Who can apply for this funding?

To qualify for a grant, a group must:

• Be a not-for-profit voluntary or community group
• Be based in one of the four boroughs of Tower Hamlets, City of London, Hackney or Newham
• Have been active in the community since December 2006
• Have an average annual income of less than £20,000 over the last three years or since the beginning of the group
• Be volunteer led
• Be connected with and/or meet the needs of the community
• Have a governing document

What kind of activities can Grassroots Grants support?

Activities that meet one of the following criteria's:

• Strengthening communities – Projects that encourage people to play an active part in making their neighbourhood a better place

• Bringing people from different backgrounds together – Projects that work to build positive relations and understanding between different sections of the community

• Strengthening organisational capacity and ability - Projects that address training needs of staff and volunteers

• Responding to local needs – Projects that address a problem specific to your community

Grassroots Grants cannot fund:

• Statutory organisations such as schools
• Any party political activity
• Commercial Ventures
• Activities where the primary benefit is for religious beliefs or where people are excluded on religious grounds
• Organisations that are for the sole benefit or relief of animals or plants where any communities of people are not benefiting
• Regional or local offices of national organisation
• There are some restrictions on the types of activities that can be supported for Asylum Seeker Groups

How much money can you apply for?

Grants of between £250 and £5,000 are available.

£5,000 is the maximum a group can ask for within the Grassroots Grants programme period of 2008 – 2011.

The minimum amount is £250. If you are applying for capital costs such as equipment the minimum amount is £1,000.

You can:
• Apply for a one-off grant of £5,000
• Spread the grant over a maximum of three years (between 2008 and March 2011)
• Apply for several grants as long as the total is no more than £5,000 over the life of this grant programme

Click here to find out how to apply.

Downloads

You can download the documents that are part of the application pack by clicking on the links below. Please note, the application form is a sample only and cannot be filled in. If you would like to apply, please request a form.

Full Guidance Notes (110k)
Advice on filling in the form (157k)
Sample Application Form (470k)