Thriving Communities Fund Opens for Applications

The new £1.4 million Thriving Communities Fund is offering grants of £25,000 to £50,000 for projects that increase social connectedness and help communities in England cope with the impact of coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.

The Fund is provided by the National Academy for Social Prescribing and Arts Council England with support from other strategic partners.

The funding is for communities most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including black, Asian and ethnically diverse communities.

Projects that are funded will help to:

• Enhance collaboration and networking between local organisations.
• Strengthen the range of social prescribing activities offered locally and enable social prescribing link workers to connect people to more creative community activities and services.
• Explore ways to make these partnerships and activities sustainable over time.

Applications can be led by voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations working in any of the following sectors:

• Arts, and culture, including libraries, museums and heritage
• Sport, leisure and physical activity organisations
• Financial wellbeing, advice, food and practical support
• Environment and nature-based organisations
• Non-statutory health and care organisations, working with social prescribing link workers

These organisations may be registered charities, community interest companies, co-operative societies or community benefit societies. A key part of each funded project will be to bring together the necessary place-based partners to work together across all these sectors to plan and deliver community activity.

The deadline for application is 8 January 2020 (12 pm).

Further information can be found here Arts Council England – Thriving Communities Fund