Aims/priorities: GMCVO are delivering this grant programme on behalf of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) to improve local spaces and services along its 70-mile route between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York.
A total of £175,000 is to be distributed along the route, with funding available in the form of small grants (£1,000 to £5,000) or medium grants (£5,000 to £20,000).
Community projects within 5 miles of the core TRU route and its key diversionary routes will be eligible to receive funding.
The Community Fund aims to drive the Transpennine Route Upgrade to achieve two main objectives:
To act as a catalyst for regeneration by enhancing and protecting community ‘spaces and places’ along the route.
To support the delivery of the TRU team in volunteering in the community to develop job skills and shape public spaces alongside the communities that use them.
Who can apply? Eligibility:
- You must be a not for profit organisation within the VCFSE sector or the Education sector
- You must be delivering in a place/s which are in the 50% most deprived areas in England (deciles 1-5 of the Index of Multiple Deprivation). This can be checked at www.findthatpostcode.uk/
- You must be delivering the Project within 5 miles of the Transpennine Route Upgrade core or formal Diversionary Route. Click here to view the map.
- The project must align with one or more of the following four pillars which make up the TRU sustainability and social value strategy:
- Northern jobs: job opportunities, upskilling, training and work experience for local people, in areas of high deprivation, supporting under-represented groups
- Enhancing the environment: restoring nature, reducing carbon footprint, adopting circular economy principals and supporting sustainability
- Satisfied customers: a safe, reliable and accessible railway, station facilities and or environment in the immediate vicinity for local people
- Working with our communities: investing in wellbeing, education and community spaces, green space
Applications where projects focus on the following will be favored: improving or encouraging the use of public spaces and places along the route, improving access of communities to green space, working with local communities in areas of high deprivation and/or high transport related social exclusion, directly supporting under-represented communities, and provision of volunteer opportunities for the TRU team.
Grant amount: Funding available and what we can fund:
Small Grants:
- Now open. Closes Monday 16th September.
- Apply for between £1,000 and £5,000.
- A total of £87,500 is available. We expect to fund between 17 and 22 projects.
- Project delivery is expected to begin in October or November 2024 and end no later than January 2027.
Medium Grants:
- Open Monday 19th August - Monday 30th September.
- Apply for between £5,000 and £20,000.
- A total of £87,500 is available. We expect to fund between 4 and 6 projects.
- Project delivery is expected to begin in November or December 2024 and end no later than January 2027.
Both the small and medium grants funding can be used to cover many costs within the organisation, such as staff time, equipment, room hire, materials etc, however we would expect that this is good value for money and that the costs are a direct relation to your project as described in the application.
Please note that the funding will be spread across the TRU routes’ geography to ensure a wide coverage of activities across the stations, towns and cities impacted by the development.
Application process: The application process is made of two stages:
1. Please complete the Enquiry Form using this link. If you do not meet all the eligibility criteria, please do not submit the enquiry form.
2. After reviewing your eligibility, you will be invited to complete a full online application form and submit your supporting documents.
Please ensure you have read the full guidance document for full details before submitting an enquiry form.
Applications for medium grants will open Monday 19th August. Click here to complete an expression of interest form to be notified when they open.
Information sessions provide a chance for potential applicants to find out more and have any questions answered.
The first of two sessions took place Wednesday 31st July and is available to watch online. The next information session is taking place Thursday 15th August, 11am - 12:30pm, online. Click here to book your place.
Deadline: Monday 16 September 2024.
Contact information: Email: gmcvo@gmcvo.org.uk