Aims/priorities: Grants are available for small local voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in England that are working to reduce loneliness and isolation by bringing people and communities together as the country recovers from the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.
The funding is to be used to:
- Build relationships in and across communities to help reduce loneliness and build connections between people and communities
- Bring together organisations who are working on social connections to celebrate their work, share learning and best practice, and form/bring together peer networks.
This is to help make:
- People and communities feel more connected.
- Individuals feel supported and less lonely or isolated.
- People more aware of services available that help them to connect with others and get involved.
- Organisations learn from each other.
Round 2 will focus on:
- Activities that physically bring people together in a safe and secure way.
- Remote activities (when this is the best or only way for people to build connections) - for example, remote activities may benefit people who are geographically isolated, people with illnesses or disabilities, or those who are not quite ready to meet people in face-to-face settings.
- Helping individuals to get out of the ‘lockdown mentality’ and meet people in their communities again.
- Helping organisations who work to reduce loneliness restart their activities - for example, cleaning and refreshing meeting spaces or refreshing materials, and ensuring equipment is ready to be used.
Who can apply? Applications will be accepted from constituted voluntary, community and social enterprise organisation that serves communities within England
To be eligible, applicants must have an annual income of £50,000 or less and be one of the following:
- A voluntary or community organisation
- A registered charity
- A not-for-profit company or Community Interest Company
- A faith group as long as the funding is not for religious activities.
- A constituted group or club.
Grant amount: Grants of between £300 and £2,500 are available.
Application process: Applications for Round 2 will open on 28 June 2021.
Guidelines and the online application form are available from the National Lottery Community Fund website.
Deadline: 6 August 2021.
Contact information: Email general.enquiries@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk
Website address: tnlcommunityfund.org.uk