Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

City Living, Local Life grant

City Living, Local Life is Kensington and Chelsea Council's ward-based grant for projects, events and products that bring local residents together and improve their neighbourhoods. Ward councillors decide: at least two councillors in a ward must agree. Charities, CICs and constituted community, residents' and faith groups can apply for up to £5,000 (projects and events) or £1,000 (products) from one ward, or double that for a multi-ward bid, capped at £12,000 per organisation a year.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Up to £10,000; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Moderate; full application with documents

Who can apply

A charity, community interest company, constituted residents' association, constituted faith group, constituted voluntary and community sector organisation, or private company limited by guarantee without share capital whose profits and assets are locked for charitable or community purposes
You must have a bank account in the organisation's name needing two unrelated signatories
The proposal cannot be for profit and benefits should be aimed at people from the ward(s) applied to, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Where applicable you need safeguarding, health and safety and data protection policies, DBS checks, risk assessments, licences and permissions, and employers' liability (£5m), public liability (£5m) and professional indemnity (£2m) insurance

What it funds

Projects (activities lasting seven days to six months, up to 12 months exceptionally), events (one to seven day gatherings or outings for borough residents) and products (physical objects) that meet one or more aims:

Improving understanding of local areas, including local history
Building stronger connections between local people
Identifying and prioritising local improvements
Devising practical solutions with local people
Working with local people and organisations to deliver solutions

Eligible costs include publicity, staff fees linked to discrete time-limited projects, service fees (performers, trainers, catering), volunteer and travel expenses, venue hire, materials and decorations, food and non-alcoholic drinks, and repeat projects, events and outings.

Single ward: projects/events up to £5,000, products up to £1,000; multi-ward (bordering wards): up to £10,000 and £2,000.

What it will not fund

Private limited companies whose profits and assets are not locked for charitable or community purposes
Statutory services
Infrastructure such as permanent or semi-permanent sculptures, renovations or bike hangers
Religious symbols
Events and projects that promote religious interests or exclude people based on religion
Events and projects that promote political interests or exclude people based on politics
Purchase of alcohol
Core running costs, including staff salaries, utility bills and ongoing premises rent
Fees or costs not relevant to the project or event
Proposals already delivered or purchased before you apply

Organisations are limited to three grants a year (1 April-31 March), £7,000 a year in a single ward and £12,000 a year in total

How to apply

Get advice from relevant council teams (City Living, Local Life: voluntarysector@rbkc.gov.uk)
Contact all ward councillors in your chosen ward(s) about your proposal
Prepare an itemised budget (template on the Apply now page) and a bank statement
Complete the online application form (an accessible Word version is available from voluntarysector@rbkc.gov.uk)
A council officer contacts you, carries out due diligence, asks further questions and sends your proposal to the ward councillors
Councillors decide (at least two must agree; if one or more oppose, the application is closed) and an officer confirms the outcome and arranges payment
If funded, use City Living, Local Life branding, keep records of spending and return a monitoring form within 20 days of the project ending

Money spent before councillor approval is at your own risk; the grant may have to be repaid if the project is not completed within 12 months

Have ready

Budget document with an itemised cost breakdown for the funds requested
Bank statement for an account in the organisation's name requiring two unrelated signatories

Policies, insurance and other documents are listed in the form but need not be uploaded at this stage; you may be asked for them later

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Other grants open to organisations like yours.