending. Grant recipients must complete a simple monitoring form after six months and be able to state how the funds were spent; report on the number of jobs reinstated or created, and the number of individuals/groups helped. Grant recipients must be available for an over the phone check in within the first three months of grant disbursement.
How To Apply
Applications will be open from midday on Monday 22 June and stay open for at least one week, until midday on Monday 29 June 2020. Applications may be open longer depending on how many applications are received. Applicants are encouraged to submit their application as soon as they can.
Eligibility criteria, guidance notes and terms and conditions are available form the Social & Community Capital website.
Payment Procedure
The funds will be disbursed in one lump sum once successful applicants have passed due diligence checks.
Useful Links
Social & Community Capital – Coronavirus Support