Warwickshire County Council
Social Fabric Fund
The objective of the Fund is to invest in “social infrastructure” to develop and strengthen Warwickshire’s most deprived communities and, in so doing so, improve residents’ life chances and reduce inequalities.
Grant size: Apply for what you need
Location: Warwickshire
Please read the Fund Factsheet and Essential Information before applying.
Applicants at full application stage need to complete the Minimal Financial Assistance Declaration and return it with their application.
Social Fabric Fund Update
We are thrilled by the highly engaging response we have received for the WCC Social Fabric Fund!
The Social Fabric Fund provides a route to explore the development of local projects and initiatives that will have a positive impact on communities. It supports the Council’s commitment to harness the power of communities to create opportunities and tackle inequalities, building on the strengths and assets that already exist.
A pause was applied on new expressions of interest for revenue funding in the summer and due to the continuing high interest in the fund we will be applying a pause on new expressions of interest for capital funding from 18 November 2024. We are applying the pause to help manage expectations on the fund and to avoid potential disappointment. Capital funding expressions of interest received up until 18 November will still be considered.
In line with the timeline for the fund, we are setting a deadline for all final applications of 13 January 2025.
Thank you to all the organisations who have contributed their time and effort to apply. Your commitment will help to create a fairer, happier, and healthier Warwickshire for all.
About the Social Fabric Fund
The Social Fabric Fund is a blended £2.5million fund, comprising £1.5 million capital and £1 million revenue elements, focusing primarily (but not exclusively) on the 22 Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) identified in the Countywide Approach to Levelling Up. The Fund will run for two years up to the end of March 2025.
The objective of the Fund is to invest in “social infrastructure” to develop and strengthen Warwickshire’s most deprived communities and, in so doing so, improve residents’ life chances and reduce inequalities.
The Fund will deliver a blend of investment to enable communities to access both capital funding to build “social fabric” through physical community infrastructure, as well as time limited start-up revenue funding for community development that delivers on local priorities and demonstrates sustainability.
Fund Aims
The aim of the fund is to fill a gap in funding available to communities by being flexible and starting with the communities’ strengths and priorities.
Expressions of Interest will need to be visibly led or demonstrate strong support from local communities.
We do not want to see Expressions of Interest that take the approach of ‘doing to’ communities, we would like to see ‘working with’ communities.
Available Funding
There is no lower or upper grant limit. Your Expression of Interest should explain why you are requesting the amount of money you need for your project.
WCAVA will provide support: Thom Udall thom.udall@wcava.org.uk
The fund will be complemented by dedicated community worker capacity, provided by Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action (WCAVA), focusing primarily on the 22 priority LSOAs and with responsibilities around supporting funding proposals. More specifically, the community workers will:
1. Increase community power in target areas.
2. Lead in-depth community powered engagement to understand local priorities.
3. Scope, shape, and support proposals to address local priorities.
4. Take the lead to help the community/communities develop proposals working as appropriate with officers from the County Council, the relevant Borough or District Council, and the Integrated Care System to co-produce proposals.
5. Liaise with the County Council and other agencies regarding potential supplementary contributions in terms of time, skills, money, and assets
We will support:
• Start-up costs for a new project or organisation
• To extend or develop an existing project – including staff costs
• To purchase equipment or resources
• Capital expenditure is buying or enhancing big investments in assets, such as
property or enabling an asset transfer.
We expect the projects to be completed within two years. Payments will be paid in instalments.
About the Social Fabric Fund
The Social Fabric Fund is a blended £2.5million fund, comprising £1.5 million capital and £1 million revenue elements, focusing primarily (but not exclusively) on the 22 Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) identified in the Countywide Approach to Levelling Up. The Fund will run for two years up to the end of March 2025.
The objective of the Fund is to invest in “social infrastructure” to develop and strengthen Warwickshire’s most deprived communities and, in so doing so, improve residents’ life chances and reduce inequalities.
