VCS Grants Prospectus Update

VCS Grants Prospectus Co-designed approach to grant investment in the voluntary community sector

Di Robinson Service Director Neighbourhoods

What do we want to achieve?

In 4 years time we want to see: • less disadvantage and inequality experienced

by Bristol residents; • those experiencing disadvantage, being more able to cope or manage, not just day to day, but in the longer term

How will it look?

• Four year prospectus • Aligned investment of £3.4m in 2017 -called the Bristol Impact Fund • Focus on disadvantage and inequality • New ways of working • Fair and accessible application processes

So what’s different?

• We’ve co-designed it with VCS partners • Focusing on making a difference for the end user not on activities • Bringing together grant to tackle 5 broad key challenges • ‘Holistic’ approach – not funding silos • Allocating grant across whole picture – ‘jigsaw’ • Building on assets/strengths • Working better/more together

Focus on impacts Three impacts: – reducing & preventing disadvantage & inequality – improving health & wellbeing – increasing resilience

How will it work?

How to shape your application

You said, we did • There is broad support for the process of co-design and coproduction – Process continued up to the political decision-making • There is broad support for the focus on tackling disadvantage and inequality – Remains the focus; supporting by the Mayor • Need flexibility to ensure issues such as multiple deprivation are effectively tackled, and that funding cycles, especially for smaller amounts, should be reduced – People can apply across one or more challenges – 2 year funding cycle for small grants

You said, we did • Clarity is needed in relation to the Council’s overall strategy in relation to competition and competitive grants versus collaboration – Collaboration is one way forward – where it’s the right thing to do for beneficiaries and where it reduces duplication/ or increases impact – It is not the only way to apply • There is a need to strike the balance between “Early Intervention” and “Crisis funding” – This fund is focussed on early help NOT crisis – Crisis work is tackled within commissioning in BCC

You said, we did • How can sustainability of funding be effectively managed (including front loading and tapering)?

–Importance of honesty from BCC about current funding/budget implications –Front loading will not be acceptable –Expectation that organisations will plan for tapers • There is a need for more case studies to aid understanding of exactly what the City is seeking to fund –We’ve decided against doing case studies because they limit applications.

–We are aiming for the most open approach

What’s next?

Proposed dates (subject to Cabinet approval) • • • • •

Cabinet 2nd August 2016 Grant applications open mid August Grant deadlines mid October 2016 New funding recommendations by Jan 2017 First grants in place from April 2017