Inclusive Communities Fund
Grants fund linked to the legacy of the Commonwealth Games and it’s four core missions.
Four grants are available from this programme, two are reviewed on a rolling basis and two have a deadline (4th January 2024).
Please read the guidance below carefully before applying
Key Information
The Inclusive Communities Fund is a legacy from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Through this fund, £9million will be awarded to community organisations in the West Midlands.
The fund is aimed at meeting the original four Games missions:
- Bringing people together
- Improving health and wellbeing
- Helping the region to grow
- Putting the region on the map
Grants will be awarded to projects covering the following areas:
- Physical activity and sport
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Arts, culture and creativity
As part of this fund there are four grants available:
- Small Grants – £500 to £15,000 (these grants will be assessed on rolling basis)
- Medium Grants – £15,001 to £75,000 (these grants will be assessed on rolling basis)
- Large Grants – £75,001 to £300,000 (application deadline 4th January 2024)
- Small works, refurbishment, renovation – £500 to £100,000 (application deadline 4th January 2024)
All grants must be spent by December 2024.
Who can Apply
The fund is for not-for-profit organisations, an example of eligible organisations include:
- Registered charities including charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs)
- Companies limited by guarentee
- Constituted group
- Local authorities
- Community Interest Companies
(This list is not exhaustive, full eligibility can be found on the Heart of England Community Foundation’s website.)
What can the grant pay for
Small Grants
(£500 to £15,000)
This fund is designed for grassroots organisations with an income equal to or less than £500,000, who already have an established link with communities. The money can be used for either revenue or core costs.
Project examples: core staffing costs to ensure sessions can continue to take place, specialist help with business planning, new projects or celebration events.
Medium Grants
(£15,001 to £75,000)
This is aimed at projects with a focus on making a difference for an identified group. The funds can be used for either revenue or core costs. There is no income limit for this fund.
Project examples: multi-generational sporting activities, workforce development/recruitment.
Large Grants
(£75,001 to £300,000)
This fund is designed to be from consortium-led applicants with long term initiatives that could have a local authority wide remit. If an individual organisation applies they would need to demonstrate that they have the capacity to manage the grant. There is no income limits for this fund.
Project examples: using sport as a tool for mentoring.
Small works, refurbishment, renovation
(£500 to £100,000)
This is aimed at organisations who would like to improve their facilities to be able to deliver better activities. These are for small capital works which doesn’t require planning permission. There are no income limits to this fund, however schools and local authorities cannot apply.
Project examples: resurfacing a multi-use games area, updating changing rooms
What the grant can’t pay for
Examples of items not eligible for this fund:
- Retrospective funding
- Purchase of land
- Fundraising events
- Overseas travel
- Contingency
This is not an exhaustive list, the full criteria can be found on the Heart of England Community Fund website.
Before you apply
This fund is expected to attract a large number of applications. It’s important to read all the criteria set out by Heart of England Community Fund before applying. This information can be found on the Heart of England Community Fund’s website.
All applications are to be made on the Heart of England Community Fund website. You can save your application as you are going through it.
Applications will be assessed by grant assessors and reviewed by a panel who will meet regularly. It could take up to 8 weeks for a decision to be made.
Whilst this funding is directly through Heart of England Community Fund, if you are a group based in Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire who have an idea about a project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch to discuss your project.
There are also a number of upcoming webinars about the fund which can be found on the United by 2022 Eventbrite page.