The Fund will deliver a blend of investment to enable communities to access both capital funding to build “social fabric” through physical community infrastructure, as well as time limited start-up revenue funding for community development that delivers on local priorities and demonstrates sustainability.
Fund Aims
The aim of the fund is to fill a gap in funding available to communities by being flexible and starting with the communities’ strengths and priorities.
Expressions of Interest will need to be visibly led or demonstrate strong support from local communities.
We do not want to see Expressions of Interest that take the approach of ‘doing to’ communities, we would like to see ‘working with’ communities.
Available Funding
There is no lower or upper grant limit. Your Expression of Interest should explain why you are requesting the amount of money you need for your project.
WCAVA will provide support: Thom Udall thom.udall@wcava.org.uk
The fund will be complemented by dedicated community worker capacity, provided by Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action (WCAVA), focusing primarily on the 22 priority LSOAs and with responsibilities around supporting funding proposals. More specifically, the community workers will:
1. Increase community power in target areas.
2. Lead in-depth community powered engagement to understand local priorities.
3. Scope, shape, and support proposals to address local priorities.
4. Take the lead to help the community/communities develop proposals working as appropriate with officers from the County Council, the relevant Borough or District Council, and the Integrated Care System to co-produce proposals.
5. Liaise with the County Council and other agencies regarding potential supplementary contributions in terms of time, skills, money, and assets
We will support:
• Start-up costs for a new project or organisation
• To extend or develop an existing project – including staff costs
• To purchase equipment or resources
• Capital expenditure is buying or enhancing big investments in assets, such as
property or enabling an asset transfer.
We expect the projects to be completed within two years. Payments will be paid in instalments.
About the Social Fabric Fund
The Social Fabric Fund is a blended £2.5million fund, comprising £1.5 million capital and £1 million revenue elements, focusing primarily (but not exclusively) on the 22 Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) identified in the Countywide Approach to Levelling Up. The Fund will run for two years up to the end of March 2025.
The objective of the Fund is to invest in “social infrastructure” to develop and strengthen Warwickshire’s most deprived communities and, in so doing so, improve residents’ life chances and reduce inequalities.
The Fund will deliver a blend of investment to enable communities to access both capital funding to build “social fabric” through physical community infrastructure, as well as time limited start-up revenue funding for community development that delivers on local priorities and demonstrates sustainability.
Fund Aims
The aim of the fund is to fill a gap in funding available to communities by being flexible and starting with the communities’ strengths and priorities.
Expressions of Interest will need to be visibly led or demonstrate strong support from local communities.
We do not want to see Expressions of Interest that take the approach of ‘doing to’ communities, we would like to see ‘working with’ communities.
Available Funding
There is no lower or upper grant limit. Your Expression of Interest should explain why you are requesting the amount of money you need for your project.
WCAVA will provide support: Thom Udall thom.udall@wcava.org.uk
The fund will be complemented by dedicated community worker capacity, provided by Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action (WCAVA), focusing primarily on the 22 priority LSOAs and with responsibilities around supporting funding proposals. More specifically, the community workers will:
1. Increase community power in target areas.
2. Lead in-depth community powered engagement to understand local priorities.
3. Scope, shape, and support proposals to address local priorities.
4. Take the lead to help the community/communities develop proposals working as appropriate with officers from the County Council, the relevant Borough or District Council, and the Integrated Care System to co-produce proposals.
5. Liaise with the County Council and other agencies regarding potential supplementary contributions in terms of time, skills, money, and assets
We will support:
• Start-up costs for a new project or organisation
• To extend or develop an existing project – including staff costs
• To purchase equipment or resources
• Capital expenditure is buying or enhancing big investments in assets, such as
property or enabling an asset transfer.
We expect the projects to be completed within two years. Payments will be paid in instalments.
About the Social Fabric Fund
The Social Fabric Fund is a blended £2.5million fund, comprising £1.5 million capital and £1 million revenue elements, focusing primarily (but not exclusively) on the 22 Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) identified in the Countywide Approach to Levelling Up. The Fund will run for two years up to the end of March 2025.
