Council
Funding: Elderly, children and play
- Cultural activities funding
- Early years
- Play-scheme/holiday project support
- Pensioners' clubs
- Early years development and childcare partnership (EYDCP)
Cultural activities funding
These grants provide assistance with running costs of projects that meet identified needs in the borough.
To apply for sports equipment funding, contact Tower Hamlets Sports Council on 020 7364 5016. To apply for funding for an event, contact the Events Fund team on 020 7377 2752.
Who can apply
Not for profit organisation's providing services in Tower Hamlets, who meet our general eligibility conditions for grant aid.
General priorities
We will give priority to:
- applicants who are able to show good management and organisational practice, for example, provide records of finances and participation;
- organisations that can show a commitment to equality and access;
- proposals that contribute to community cohesion (see note below);
- proposals that can show support from the local authority and would attract funding from other agencies; and
- organisations that work to build partnerships with local communities and other agencies.
Service providers will need to show that they are providing cost-effective services that benefit the local community and meet the needs of the area.
Arts priorities
We will give priority to:
- arts-focused applications relating to music, creative writing and dance;
- proposals for providing art to people over 50;
- arts-focused proposals that contribute towards healthy living;
- arts-focused proposals that contribute towards healthy living;
- arts-focused activities relating to specialist facilities (theatres, dance, film;
- and photography); and
- arts-focused activities for vulnerable children and adults.
Green environment
For applications focusing on the green environment (for example, open spaces, parks and gardens), we will give priority to proposals that will:
- increase youth activities within green spaces; and
- support biodiversity projects within green spaces and help local community gardening projects. (Biodiversity means a wide variety of species in their natural environment.)
Sports priorities
We will give priority to proposals that:
- increase participation in sport by young people aged 0 to16 years;
- increase participation in sport by adults or children with disabilities;
- provide people to represent the borough of Tower Hamlets in sports competitions; and
- will increase the quality of sports coaching in the borough.
Note: Our definition of community cohesion is ‘to achieve mutual understanding and respect between communities and create an environment where people from different cultures and backgrounds can live well together and access opportunities’.
Types of funding
Subject to the committee's financial budget allocation, reviewed annually at the beginning of each financial year.
Contact
Angela Lewis
Community Resources
Education
Mulberry Place
5 Clove Crescent
London E14 2BG
Tel: 020 7364 3163
Fax: 020 7364 4816
E-mail: childrensservices@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Early years
To provide assistance with running costs of projects that meet identified needs in the borough.
Who can apply
Not for profit organisation's providing services in Tower Hamlets, who meet our general eligibility conditions for grant aid.
Priorities for funding
We will give priority to organisations that:
- provide early years education, for example, pre-school playgroups;
- support parents and carers in developing skills to learn to play with their children; and
- increase the take-up and access to services by children from ethnic-minority communities and children with special needs.
We will give priority to continuing the resource fund for parent and toddler groups, managed by Tower Hamlets Playgroups and Under 5’s Association. This fund will make small capital grants to parent and toddler groups.
Playscheme and out of school hours (POSH) childcare fund
We will give priority to organisations that provide or want to create out-of-school childcare places for children aged from five to 11, for example, after school clubs.
Service providers will need to show that they are providing cost-effective services that benefit the local community and meet the needs of the area.
Types of funding
Subject to the directorate's financial budget allocation, reviewed annually at the beginning of each financial year.
How to apply
Follow the mainstream grants application process. Applications are invited annually, usually in the autumn.
Contact
Angela Lewis
Community Resources
Education
Mulberry Place
5 Clove Crescent
London E14 2BG
Tel: 020 7364 3163
Fax: 020 7364 4816
E-mail: childrensservices@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Summer grants
These grants support play-schemes and holiday projects.
Who can apply
Any voluntary youth or play organisation offering new or different activities during the summer holiday period.
Priorities for funding
New or innovative projects with demonstrable educational objectives. Partnerships and joint schemes are especially encouraged.
Types of funding
Small grants. Total funding available to be decided. Grants may range from £50 to £5,000.
How to apply
Contact the youth service for more information.
Contact
Mulberry Place
5 Clove Crescent
London E14 2BG
Tel: 020 7364 4203
Fax: 020 7364 4957
E-mail: youthandcommunity@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Pensioners' clubs
These grants primarily help small local pensioners' groups with rental charges, running costs, small equipment and social activities.
Who can apply
Local community organisations/projects engaged in social activities exclusively for the benefit of senior citizens within Tower Hamlets. Where a group is not a registered charity, it should have charitable objectives and an appropriate structure for its size.
Organisations/projects already getting mainstream funding from the council are not eligible to apply.
Priorities for funding
- rental charges
- running costs
- small equipment: e.g. bingo machine
- small activities: e.g. day trips, Christmas parties.
Types of funding
Small grants. The social services committee decides total funding annually. The maximum funding for individual groups is £500.
How to apply
By completing a small grants application form. Advertisements inviting applications are placed in the council's local paper East End Life in May. (Organisations/projects already receiving small grants from social services will be sent an application form.) Applications must be returned by the closing date in June. Decisions are made in August.
Contact
Kit Wong
Contract & Grants Development Officer
Adult, Health and Wellbeing Directorate
Mulberry Place (AH)
PO Box 55739
5 Clove Crescent
London E14 1BY
Tel: 020 7364 2155
E-mail: childrensservices@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Early years development and childcare partnership (EYDCP)
These grants create and sustain new and existing childcare provision. Providers must prove through a business plan that they will be viable within three years. This is of particular relevance to the sustainability grant - its aim is to be a one-off grant. However, if a provider does return for a second year of funding they will only get a maximum of 50 per cent of the previous year's funding.
Who can apply
Private, voluntary and maintained sector providers. You must be registered under the 1989 Children Act/Care Standards Act and/or quality assured with a recognised scheme.
Types of funding
- sustainability grants - one-off grants for existing childcare provision for children aged up to 14 years
- small start-up grants - for new childcare provision for children aged up to 14 years
- business planning grants - small grants for new and existing childcare provision for children aged up to 14 years.
How to apply
- sustainability and start-up grants - we are looking for comprehensive business plans from providers. Contact a childcare development adviser before putting in an application. It takes about three months for the EYDCP to reach a decision
- business planning grants - contact a childcare development adviser. They will forward a letter from you, with a covering letter, to the EYDCP.
Contact
Maria Finch
Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership
3rd Floor
Mulberry Place
5 Clove Crescent
London E14 2BG
Tel: 020 7364 4143
Fax: 020 7364 4976
E-mail: early.years@towerhamlets.gov.uk
