Coronavirus funding support
We’ve compiled a list of currently available funding opportunities available for voluntary and community sector organisations in Hackney to mitigate the effects of Covid-19.
General emergency grant funding
Application date
Check individual funders linked below
Who can apply
The UK government has announced £7 million of funding to tackle loneliness this winter and will be aimed at those most at risk of loneliness during the coronavirus pandemic.
The funding will be targeted at sectors that are well-known for having the power to bring people and communities together such as the arts, libraries, charities and radio.
It will also support cultural organisations, charities and local community groups who are delivering much-needed work to ensure no one feels isolated in their local community.
The funding will be distributed via a number of existing schemes such as Arts Council England; the government’s Loneliness Fund; the Audio Content Fund and the Community Radio Fund.
DCMS will also be extending the existing Loneliness Grant Fund, to ensure that some of the organisations selected earlier this year can expand their current programmes or reach into new areas.
This will help to ensure that these national organisations providing vital support for a wide range of vulnerable people at risk of loneliness, including the elderly, veterans, and people with disabilities, can support even more people.
How much is available
7.5 million distributed through:
- £5 million to Arts Council England for arts and library services, of which £3.5 million has been awarded by DCMS to national charity The Reading Agency, for their Reading Well and Reading Friends programmes
- £2 million to extend the Government’s Loneliness Fund launched in May this year
- £500,000 to be distributed amongst the Audio Content Fund and the Community Radio Fund
More information
Government announces £75m funding to tackle loneliness during winter
Application date
This is a rolling programme and applications will be accepted at any time.
Who’s eligible
There are 2 types of grants available to registered organisations whose work delivers on one of Comic Relief’s 4 strategic themes:
- children survive and thrive: projects that support children under the age of 5 to reach their potential and have the best start in life. Please note: as of Friday 2 October we will now be accepting applications for projects that benefit children up to the age of 11
- fighting for gender justice: projects that improve equality for women, girls and initiatives that help people affected by domestic violence, abuse or exploitation due to their gender
- a safe place to be: projects that support people who are rebuilding their lives because of homelessness or forced migration
- mental health matters: projects that support good mental health in communities, improve access to support and tackle stigma and discrimination
Funding is available to help you develop your organisation through a capacity building grant or to deliver projects through a project delivery grant.
How much can be funded
Grants of up to £4,000.
More information
Application date
From September 2020 to June 2021 they will have 14 rounds, or opportunities for applications to be submitted.
Who’s eligible
This fund is open to UK registered charities (this includes Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIO) but not Community Interest Companies (CIC)) that are:
- currently supporting vulnerable people
- working in geographical areas of high deprivation (within the UK)
- have an annual income under £200,000
How much can be funded
Grants up to a maximum of £3,000.
More information
Application date
Rolling deadline.
Who’s eligible
This programme is designed to support small charitable organisations working at grassroots level. They are looking for organisations who are at the heart of their community and support the most disadvantaged areas of the UK
Themes/aims of the fund: They want to fund work that enables:
- people from across the community to participate in activities to improve connectedness, opportunities and wellbeing
- people who are excluded to have access to community-based services that support positive lasting change
- a stronger, more engaged community
How much can be funded
£20,000-£60,000 for 1-3 years.
More information
Application date
Applications can be made at any time and COVID-19 applications will be prioritised for quick assessment.
Who’s eligible
Charities/CIOs/CICs/charitable companies, voluntary community organisations, schools (as long as the project benefits and involves the communities around the school), statutory bodies (including town, parish and community councils).
How much can be funded
Multiple funds open, £300 to various upper limits.
More information
Application date
There are no specific dates for submitting applications. Appeals may be made at any time and will be considered by the Trustees as soon as possible.
Who’s eligible
Applications are only accepted from charities registered and operating within the UK.
The Trust does not accept applications from individuals, faith-based charities, from charities whose annual income exceeds £5million or for multi-year funding.
This programme does not consider appeals from Hospices, for which the Trust has a separate Hospice Fund.
How much can be funded?
£1,500
More information
Application date
No set end date currently.
Who’s eligible
Any group or individual working on a projects that demonstrate an immediate impact on those affected by the covid-19 virus crisis for:
- helping elderly or vulnerable people
- minimising the impact of self-isolation
- supporting foodbanks
- helping the homeless or those in temporary
- accommodation
How much can be funded?
£500.
More information
Application date
17 December 2020.
Who can apply
The Alec Dickson Trust provides support for young people who aim to enhance the lives of others, particularly those most marginalised by society, through volunteering or community service.
In this round of funding, the Trust is calling for applications from UK-based volunteering or community service projects, organised and run by people under 30 years old, which directly or indirectly respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Applications must align with Public Health England guidance on how to volunteer safely during the pandemic.
How much is available
£500 per award
More information
Funding for arts and culture projects and organisations
See Message from the Mayor of Hackney: How we’re supporting our cultural sector
Funding for organisations and projects supporting specific groups of people
Application date
Applications are now open and there is no set application closing date.
Who’s eligible
Applications from all charitable organisations are accepted for two major grant themes:
- hygiene grants
- healthy holiday (food) grants
How much can be funded
Maximum of £500 per group.
