£4.3m package of support and grants for neighbourhoods has been made available by the Department for Communities and Local Government to support at least 100 neighbourhoods, with 20 driving proposals which break new ground.
What is Our Place?
Our Place aims to give people more power over local services and budgets in their neighbourhoods, aligning these with all the other resources that the community can bring.
Communities and public service organisations will be supported to develop an operational plan and take control in their area to make sure that things work in the best way for local people.
Using the Our Place approach, you can influence how local services are designed, planned and delivered, this could mean
• setting up after-school activities for children
• improving quality home care such as linking elderly people to volunteer helpers
• creating jobs locally for example working with businesses to offer more local apprenticeships
Support and grants
The Our Place programme will help areas working to transform local public services in three ways:
• direct support – you will be put in touch with a Relationship Manager, consultancy/coaching support tailored to meet the needs of your neighbourhood
• grant payments
o Getting Ready grants of £3,000 in Year 1 with some direct support
o Getting Going grants of £10,000 in Year 2 with further direct support
o Going Further grants of between £5,000 and £7,500 for those who are prepared to push the boundaries and up to £20,000 for projects preparing to break new ground
• shared learning opportunities including peer groups, coaching, training and learning events, and networking opportunities
The purpose of the programme is to support neighbourhood areas to work collaboratively to address a shared priority or local service area – for example healthcare, or employment.
Please note – they are not able to provide grants for capital projects or running costs which relate solely to a specific building or service / activity.
Who is eligible?
If you are an incorporated body with a primary purpose which is charitable, philanthropic or benevolent; a parish or town council; public service provider or local authority in England you will be able to apply.
An area is defined as the combined partnership of the community, local authority and/or other service providers e.g. local businesses and voluntary based organisations, and other partners who are jointly using the Our Place approach to tackle issues in a neighbourhood.
You will need to complete an online eligibility checker. If eligible you will be given a link to the online application form (with guidance on how to apply). From receiving your application form, you have 28 days to complete and submit your application.
It is expected that the vast majority of the grants will have been allocated by end of February.
For further information and to apply, visit: http://mycommunityrights.org.uk/our-place/ or contact 0845 345 4564