Customer Services
Community Chest funding
What is Community Chest?
Community Chest is a fund which offers grants to Circle 33 residents to fund community-based projects.
Who can apply?
- Recognised Circle 33 Tenants’ and Residents’ Associations
- Recognised Tenants’ and Residents’ Associations (which include Circle 33 residents as members)
- Individual Circle 33 residents or non Circle 33 residents (who can demonstrate clear benefits to Circle 33 residents). Who have a project idea that will benefit their local community.
- Circle 33 cannot fund the same project more than once through the Community Chest. However, Team for Communities can help support those projects that require further funding, throughout the funding process.
What projects will be eligible?
The projects must benefit Circle 33 residents and have a longer term benefit for the local community.
Examples could include: setting up parent and toddler groups; after school clubs; gardening projects; youth activities and sports; older persons, women’s and cultural groups; small food co-ops; training; community business start up; education and special interest classes.
Projects must demonstrate the following:
1. That the project will meet clearly identified needs within the community of where the project to run.
2. That the community support the idea with at least 3 other independent Circle 33 residents supporting the project and providing signatures. I.e. cannot be relatives or co habitants.
3. That Circle 33 residents will be involved in delivering and monitoring the project.
4. That the grant paid will be properly accounted for within the life of the project using the financial records forms supplied to each successful applicant. Failure to do so my result in Circle 33 requesting the money back.
5. That the amount of money requested will be matched by funding from other sources (50%). This could be:
- from other landlords
- from other funders (we can help you with that)
- in kind e.g. volunteers’ time, donation(s) of resources.
6. That the project will either be able to continue long term after the funding has been used, or, if the project is only for a certain period of time, that the project has a long term benefit for the local community.
7. That the cost of the project offers value for money.
8. Resident or Community groups have at least 1 member who satisfies the full criteria for the Good Tenant Reward or permanently reside with such a tenant, e.g. son or daughter
Good Tenant Reward Eligibility
All Circle 33 directly managed assured or secure tenants are eligible for these rewards. The exceptions to this are where;
the rent account is or has been in arrears in the preceding 12 months having taken account of the housing benefit arrears cycles
a breach of the tenancy obligations has occurred in the preceding 12 months having taken account of the housing benefit in arrears cycles
the customer is or has been subject to any formal or legal action by Circle 33 for any anti social behaviour or harassment committed in the preceding 12 months either by the tenant , any members of their household or visitors to the property
How much can be applied for?
You can apply for funding ranging from £100 to a maximum of £1,500.
Please remember: You must demonstrate value for money and be able to match fund the grant you are applying for. Be realistic in costing the project and start the process as early as possible if you are going to need to raise additional funding from other sources.
How to apply
Bids for a grant must be made on a Circle 33 Community Chest Application Form which can be obtained by contacting the Community Development Team via:
POST – FREEPOST RLXE-LHAR-JBAR
CIRCLE ANGLIA LTD
1-7 CORSICA STREET
LONDON
N5 1JG
TELEPHONE – 0207 447 3070
EMAIL – m.rogers@circle.org.uk
How to get support with your application
- Arrange to meet Team for Communities at the Corsica Street office where we will explain the process and assist you with completing your application form. We can also provide the application form in your own language if necessary.
Or
- Contact your Customer Service Manager (CSM) who will meet with you and assist you in completing the application process.
When to apply
Applications can be made at any time, but decisions are made three times a year. There are therefore three closing dates:
March 18th, June 17th and Sept 16th 2012
We will aim to have a decision made about your application within 4 weeks of these closing dates.
How funding will be decided
Funding decisions will be made by members of the resident Have Your Say Panel and by the Community Development manager throughout the year.
Please take into account that you may need to undertake risk assessments and provide monitoring and evaluation information of people that you have worked with i.e. ethnicity, age, etc.