The objective of the Fund is to invest in “social infrastructure” to develop and strengthen Warwickshire’s most deprived communities and, in so doing so, improve residents’ life chances and reduce inequalities.
The Fund will deliver a blend of investment to enable communities to access both capital funding to build “social fabric” through physical community infrastructure, as well as time limited start-up revenue funding for community development that delivers on local priorities and demonstrates sustainability.
Fund Aims
The aim of the fund is to fill a gap in funding available to communities by being flexible and starting with the communities’ strengths and priorities.
Expressions of Interest will need to be visibly led or demonstrate strong support from local communities.
We do not want to see Expressions of Interest that take the approach of ‘doing to’ communities, we would like to see ‘working with’ communities.
Available Funding
There is no lower or upper grant limit. Your Expression of Interest should explain why you are requesting the amount of money you need for your project.
WCAVA will provide support: Thom Udall thom.udall@wcava.org.uk
The fund will be complemented by dedicated community worker capacity, provided by Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action (WCAVA), focusing primarily on the 22 priority LSOAs and with responsibilities around supporting funding proposals. More specifically, the community workers will:
1. Increase community power in target areas.
2. Lead in-depth community powered engagement to understand local priorities.
3. Scope, shape, and support proposals to address local priorities.
4. Take the lead to help the community/communities develop proposals working as appropriate with officers from the County Council, the relevant Borough or District Council, and the Integrated Care System to co-produce proposals.
5. Liaise with the County Council and other agencies regarding potential supplementary contributions in terms of time, skills, money, and assets
We will support:
• Start-up costs for a new project or organisation
• To extend or develop an existing project – including staff costs
• To purchase equipment or resources
• Capital expenditure is buying or enhancing big investments in assets, such as
property or enabling an asset transfer.
We expect the projects to be completed within two years. Payments will be paid in instalments.
About the Social Fabric Fund
The Social Fabric Fund is a blended £2.5million fund, comprising £1.5 million capital and £1 million revenue elements, focusing primarily (but not exclusively) on the 22 Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) identified in the Countywide Approach to Levelling Up. The Fund will run for two years up to the end of March 2025.
The objective of the Fund is to invest in “social infrastructure” to develop and strengthen Warwickshire’s most deprived communities and, in so doing so, improve residents’ life chances and reduce inequalities.
The Fund will deliver a blend of investment to enable communities to access both capital funding to build “social fabric” through physical community infrastructure, as well as time limited start-up revenue funding for community development that delivers on local priorities and demonstrates sustainability.
Fund Aims
The aim of the fund is to fill a gap in funding available to communities by being flexible and starting with the communities’ strengths and priorities.
Expressions of Interest will need to be visibly led or demonstrate strong support from local communities.
We do not want to see Expressions of Interest that take the approach of ‘doing to’ communities, we would like to see ‘working with’ communities.
Available Funding
There is no lower or upper grant limit. Your Expression of Interest should explain why you are requesting the amount of money you need for your project.
WCAVA will provide support: Thom Udall thom.udall@wcava.org.uk
The fund will be complemented by dedicated community worker capacity, provided by Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action (WCAVA), focusing primarily on the 22 priority LSOAs and with responsibilities around supporting funding proposals. More specifically, the community workers will:
1. Increase community power in target areas.
2. Lead in-depth community powered engagement to understand local priorities.
3. Scope, shape, and support proposals to address local priorities.
4. Take the lead to help the community/communities develop proposals working as appropriate with officers from the County Council, the relevant Borough or District Council, and the Integrated Care System to co-produce proposals.
5. Liaise with the County Council and other agencies regarding potential supplementary contributions in terms of time, skills, money, and assets
We will support:
• Start-up costs for a new project or organisation
• To extend or develop an existing project – including staff costs
• To purchase equipment or resources
• Capital expenditure is buying or enhancing big investments in assets, such as
property or enabling an asset transfer.
We expect the projects to be completed within two years. Payments will be paid in instalments.