The Programmes

The Grass Roots Grants include a number of different programmes which will all contribute towards the goals of the Community Strategy. The guidance below will help you choose which fund can best support the work your community organisations plans to do.

Supporting Community Action.

Community Action Grants:

These funds will contribute towards the costs of setting up or running a project which runs over a period of time, one or a number of events or it may be towards buildings or equipment.

They will be projects that benefit the environment in your local area or have broad community benefit in your neighbourhood.

These grants will fund work that will take place within one year of the application being made. These grants are intended for example to get things started, help develop project ideas, help grow projects to ‘the next stage’. They won’t be able to fund ongoing costs such as rent or an ongoing salary. The community will be expected to contribute some funds and volunteer time to make these projects happen.

If you’re applying for a grant for equipment – it should provide a broad benefit to the community and you will need to provide evidence of the cost and at least two quotes.

If you’re applying for funds towards a building we’ll need more information including a business plan showing how you plan to develop the building and keep it running and details of  other funders. You’ll need to have any planning permission place. There is a separate section on the application form to complete for building projects.

You should refer to the Criteria for guidance on the priorities for assessing proposals  at the end of the document to help you with your application.

Community Building:

We plan to invest in a team of community builders to work across the city. Using the Community Organising approach they’ll work to:

  • “empower communities and harness the power of individuals to work together in shared self-interest.
  • Community Organising involves building relationships in communities, mobilising people to take action and supporting projects which make a difference to people’s lives.
  • Community organising creates social and political change through collective action. Community Organisers listen to what people want to see change in their lives and community and help them to achieve this, working in and through democratic structures.
  • Community Organisers have no agenda and do not lead or do things on behalf of people”, they help people to do things for themselves.

 People have told us they don’t like others ‘organising’ the so we’ll call them Community Builders! But they will work to the same principles and approach.

You can find out the Community Builders programme here: http://exetercommunityforum.net/community-builders/

Supporting Community Planning

This will be delivered by appointing a Support Worker to help and support communities wanting to draw up a community plan or neighbourhood plan. There will also be grants available to communities in an area  wanting to develop a neighbourhood or community plan for their neighbourhood.

More information will be available in early 2018.

Community collaboration:

Community organisations are increasingly wanting to work together with other community groups or larger voluntary sector organisations or public bodies.  This may be, for example: to run a project, develop a service, run an event, undertake community consultation, joint training, or volunteer recruitment campaigns etc.

This grant programme will support community organisations to grow their capacity and capabilities to work with other organisations and help provide seed funding to help start new initiatives or grow them to the next stage. A community organisation will need to be the lead partner through the application process.

Find out if your organisation and project is eligible here.