The fund supports projects in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland that aim to improve the life chances of disadvantaged communities. Grants of up to £3,000 will be made to support the delivery of welfare benefits and employment-related advice and support activities to disadvantaged individuals and families in poverty and in order to achieve one or more of the following:
- Preventing or alleviating poverty through increased income
- Improved living standards of the most disadvantaged through increased household income
- Increasing individuals’ ability to manage their benefits claims to reduce the likelihood of future sanctions/problems
SMART objectives could include:
- Increased take up of benefits entitlement
- Number of successful appeals against sanctions
- Referrals to other support services as relevant/required such as food banks
- Numbers of service users successfully making new online claims
- Number of service users supported to manage debt
Applicants will need to be located in areas of high deprivation, and to demonstrate that they have experience in delivering this support, and to provide examples of successful outcomes already achieved. Please also indicate if support is required to maintain existing services or for additional resources to meet increased demand.
Applications are invited from mainly smaller (income of no more than £70,000 per annum) organisations but those with a larger income will be considered.
Examples of disadvantaged communities include those affected by poverty, unemployment, homelessness, asylum seeker/refugee status, disability and people with learning disabilities. Activities which are not a priority for the REEDS Grassroots Fund:
- Sports groups/sporting activities for the general public
- Uniformed groups
- Environmental projects
- General Arts projects
- General community activities
Deadline: None – rolling grant programme
