Strengthening Communities Fund
Our Strengthening Communities Fund is a simple, fast track grant scheme that makes available small amounts of money up to £3,000 to fund projects and activities that promote community cohesion and build resilience to violent extremism. The fund is open to applications from local voluntary, community and faith groups.
We want to support projects that will have a direct impact in Sheffield, that will develop and encourage dialogue with all communities and that build the capacity and confidence of local people to challenge extremism.
We are keen to fund activities that offer opportunities to:
- Build the capacity and skills of communities, with a particular focus on young people and women, to provide positive leadership and confidence to challenge violent extremism.
- Promote a wider understanding and appreciation of faiths and their positive contribution to the life of the city.
- Help communities to come together to air and address local grievances, conflicts and tensions in their neighbourhoods.
- Support and encourage dialogue between faith leaders and young people around challenging violent extremism.
We will prioritise activities that increase cohesion within neighbourhoods and safeguard communities from violent extremism and:
- Involve working together in partnership.
- Involve local people in planning and delivering activities.
- Provide activities that meet a local need.
- Work across communities and faiths to enable people to learn more about each other.
- Promote positive and aspirational role models.
The following is a list of activities that we think would fit our criteria. It is not an exhaustive list. If you want to talk through your ideas, please contact us. Ring (0114) 273 4113 or email vslt@sheffield.gov.uk
- Multi-faith activities,
- Confidence building courses for girls,
- Theatre productions that support debate around violent extremism,
- Community based accredited training courses for young people,
- Establishing women’s groups and supporting them to network together,
- Events supporting vulnerable young people to engage in dialogue with mainstream community and faith leaders,
- Sports activities that encourage people from different backgrounds to mix together, etc.
Interested? Why not find out more about who qualifies to apply.