Aims/priorities: The COVID-19 Frontline Women’s Fund is being delivered by Smallwood Trust. The National Lottery Community Fund has committed almost £500,000 to the fund, which will be used to provide support to organisations that are working with women most at risk of poverty and financial hardship due to the pandemic. The aims of the fund are:
- Women’s sector organisations will be stronger and more sustainable and will have built their resilience to economic shocks caused and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic;
- The knowledge and expertise of the specialist women’s sector will be utilised to ensure the most vulnerable women are supported and to help influence medium and longer-term responses to the COVID-19 pandemic; and
- Women on low income or at risk of poverty due to the pandemic will be more financially resilient, gaining confidence, tools, skills and support to secure a stable financial future.
Who can apply? The fund is open to organisations operating across England but funding will be prioritised for women’s sector organisations and services in the Midlands and North of England where the pandemic has had the most impact.
Organisations applying for a grant £10,000 and over will need to be an organisation which serves communities within England and which is either:
A registered exempt or excepted charity, a Community Interest Company or Community Benefit Society
OR
A social enterprise, being: a company limited by shares, a company limited by guarantee (that is not charitable) or a co-operative society organisation
Applicants applying for a grant under £10,000 must be constituted.
Grant amount: The average grant award will be £15,000. Organisations can apply for grants between £5,000 and £25,000. Funds can pay for core and frontline staff salaries, running costs/overheads, project costs and goods and equipment to support adaption of frontline services.
Funds must be spent by 31 March 2021
Application process: Application and guidance notes available from Smallwood Trust website
Deadline: Applications must be submitted by 5pm on the 16 November
Contact Information: Email: frontline@smallwoodtrust.org.uk.
Website address: www.smallwoodtrust.org.uk/covid-19-frontline-women