Coalfield
Background
Ward councillors have a grant allocation to award to community groups and organisations, to deliver activity or purchase equipment that provides a clear benefit to residents at a ward level and which address local priorities.
Criteria
What's eligible?
Activity or equipment that clearly benefits residents at a ward level and which address local priorities, as detailed in the Area Committee's Neighbourhood Investment Plan. The activity must provide genuine community benefit or address community need.
Coalfield Area Committee have the following key themes for 2023 - 2026 and your project must clearly benefit residents at a ward level and assist in achieving these local themes:
Dynamic Smart we will have
- A Can Do Project to develop skills of young people
- Coalfield Communities Connected Project to develop digital skills of residents
- Support to residents to improve financial resilience via R U Ready
- A VAS and Road Safety programme
- A Tree planting programme across the area
- Developed and delivered low carbon initiatives in the community
Healthy Smart we will have
- Provision of positive activities for young people during school holidays
- Youth clubs in each of the four wards
- A Coalfield Healthy and Active Teen (CHAT) programme
- Activities to reduce Social Isolation
- Social Prescribing Services
Vibrant Smart we will have
- The Coalfield Clean it, Green It project
- Heritage Activities and Community Events
- The Houghton Feast community programme
- Improvements to Herrington Colliery Welfare Ground facilities
- Improvements to Houghton Rectory Park
- Delivery of the Stephenson Trail heritage programme
- Contributed to habitat and ecological improvements via Link Together
- Continued the Proactive Coalfield Anti-social behaviour project
- Coalfield Pride Event at Houghton
- Environmental improvements at Copt Hill and Seven Sisters
- Support to VCS organisations and Community Hubs
- Improvements to Community Assets
- Supported the celebration event at former Houghton Colliery site
- A Christmas Tree at Newbottle
- A Music Event at Elemore Park
Here are some examples:-
• Purchase of play and exercise equipment for community use
• Purchase of equipment to improve the local environment
• Activities and events to support young people
• Resources for a community centre
• Projects to improve the health and wellbeing of local residents
• Community events, festivals and exhibitions
What types of groups are eligible?
• Formally constituted and 'not for profit' groups which include charities, schools, voluntary and community groups and public sector organisations.
• CICs can apply but must have three or more Directors that are not related.
• Registered organisations must be up to date with governance requirements.
• Private Limited Company with no share capital & with community benefit objectives, (copies of the Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association must be submitted)
What organisations need to be considered for Community Chest
To be eligible for Community Chest Grant groups must have:
• A clear and current management structure
• A current written and adopted Constitution or Terms of Reference specific to your own organisation
• Dual signatory bank/building society account in the organisation's name
• Legally able to carry out the activities and must seek all necessary legal and other approvals as necessary (planning permission, health and safety, DBS checks, etc).
What's not eligible?
• Applications from individuals, non-constituted groups or private/profit making organisations which will result in commercial benefit.
• On-going salary, maintenance or running costs of an organisation
• Alcohol or tobacco.
• City wide projects
• Projects which benefit more than 6 neighbouring wards
• Requests for grant of over £5,000.
• Retrospective funding i.e. expenditure incurred before the grant has been formally approved
• Exclusively religious activities
• Political activities
• More than one application from an organisation within a 12 month period (Please note, however, additional funding requests will be considered during a 12 month period at the discretion of the relevant ward councillors and where the organisation is able to demonstrate need for additional funding).
• Applications from organisations which have not complied with the conditions of grants given to them previously via Sunderland City Council
How to Apply
The first step is to approach 1 of your 3 ward Councillors to consider if they will sponsor the application. Contact details for Coalfield Ward Councillors can be found by clicking their individual photos, using the following links.
Complete the online application process and submit with the required supporting information. NB You must be able to confirm that a ward councillor has agreed to support your application before being able to progress to the online application process.
Once you have completed the online application process your application will be assessed to ensure it meets the criteria and then presented to all 3 of your local ward Councillors for a decision. Please allow up to 2 months for a decision to be made prior to the funding being required. This will allow time for full assessment and any potential follow up should additional information be required.
Payment Arrangements
If the application is approved you will be sent an offer letter along with the full Terms and Conditions of grant. The grant will be paid within 14 working days upon receipt of the signed Terms and Conditions as follow:
For any award up to a maximum of £5,000, the full grant will be paid up front directly into the Organisation's bank account.
Further advice
Terms and conditions for projects
For more information or advice on potential projects please contact the Area Support Assistant (Coalfields) - lauren.smith@sunderland.gov.uk
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