Aims/priorities: This funding is designed to increase social connectedness, and help communities cope with the impact of COVID-19.
By working with those communities most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including black, Asian and ethnically diverse communities, the projects we will fund will help to:
- Enhance collaboration and networking between local organisations
- Strengthen the range of social prescribing activities offered locally and enable social prescribing link workers to connect people to more creative community activities and services
- Explore ways to make these partnerships and activities sustainable over time
The Fund will support local voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise projects that bring together place-based partnerships to improve and increase the range and reach of available social prescribing community activities – especially for those people most impacted by COVID-19 and health inequalities. Partnerships will plan and deliver a programme of community activities. These will enable people to engage in positive activities including the arts and creativity, sport and physical activity, and connection to nature. They will also support people to deal with practical issues (such as food and debt), and to build confidence and social connections.
Who can apply? Applications can be led by voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCSFE) organisations working in any of the following sectors:
- Arts, and culture, including libraries, museums and heritage
- Sport, leisure and physical activity organisations
- Financial wellbeing, advice, food and practical support
- Environment and nature-based organisations
- Non-statutory health and care organisations, working with social prescribing link workers
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Demonstrate a commitment to work with partner organisations from all of the above sectors in the course of the funded period.
- Evidence the commitment of three core partner organisations – including at least one partner organisation from the arts and culture sector – at the point the application is made.
- Provide 20% match funding.
- Provide a statement of support from the relevant social prescribing link worker(s) for the geographical location of the proposal. This ensures that social prescribing link workers can connect people to the community activities being funded.
Grant amount: £25,000 - £50,000
Application process: Applications can be made on the Arts Council website. Please read the guidance notes before applying.
Deadline: 12pm (midday), 8 January 2021
Contact Information: Email enquiries@artscouncil.org.uk
Website address: www.artscouncil.org.uk