BCC Community services grants

Belfast City Council Community and Leisure Services Small Logo

Belfast City Council are inviting applications from groups within the community sector to apply for for funding within their community grants schemes.

These schemes are designed to support in association with others, disadvantaged communities in the city to be involved in community life thereby improving local conditions and enabling personal development.

There are three main types of grant available. These are:

  • Revenue grants for Community Buildings
  • Community Development Project Grants
  • Playscheme Grants

REVENUE GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY BUILDINGS
Priority within this type of grant will be given to the areas of greatest social need whilst endeavouring to ensure balanced provision throughout the City, within this category the Council will make awards towards the running costs for community buildings.

Precedence, under this category, will be given to Neighbourhood groups that can demonstrate that they run a broad based programme the size of the building, programme content & throughput and current running costs will determine the maximum amount of running costs that can be awarded.

Funding will normally be for a three-year period, subject to a funding agreement and monitoring and evaluation procedures. Consideration may also be given to applications from 'issue based' groups which operate across a number of neighbourhoods.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT GRANTS - (Awards of this type will not exceed £500)

The Council will support small-scale projects that contribute to the overarching aim of building the capacity of local people to become involved in the processes and decisions that affect their lives. The emphasis of these awards will be to support and strengthen local efforts to enhance and improve the quality of life within a neighbourhood or area. Priority will be given to projects which:

  • Develop the programme of a community building
  • Enable new groups to become established in areas where there is little or no community activity
  • Contribute to the ongoing organisational or programme costs of small community projects
  • Support short courses that aid the development of self confidence and skills for committees/volunteers

From time to time larger awards, to develop or enhance opportunities for community development within the City, may be available under the heading of Community Development Project Grants. Specific additional criteria for such grants will be available under separate cover.

PLAYSCHEME GRANTS
The Council will make available funding towards the cost of community based summer playschemes throughout the City. In applying for funding, groups must be able to demonstrate:

  • A high level of organised local community involvement
  • The ability to properly account for funding
  • Recent experience of planning and organising a playscheme or activities for children/young people
  • Provision of a playscheme which is meeting needs not adequately met by other groups in the same area or neighbourhood
  • A Child Protection Policy & Procedures

Summer Playscheme awards will be dependent on the submission of a broad based programme of activities of at least two weeks duration. The programme should offer a wide range of social, recreational and educational activities appropriate to the ages and stages of development of children/young people involved. The activities should offer equal opportunity and choice to all participants and should cater for children/young people within the 5 - 14 year old age range.

Completed appications should be returned by 4pm on Monday 3 March 2008

For application forms and further information please contact:

Community Services Section
Belfast City Council
The Cecil Ward Building
4 -10 Linenhall Street
Belfast BT2 8BP

Tel : 028 9032 0202 ext 3346/3365
Email : stevensonj@belfastcity.gov.uk



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