We are pleased to have protected a grant aid budget for the voluntary sector of £1.62m. This budget is ring-fenced to the Sheffield voluntary, community and faith sector. The fund is used to support voluntary sector organisations that are delivering city-wide services and activities that support our Corporate Priorities.

In 2016, grant aid was reviewed and our Cabinet approved a new grant aid programme in September 2016. Therefore, 2015/16 was the last year of the Voluntary Sector Grants Fund that had funded since 2012.

From April 2017 the new funds that we fund through Grant Aid will be:

• Core Service Grants – applications for this fund are not open. A list of organisations funded can be found below
• Voluntary Sector Infrastructure – applications are now closed for this fund. The purpose of the fund is to provide a range of funding, finance, legal and general advice and support to voluntary sector organisations in the city. The 4 outcomes the fund supports are:
  - Tackling Inequalities – deadline for applications was 28 March 2017
  - Lunch Clubs for Older People – details about lunch clubs, including more information about the clubs the council funds
  - BME Older People’s Activities – ddeadline for applications was 10 March 2017
  - Equality and Fairness – deadline for applications was on 27 February 2017

This page will be updated with information on which groups have successfully been awarded grants as these are approved.

Cohesion Fund

Sheffield City Council is pleased to announce a new grant fund to support community cohesion in the city. The fund is for existing or new activity that helps enhance and promote community relations and brings people together in a community.

The purpose of the fund is to help partnerships and community groups in the city with their community cohesion work.

It is for existing successful cohesion building activity to be continued, or for starting new projects in Sheffield. All successful bids must improve community relations by bringing people together and improve or create new opportunities for sharing community concerns, ideas, knowledge, skills and experiences.

We would particularly like to see any initiative have the ability to be continued in or by the community after the funding finishes.

The Cohesion Fund Priorities are:

1. Support community infrastructure to enhance community cohesion in the city.
2. Support groups who want to look through the cohesion lens (ie thinking of how to bring different people together first before planning an activity) when delivering their activity and services.
3. Promote positive community cohesion stories and activities.

There is £30,000 available for each financial year 2017-18 and 2018-19, meaning a grant can be given for up to 18 months if needed. There is no minimum or maximum grant amount. There are two forms to use, a short form for application under £2,000 and a longer form for applications over £2,000.

For more information on the priorities and how to apply, please see the downloadable documents below.

The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 8 September 2017.

Applications will be presented to a Grants Panel who will make grant recommendations according to the budget available.

The Cabinet Member for Community Services (in accordance with our scheme of Delegations), will make the final decisions, in consultation with the Panel and Cabinet Member.

Applicants will be notified whether or not they are successful in mid September 2017.