believe housing

believe housing small community grant

believe housing, a County Durham housing association, runs a community grant scheme for not-for-profit groups working in the areas where it has homes. The permanently open part of the scheme is the small community grant: up to £1,000 per group per financial year (which can be taken as one 1,000 pound grant or two 500 pound grants), open all year round, intended to kick-start new groups and new activities rather than to prop up existing running costs. It funds revenue costs and up to 60 per cent capital costs, and decisions are made by a grant panel of believe housing tenants within four weeks. The scheme also has a larger, occasional Community Development Fund (5,000 to £20,000) which is place-based and currently restricted to four specific villages - see note.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Up to £1,000; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Moderate; full application with documents

Who can apply

Not-for-profit groups delivering a project that benefits a community where believe housing has homes
They welcome registered and exempt charities, community groups, schools, social enterprises, voluntary groups, community interest companies, town, parish or community councils, and faith groups or venues
They cannot accept applications from individuals, party political groups, private companies or for-profit organisations, or from organisations whose objectives and ethos do not meet believe housing's charitable objectives
Before applying you must be able to confirm that the project benefits one or more of believe housing's patch areas, that you have a bank account with two unrelated signatories, that you can give two named contacts for the project, and that you have a constitution or formation document available on request (schools excepted)
Social enterprises and CICs face extra tests: registered at least 12 months, clear charitable objectives and defined social benefit, a management committee of at least three directors (four if two are related), a bank account in the organisation's name with two unrelated signatories, recognised legal status registered with the appropriate authority, a nominated asset lock body, at least 25 per cent of income earned through trading, a detailed breakdown of grant versus trading income in the application, and funding sought for charitable project delivery rather than CIC management or services normally charged for
A group can be awarded a maximum of £1,000 across a financial year (1 April to 31 March) and cannot apply again until the next year once that is reached and all receipts and reports are in

What it funds

Revenue costs that kick-start a project, plus fixed capital costs for up to 60 per cent of the grant. believe housing lists:

Activities that encourage social integration, develop sustainable communities and start up projects for not-for-profit groups
Setting up classes, sessions, activities and events for the community, or buying equipment for community-based activities
Short-term coaching, training or sessional worker costs
Activities that help people develop new skills, gain a qualification or get work experience leading to increased employability
Projects that increase health and wellbeing such as healthy eating workshops, events or fitness activities, or that provide refreshments, snacks and meals as part of an activity
Art and craft events and activities leading to improved mental wellbeing or reduced isolation
Activities that reduce anti-social behaviour and help people feel safe in their communities
Marketing and promotional costs to increase participation, up to £200
Venue hire and rent up to a maximum of 50 per cent of the project cost
Some smaller essential repair works integral to the project
Travel costs integral to an activity

The project must meet at least one of six key themes: Health and Wellbeing, Employability and Training, Increasing Household Income, A Greener Fairer Future, Tackling Inequalities, and Bringing the community together.

What it will not fund

Core funding - ongoing running costs of an organisation, including staffing costs for permanent or fixed-term employees, utility bills and insurance
Maintenance costs
Requests to buy goods or services on behalf of another organisation
Applications to develop the financial reserves of the organisation, including items bought for fundraising such as raffle prizes
Religious, party political or lobbying activities (non-religious and multi-faith activities may be funded)
Loans or debt repayments
Taxi fares to allow people to attend meetings or events
Projects and activities for personal profit
Purchase of vehicles
Individuals requesting funding
Referee fees
Retrospective funding - projects cannot be funded after they have started

How to apply

Check your project falls in one of the patch areas (central Durham, east Durham or south-west Durham) and meets one of the six key themes
Contact the Community Investment Team first to discuss the project idea - email communitygrant@believehousing.co.uk or call 0300 1311 999
Download and read the full application criteria and guidance document, the FAQs and the grant terms and conditions
Complete the online eligibility confirmation (amount requested up to £1,000, patch area, two named contacts, bank account with two unrelated signatories, constitution or formation document available on request, terms and conditions accepted)
Complete the online application form: your organisation, project contacts, about your project, funding request, volunteering, declaration, data protection and consent - it can be saved and continued later

select the patch area your project will cover on the form

if applying for two 500 pound grants in one year, these must be submitted on separate occasions and all reporting on the first must be submitted and approved before the second is sent

grants must start within two months of being awarded, and projects can be one-off activities or run for up to a year

Have ready

Constitution or formation document, supplied on request (excluding schools)
Details of a bank account in the organisation's name with two unrelated signatories
Two named contacts for the project

social enterprises and CICs must also provide a detailed breakdown of income streams showing grant income separately from trading income

receipts and an end-of-project report must be supplied afterwards, and are a precondition of any further application

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