Southwark Council have just launched a second round of small grant funding to support the Sustainable Food Strategy.
There is £100,000 available and VCS organisations can apply for up to £20,000 over 12 months.
Funding via the grants programme will support VCS organisations to develop new or existing projects over a 12-month period that help to deliver the five priorities of the Sustainable Food Strategy.
The strategy describes five priority areas:
1) A good food partnership to join up our efforts to improve the local food system.
2) Strong & connected communities to build connections through food.
3) Food security & Right to Food as a basic human right and a statutory obligation.
4) Healthy people, healthy planet to support nutrition and protect the environment.
5) A good food economy & affordable food offer through good jobs, affordable food, community-led enterprises and healthy businesses.
Together with the food partnership, the council have identified the following key areas of food work below. Applications proposing these types of project are encouraged, although different ideas on how to support the 5 priorities are also welcomed.
1. Black, Asian and ethnic minority groups
2. Food Support for Older Residents
Eligibility Criteria:
The eligibility criteria for applicants are:
1) Be an organisation that operates in Southwark or supports Southwark residents.
2) Be an organisation that is registered as a:
– UK registered charity
– Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
– Community Interest Company (CIC)
– Charitable Trust
– Unincorporated charitable association
– TRA
– Faith group
– Cooperative Society
3) Be an organisation with an annual income between £5,000 and £1,000,000.
4) At the time that any funding is awarded, organisations must have:
• A governing document, with a management or steering committee of at least three people.
• A bank account, with at least two unrelated signatories (three or more is recommended).
Organisations who do not yet meet the criteria regarding governance documents and bank accounts can apply, although we will ask for this documentation or a partnership arrangement during the application process. Groups who are not yet formally constituted and/or without an organisational bank account can be hosted by another organisation who meet this criteria. Partnerships could be agreed ahead of the programme.
Funding can be used for:
- Staffing costs
- Core/running costs: proportional to size of project
- Premises overheads for a set period of time
- Small capital adjustments to premises
- Food (No more than 20% of the budget)
- Staff training (No more than 5% of the budget)
- Fundraising capacity
- Equipment (e.g. cooking and kitchen equipment; gardening tools) (No more than 10%)
These grants are not for direct provision of food aid, they are intended to help strengthen a more sustainable and affordable food offer in our communities and to reduce the need for food banks.
How to apply:
Application guidance is HERE. Please read the guidance before making an application.
VCS organisations can apply by completing the application form HERE. You can also download a copy of the application form HERE.
The application deadline is Sunday 20th October at 11.59pm.
For more information:
The Public Health team will host two online webinars about the fund on 23rd September 2024 and 3rd October 2024.
Please click HERE to sign up to the 23rd September webinar.
Please click HERE to sign up to the 3rd October webinar.
Contact Rachel Isted, Public Health Programme Manager with any questions Rachel.isted@southwark.gov.uk.
