National VCSE Grant Scheme
Overview
The purpose of the National VCSE Grant Scheme is to fund national projects across the UK to provide infrastructure support in areas such as: employment, mental health and wellbeing, which will complement what is being delivered locally, and contribute to delivering sustainable support to BN(O) status holders. They are inviting bids from organisations that can deliver support across the UK.
The National VCSE grant scheme will complement the Regional VCSE grant scheme, which has a separate prospectus and bid process
Objectives
The National VCSE grant scheme will support projects in line with the high-level outcomes of the Hong Kong UK Welcome Programme. The programme will ensure positive outcomes for central and local government, resident communities and BN(O) status holders, by:
- Enabling all new arrivals to fully contribute to life in the UK, both economically and socially, enriching our society.
- Allowing BN(O) status holders to feel fully part of British society, able to mix confidently with people of all backgrounds, and provide a positive contribution to the UK and the areas in which they settle.
- Providing support to both resident communities and BN(O) status holders so they are welcomed and able to settle into their new communities.
- Enabling BN(O) status holders to get access to the right support services to support their settlement.
What are they looking for?
They are looking for VCSE organisations to develop and run projects that will support BN(O) status holders in areas such as employment and mental health and wellbeing to help build community cohesion and bring sustainable benefits to BN(O) status holders and the communities where they settle.
Proposals should complement the support that is being delivered through the regional VCSE fund (England only), which is aimed at local buddying and befriending schemes and bespoke support for integration into local communities.
Examples of activities where we are keen to receive proposals include:
- Targeted national employment support, focusing on skills, employment sustainability and preventing under‐employment.
- A national offer to support the health needs of BN(O) status holders, particularly mental health and wellbeing.
- A national support programme to further signpost or navigate BN(O) status holders to services.
- UK-wide projects which focus on community cohesion, social interaction and build the capacity of BN(O) status holders to engage in civic life in the UK.
They encourage those organisations that want to bid for funding to engage with Strategic Migration Partnerships and civil society groups so that they understand the gaps and can focus projects on the areas that will be of most benefit to BN(O) status holders in all parts of the UK.
Eligibility
They welcome applications from organisations that already have experience supporting the integration of BN(O) status holders, as well as groups with less direct experience who have the relevant skills and resources to support effective integration and to help build strong community cohesion.
They are interested in those organisations that:
- Have the scope and remit to deliver support across all parts of the UK, and can demonstrate this in the application form.
- Form partnerships (or consortia) between country specific organisations to support a UK-wide approach.
Applications from newly founded organisations and well-established groups are welcome.
All organisations selected will be required to undergo mandatory due diligence checks as a means of ensuring the government is not subject to potential reputational damage.
A full list of eligible organisations can be found below.
- ‘Charity’ – A registered charity with a UK charity number or a registered CIC (community interest company).
- ‘Community group’ – A group which meets all the following criteria:
- Established for charitable, benevolent or philanthropic purposes;
- Has a governing body with at least three members;
- Has a governing document which they are able to produce;
- Can provide accounts for the last two financial years.
- ‘Community Interest Company’ - a special type of limited company which exists to benefit the community rather than private shareholders.
- ‘Social enterprise’ - a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners”.
- Other voluntary and community organisations
- ‘Consortium’ – a group of bidders, with a designated lead partner to manage the programme, and a system for dividing the work and funds appropriately and effectively. The lead partner must be a charity or a community group with a charitable purpose.
- Organisations must be based in the United Kingdom and provide an offer that can cover England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Organisations applying to the National VCSE Grant Scheme are eligible to apply for other Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas) Welcome Programme grant schemes but must present a distinct offer as part of this scheme.
They would expect applicants to be of good financial standing irrespective of the grant, and, through due diligence procedures, would expect that successful organisations do not receive the majority of their funding from Central Government.
Organisations chosen to receive grant funding must ensure that they comply with the UK’s international obligations in respect of subsidies.
Funding
Up to £886,000 will be available for the National VCSE grant scheme to fund UK-wide projects.
Given the nature and scope of this scheme, they are looking to fund up to 3 projects to deliver national support to ensure greater impact and more reach. Depending on the number and scale of bids received, MHCLG may ask VCSE organisations to scale up or scale down their proposals.
They are encouraging applicants to submit proposals for projects that can be up and running swiftly after being notified that they are successful, which they expect to do from early October. Delivery of your project will need to be completed by 31 March 2022.
MHCLG will consider continuing elements in future financial years, subject to the Spending Review process.
Roles and responsibilities
MHCLG is providing funding for the National VCSE Grant Scheme. MHCLG will assess national VCSE bids and provide funding directly to successful VCSE organisations.
MHCLG Role
- Publish the national prospectus
- Assess bids against the assessment criteria and determine allocation of funding
- Complete due diligence checks on recipients selected for funding
- Notify VCSE applicants of funding decisions
- Establish grant agreements with successful VCSE organisations
- Provide funding as agreed in the grant funding agreement
- Establish and undertake monitoring and evaluation
VCSE Role
- Ensure proposals submitted are on the application form and contain clear costings, outputs and outcomes for activities
- Cooperate fully with the assessment and due diligence process
- If selected for funding, sign a grant funding agreement with MHCLG
- If selected for funding, deliver proposals in line with agreed plans, within timescales and to budget
- Participate in monitoring and evaluation as required