Mid and East Antrim Borough Council: COVID-19 Community Support Grants Scheme

Overview

The COVID-19 Community Support Grant Scheme is now open to all constituted groups across the borough and is in addition to the usual two grants per annum available to community groups.

Groups will be asked to work in partnership, where possible, to ensure a fair and equitable geographical reach and to avoid duplication of effort.

Groups are permitted to apply for 100% funding up to a maximum of £1,000 per application towards eligible items. Further funding applications may be made where a need has been identified working with the local DEA Officer (contact details are listed at the back of the downloadable guide below) and where all funding awarded towards the previous project(s) have been satisfactorily vouched by a Council Grants Officer.

In addition, existing operating Food Banks within the Borough are permitted to apply for 100% funding up to a maximum of £2,000 per application to assist in meeting the demand for those services during the pandemic.

NB New groups formed in response to the outbreak of the COVID-19 Coronavirus or groups that are not formally constituted are required to work with a local constituted group on a partnership basis and that the constituted group will be the lead applicant in the project.

Examples of Projects

• Enabling vulnerable people to keep warm by accessing home heating oil or warm clothes.
• Enabling vulnerable people to access a nutritious meal by connecting them to services providing groceries, and/or ready-made meals.
• Enabling and encouraging vulnerable people to use and access technology to keep them connected to the outside world.
• Reaching out to isolated vulnerable people by telephone, befriending if possible.

This list is not exhaustive, and any project ideas should be discussed with a local DEA Officer to determine suitability.

Scoring Criteria

To qualify for a grant under this Scheme, applicants must clearly demonstrate the following in completing the relevant application form:

I. What the project is

II. The need for the project

III. The benefits of the project

IV. Additional scoring will be given for projects that display partnership working within the community

Each answer will require a minimum of 50% in scoring for the application to be successful.