The Big Society Fund is a grants scheme funded by Essex County Council. It aims to build capacity within the network of voluntary organisations, socially significant enterprises, neighbourhood groups, town and parish councils, and community groups that enrich civic life in Britain.
Building on the success of the County Council’s Community Initiatives Fund, Retail Enterprise Fund and Making the Links Project fund, the Big Society Fund is designed to
- create or develop new community assets
- enhance existing community assets
- create or sustain initiatives and services that strengthen communities in Essex towns and villages.
The Big Society Fund has been developed to be as flexible and responsive as possible to the needs of the community. It allows for grants to be given quickly to meet immediate need, while placing over 50% of awards under the control of local communities.
If you have any questions or queries about the guidance or about the Big Society Fund in general, please contact the Grant Co-ordinator on 01245 437 887.
Applying to the Big Society Fund
To apply to the Big Society Fund, complete an
Expression of Interest form and email or post it back to the Grant Co-ordinator.
The Grant Coordinator will then assess the project, sending applicants the relevant application form, or contact them to discuss the project further. In this way, applicants may be informed of other potential funds to help with their projects.
Applicants can choose to apply for funding under one (or more) of three pathways:
Big Society Community fund (capital)
These awards will be assessed by a Big Society Judging Panel in February 2012. Three quarters of all capital awards from the Big Society fund will be made under this pathway (over half of all funds awarded).
Judging Panels will composed of a group of relevant local representatives. These will be representatives from District Associations of Local Councils, Residents’ Associations (or similar) and the District CVS (Community and voluntary services). The panel will be chaired by either the Chairman or the Mayor of the District/Borough Council, who will not have voting rights.
All requests for community funding will be subject to a maximum application of £15,000. Full details of application deadlines and panel meetings will be published in due course.
The deadline for Expressions of Interest for the Community Fund (capital) is the 31 October 2011.
Quick response capital funding
Quick response capital funding awards will be assessed by Essex County Council Members and officers. A quarter of all capital awards from the Big Society Fund will be made under this pathway.
Quick response revenue funding
Quick response revenue funding will be assessed by Essex County Council Members and officers. All requests for quick response funding will be capped at £10,000.
Where grants are sought to help improve the sustainability of privately owned for-profit enterprises, grants will generally be capped at £5,000 (revenue) and £10,000 (capital). Match funding will be a formal requirement of all grants to private interests.