Funding for local voluntary and community organisations

You can apply to the Banstead Neighbourhood fund by submitting an expression of interest (EOI) and our grants team will be in touch to discuss your application.

Organisations can apply for £1,000 to £10,000. All grants must be spent by 31 March 2024 and please refer to the guidance below before applying.

Express your interest in the Banstead Neighbourhood Fund 

• Contact email: bansteadneighbourhoodfund@reigate-banstead.gov.uk 

Guidance for the Banstead Neighbourhood Fund

Overview

The Banstead Neighbourhood Fund will distribute £79,200 of funding to Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations serving residents in the Banstead area with the aim of improving health and wellbeing. The grants provide an excellent mechanism for sharing system wide change and developing innovation.

We are looking to fund projects which support health creation and build wellbeing. Projects should be focused on prevention and aligned to the Surrey Downs / Banstead PCN Priorities, which include:

• Urgent and emergency care - Projects that prevent or reduce the burden on urgent and emergency care
• Ageing well - Projects that enable elderly people to remain independent and engaged in activities
• Prevention and Communities - Projects that work with and in local communities to address issues that are impacting on health and wellbeing
• Long term conditions - Activities that help prevent or reduce the impact of long-term health conditions
• Mental health - Projects and activities that support good mental health

Local resident feedback

In addition to and aligned with the priorities highlighted above over the last 2 months Surrey Downs Health and Care Partnership Engagement lead has held a series of local resident listening events in the areas of highest needs in order to identify some of the key challenges affecting health, wellbeing, and quality of life one of which is the Preston Estate in Banstead (7th most deprived ward in Surrey).

From the focus groups we have gathered rich insights from local people that have informed our summary of themes or priority areas of focus below:

• Cost of living 
• Support for families and children (youth groups or support for young people to develop and grow and support for families for neurodiversity both getting a diagnosis then ongoing support)
• Affordable access to leisure facilities for all residents, adults, people with disabilities, people young people and families 

We particularly welcome applications from organisations which can demonstrate that lived experience of their potential beneficiaries is reflected in the management and or governance of the organisation or in the development of the planned service delivery. We also encourage applications from under-represented groups in our community.

You will be able to apply for between £1,000 and £10,000 per organisation.

You can only apply once per organisation; we will consider full cost recovery projects and we will only fund each project/activity once.

Successful applicants or the fund holder will be asked to sign a funding agreement before the grant is paid, this will set out the reporting requirements.

Tips for expression of interest

Applications that demonstrate a clear and lasting benefit to the health and wellbeing of our communities are more likely to be successful.

Here are some other factors that may make your application stand out:

• Sustainability of the project or benefits beyond the grant
• Added value through the involvement of the community in delivery, building the skills of volunteers
• Accessibility and diversity
• Planned impact measurement
• Use of original and creative approaches to respond to changing local needs
• Long-term solutions for people's health and wellbeing

Eligibility criteria

We will fund VCS organisations working for the benefit of residents living in the area shown on the map below, who deliver services and activities that could directly contribute towards the Banstead PCN priorities.

#

 

This includes:

• Registered charities
• Voluntary and community groups that are charitable in purpose
• Not for profit organisations (such as Community Interest Companies) with social purpose
• Local faith groups where the projects clearly benefit the wider community
• Small and newly formed groups which are not constitute or cannot meet the eligibility criteria may apply under the umbrella of another group which will act as a fund holder for the grant. Grant holders could be CVS or other infrastructure groups, charities, or churches.

We will not fund:

• Local authorities
• Building maintenance or repairs
• Projects which have already taken place or items purchased prior to or during a grant application
• Events - unless the lasting difference the event will make to participants can be demonstrated

If an application is unsuccessful, we will endeavour to signpost applicants to alternate funding sources where available/appropriate.

Conflicts of interest

We expect applicants to highlight to us if there is a conflict of interest, for example they also work for Banstead PCN, serve as Members of a local Council or are members of the Participation Group or Banstead Neighbourhood Board.

Process

If you are interested in applying for a grant, meet the outlined eligibility criteria and have an activity you would like to apply for funding for, there is a simple process to follow. This is summarised below and shown in Figure 2.

1. Applicant submits Expression of Interest (EOI) - this is a simple online form confirming the name of your organisation, how much you are applying for and a brief summary of the activity you would like funding for. Please ensure you include information about how your project addresses Banstead PCN priorities, where it will take place and approximately how many people it will benefit (if appropriate).The grant team will assess the EOI to confirm whether the organisation and activity are suitable and eligible to progress to the next stage.
2. Applicant is invited to a consultation call - this will be a video call with the grants team. As opposed to using an application form, we will discuss any further information and detail required to complete your application for funding on the call. The questions may vary depending on the type of activity you are looking to fund and amount you are applying for; you can find more information in the Required Documentation section of this guidance.
3. EOI goes to participation group - we are consulting a participation group of residents from the Banstead PCN area as part of this process. Anonymised summaries of the EOIs will be sent to this participation group who will provide their feedback on what projects they would prioritise funding.
4. Final award decision made at Banstead Neighbourhood Board - After the consultation call the final summary of the application will be put to the Banstead Neighbourhood Board for the final award decision.

Figure 2.  

 

Required documentation

Depending on the activity you are applying for funding for, and how much funding you are requesting, we may request certain documentation from you. This could include:

• Evidence of a management committee (the people who are responsible and make decisions - Trustees or Directors) of a minimum of three unrelated people
• A signed constitution (or set of rules) 
• A bank account in the name of your group which requires two signatories / dual authorisation.
• Safeguarding Policy - if you are working with vulnerable people
• Equality and Diversity Policy - if you are a constituted organisation
• Your most recent Annual Accounts - if you are applying for >£5,000

If your project requires any permissions e.g., planning permission, you will be asked about this during the application process.

Impact reporting

If successful in receiving a grant, as part of the grant terms you will be expected to provide impact reporting. What this specifically looks like will depend on your activity however is likely to include things like:

• Number of people supported
• Evidence the activity has addressed the Banstead PCN priorities
• Any pictures, case studies or feedback from the activity and/or residents supported.