More information
Application date
Rolling deadline.
Who’s eligible
Overall details: Funding is set aside each year to provide youth clubs that work with the most disadvantaged young people with equipment.
Organisations need to be a youth club who is affiliated to a national youth organisation and need to also contribute to purchasing the equipment.
They will fund equipment for:
- sports equipment
- computer equipment
- photography & film equipment
- arts and crafts
- music equipment
How much can be funded
£200 and £600.
More information
Application date
Rolling deadlines for applications.
Who’s eligible
Charities and educational institutions can apply for grants to support those under the age of 18 years, and living with a mental health problem, physical disability or growing up in poverty through the mediums of sport and education.
How much can be funded
No upper or lower limit.
More information
Application date
The fund will open at the end of April and will end once the allocation is exhausted.
Who’s eligible
NSUN is delivering a smaller version of the Mental Health Response Fund above to target smaller, unconstituted or user led groups in England who would not be eligible for the above fund.
How much can be funded
Up to £1,000.
More information
Application date
Currently no deadline.
Who’s eligible
Typically, the fund will support organisations that have experienced:
- increased demand – eg holiday hunger clubs or food banks
- disrupted services – eg an organisation needing to set up new ways of delivering their services
- new services – eg projects addressing needs that have arisen
Applications accepted from a large range of not-for-profit organisations.
How much can be funded
Single payment of £500.
More information
Application date
The deadline for applications is 11am on Thursday 11 March.
Who’s eligible
To be eligible for a Covid-19 Information Grant, your organisation must:
- work in Hackney and/or the City of London with Hackney and/or City of London residents
- have a formal constitution or governing document and be constituted to be not-for-profit
- have been operating for at least one financial year
- have had a turnover of less than £1,000,000 in its last financial year or provide significant services to people most affected by Covid-19
How much can be funded
Projects are expected to last for nine months. Grants are available in two streams:
- Messenger grants of up to £7,500. Messenger grant holders will disseminate information to their communities
- Contact Point grants of up to £15,000. In addition to Messenger grant activities, Contact Point grant holders will work more closely with the Public Health team to identify and feed back issues arising in the community (such as misinformation circulating).
More information
Other support offered to charitable organisations dealing with coronavirus
A number of organisations, business and digital providers have come out in support of the voluntary and community sector by providing free access to a number of resources and services. If you know of something that should be added to this list or would like to collaborate please contact communitypartnerships@hackney.gov.uk.
- Charity Finance Group has compiled a list of useful finance-related resources for charities responding to COVID-19
- Sayer Vincent (auditors) have authored an interesting article around how to handle the year end in a pandemic
- East London Business Alliance (ELBA) are running Business Strategy & Planning sessions for Hackney-based community organisations, particularly to support those whose business plans and sustainability have been affected by COVID-19.This is the chance to work with teams of corporate volunteers on brainstorming ideas to business challenges and clarifying a plan of action.Please note that ELBA only works with organisations that have a social purpose – charities & social enterprises.Register / further information
- The Charity Commission has announced that charities are able to request an extension to file their annual returns and have produced a guidance page on running your charity during the coronavirus outbreak
- The Charity Excellence Framework platform has been updated to include coronavirus assessments and all toolkits – everything is free, there are fundraising guides, funder lists and free funding finders on their fundraising page. The site is building a free coronavirus funder database with a target launch date of Monday 20 April. This will be a searchable list, using multiple criteria, with more detailed information and substantially more funders, for non-profits and individuals, both UK and globally; click through to 2000+ funder websites. In the interim, the latest coronavirus funder list is now available to download, with 50+ more funders
- Small Charities Coalition – free resources and signposting for charities
- NCVO has a number of updated resources for organisations, now free having removed the paywall – these are updating frequently and signing up to their mailing list is the best way to keep up to date.
- Cranfield Trust is offering free remote business support for charities and one to one telephone support from experts topics including finance, communication, and business contingency planning, or a friendly, supportive discussion to cover a range of issues
- Business in the Community has launched their responsible business response network – if you’re an organisation you can sign up to say you need support, which includes volunteers, food, logistics, tech equipment, organisational support, clothes and more
- Free communications consultancy – 92 Minutes is offering free communications consultancy calls with social enterprises who are supporting others remotely through this time
- Free fundraising consultancy work – a list of individual fundraisers and consultants offering free one to one support to charities on fundraising
- Catalyst digital teams are available to help charities who need support with digital challenges – they’re made up of digital, design and data experts to help charities go through urgent, sometimes radical transitions, and there’s also a list of webinars for shared learning
- Covid Tech Support – free tech support provided by over 600 volunteers to individuals and organisations affected by coronavirus
- Digital Candle – free hour of expert digital advice over the phone available for charities
- Tech Handbook for Civil Society – a great resource full of tech hacks and information tailored to civil societies Covid-19 issues
- Communities Essential Guide to Digital Tools — for Mutual Aid Groups – a toolkit for grassroots communities needing to move their work into the digital realm for the first time
Community Investment and Partnerships Team
Address
Telephone
Opening times
- Mon to Fri, 9am - 5pm