Community Foundation for NI: Coronavirus Community Fund

Archived Adult Education/Learning Advice services Age Aged 26 - 59 years Aged 60+ Black and minority ethnic Children (0-12) Communities Community and neighbourhood development Community development COVID-19/Coronavirus Education and learning good relations Health promotion Health, wellbeing and sport Healthcare services Human rights and equality Information Technology Miscellaneous Multiculturalism People with disabilities Poverty and deprivation Rescue and emergency Social inclusion Social welfare and poverty Sport and physical recreation Young people (13-25) Antrim & Newtownabbey Ards & North Down Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Belfast City Causeway Coast and Glens Derry City and Strabane Fermanagh and Omagh Lisburn and Castlereagh Mid and East Antrim Mid Ulster Newry, Mourne and Down Northern Ireland Micro (up to £1,000) Small (up to £10,000)

Track grant Notes

Overview

Who can apply?

Constituted organisations based in Northern Ireland.

They want to support community groups working together; particularly in smaller geographical communities. They will therefore encourage a partnership approach, and one application from one lead organisation, rather than a number of separate applications.

Criteria

The current focus is to support groups and organisations working with the following communities and issues and that are affected by coronavirus

Older people (aged over 50)
Those at increased risk, particularly in relation to poor mental health and wellbeing
Vulnerable isolated people and families, particularly those living in rural areas, families where a parent/ both parents have lost their employment or where children are living in poverty
Children and young people’s projects, particularly focusing on the voice of young people and connecting through creative mediums.
Black, asian and ethnic minority communities

What can be supported within the fund themes?

With grant sizes of between £1,000 to £10,000, it is the expectation that this funding will support organisations to continue to provide services over the next twelve months enabling both short and longer term impact.

*We anticipate those organisations who are providing small scale emergency support will require funding of around £1,000 to £2,500. Those supporting need on a longer term basis, and/or who are significantly enhancing their services at this time, may require grants of up to £10,000.”

Priorities

The Foundation will prioritise:

Initiatives that directly support those most at risk as a result of the threat of coronavirus, and clearly evidence the need for support
Organisations with income levels of below £1 million per annum
Running costs for organisations to provide such support, including volunteer expenses, staff costs, and transport; providing the organisation is focusing their attention on providing support to both existing, and any potential new beneficiaries
Small capital costs are eligible, providing the capital item will address the priorities of the fund, and is linked to keeping the older person connected to the outside world

Examples of projects may include:

Enabling older people to access a nutritious meal by connecting them to services providing groceries, and/or ready made meals
Enabling and encouraging isolated people of all ages to use and access technology to keep them connected to the outside world
Remote befriending schemes for those isolated, and in need of support
Social prescribing initiatives, in line with government guidance around isolation and social distancing. Developing online projects and volunteering opportunities, such as arts activities, group learning, gardening, befriending, cookery, healthy eating advice and a range of exercise activities
Provision of enhanced counselling support services, providing they are offered in line with government advice and guidance around social distancing
Projects that build social networks, in line with current guidance around isolation and social distancing, and that may further develop once this period of isolation has ended
Projects supporting those at risk, for example those suffering from domestic violence, children at risk; providing the project is supporting those most in need, in line with government advice and guidance
Projects encouraging young people to take part in arts and cultural activities at home, which can be showcased when social distancing criteria is relaxed e.g. online tutorial, competitions
Projects supporting the voice of children and young people, giving them an opportunity to share their experiences creatively about living though the coronavirus outbreak during this time

NB SAFEGUARDING:

“Safeguarding of children and adults at risk from harm and exploitation is of paramount importance in the midst of COVID-19. Good practice indicates that organisations working with adults at risk should have a written policy supported by robust procedures and guidelines. CFNI recognise that applicants are wanting to make a fast and effective response to the issues caused by COVID-19 and therefore may not have full policy and procedures in place as yet. As a temporary measure to help you submit your application and get helping quickly, they ask that you submit a signed policy statement (sample here KAS Adult Safeguarding Policy Statement) showing your intention to keep adults and children safe in the activities that you are proposing.

They also request a signed copy of the guidelines that you will issue to volunteers to show that they have been informed of good practice around how they will conduct themselves including how they will report concerns. (See sample at https://www.volunteernow.co.uk/app/uploads/2020/03/Volunteer-Guidelines-When-Volunteering-Covid-19.pdf).

In order to ensure that you are following best practice they ask that you give thought to how you will recruit and manage your volunteers, some simple guidance can be found at (https://www.volunteernow.co.uk/app/uploads/2020/03/Involving-Volunteers-Covid-19.pdf and they strongly recommend that you develop full policy and procedures for adult and child safeguarding as soon as possible. For full guidance around Keeping Adults Safe and a checklist for developing a policy see https://www.volunteernow.co.uk/app/uploads/2019/04/Keeping-Adults-Safe-A-Shared-Responsibility.pdf “