20 September 2021
Faith Groups Have Until 7 October to Apply for Nearly £1m in Funding
Funding for local faith-based organisations as they work collaboratively to tackle social issues, including those arising from the impact of COVID-19 in the recovery efforts of communities across England.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government recently launched the new £1 million Faith New Deal Pilot Fund to support faith-based organisations who are working alongside local authorities and other local partners to support their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the recovery phase.
The pilot scheme will provide up to £975,000 for faith groups working on community projects which support one or more of the following COVID-19 recovery objectives:
- Mental wellbeing and loneliness
- Debt advice
- Employability
- Food poverty
- Increasing community engagement through volunteering
The funding will be distributed as:
- Grants of up to £125,000.
- Grants of up to £200,000 for innovative projects to be delivered by new or existing partnerships. This must include a community need that seeks to support COVID-19 recovery and solve a local problem.
The fund will provide up to a maximum of 50% of the project’s delivery costs.
Applications will be accepted from faith-based organisations, either as individual organisations or as a consortium in a partnership arrangement with a local service such as a local authority, public institution or other non-faith based Voluntary Community Sector and Enterprise (VCSE). Both newly formed and existing partnerships can apply.
Commenting on the pilot fund, Faith Minister Lord Stephen Greenhalgh said:
“Over the last 18 months, I have seen first-hand the outstanding work faith groups are doing to serve their communities.
“Their vital work has helped the most vulnerable members of society during the pandemic with crucial support and services.
“This new fund will draw on that wealth of experience and energy, for the benefit of all.”
The deadline for applications is 23:50 on Thursday, 7 October 2021.