Family Matter micro-grants

What are Micro-Grants?

Micro-grants can be broadly defined as small funding awards to individuals and groups for initiatives intended to support community-oriented goals.

Many organisations and individuals across Stoke-on-Trent bring their communities together and provide an important and critical service in the local community and therefore increase a sense of community spirit.

Micro-Grants are available for those who are actively engaging with their local communities across Stoke-on-Trent to support and enable family outcomes to be stronger.

Family Matters is delighted to announce a new microgrant programme, which will support projects or initiatives that address family and children inequalities within Stoke-on-Trent. This is administered by 4 Locally Trusted Organisations on a geographical basis:

• South East - Alice (relief of poverty and advancement of community)
• South West – Family Focus
• Central – YMCA North Staffs
• North – Just Family CIC

The total funding available £10,000 across a 12-month period. We reserve the right to close the microgrant application process at any time. The first application window will close on 30th November.

The availability of funding is limited, and the programme will close for applications once all funding has been awarded. If you are thinking of applying, then we would encourage you not to delay your submission.
 

How much can I apply for?

When applying, you need to work out how much you are applying for and include VAT costs if applicable. Micro-grants will usually be up to £500 but more would be considered on a case-by-case basis.   

 

How do I apply?

You simply need to complete the application form and return your supporting documents by with your organisation name in the email title.

 

Location	Organisation	Email	Phone number
South East	Alice Charity	Lorna.peters@alicecharity.org	01782 614838
South West	Family Focus	info@familyfocusstaffs.org.uk	01782 863762
Central	YMCA North Staffs	Alison.Odonovan@ymcans.org.uk	01782 222376
North	Just Family CIC	enquiresjustfamily@gmail.com	01782 939183

 

If you need assistance accessing, please contact the relevant organisation for your area.

 

How will we assess your application?

Initially we will assess whether your application is eligible – this means we will confirm that your organisation meets the criteria (including evidence of need) and has supplied the supporting documentation.

If you meet the criteria and are applying for £500 or less, we aim to process your application within 10 working days. 

If you are applying for more than £500 your application will be considered by a grant panel and feedback will be provided in 15 working days.

 

What questions will I be asked?

The short form is in 4 sections:

• Section 1 – Contact information for your organisation
• Section 2 – Information about your organisation including:
  • Type of organisation (tick list)
  • Please describe the overall aims and objectives of your organisation and its activities.
  • Which ward, community or communities do you represent?
• Section 3 – How you will use the funding
  • How much are you requesting?
  • Please provide a breakdown of the costs you are applying for
  • Please outline the positive changes you will be able to make with this grant?
• Section 4 – Payment details (bank account details)

 

What supporting documents will I need to send?

You will be asked to send:

• Your governing document (this could be your Constitution or Memorandum and Articles of Association

• A recent bank statement (dated within the last 3 months, matching the details provided in your application). We are unable to accept applications from groups who are ‘in the process’ of opening a new account.
• Community groups or social enterprises must, respectively, have a committee with at least four members and at least two unrelated directors

What won’t we fund? 

The aim of the scheme is to support outcomes for families and children. We will not fund:  

• Standard for-profit organisations.  
• Organisations with an annual income of more than £1 million.  
• Individuals or sole traders
• Statutory bodies, including schools. We will fund organisations that work with statutory bodies and activities happening on the premises of statutory bodies (e.g., activities at after-school clubs).
• Organisations without an organisational bank account.  
• Companies without a governing document. Governing documents must be supplied along with your application if you’re a company. 
• Applications from the organisation administering the microgrant or organisations where there is a conflict of interest.
• Staff time that isn’t specifically for delivering the project in question, i.e. we will not fund staff involved with the general day-to-day running of your organisation (e.g. receptionists, cleaners). We will fund staff already employed by your organisation for any time being spent delivering the project.
• General running costs of a building or organisation, e.g. rent, utilities.  
• Renovations or other building work.  
• Applications where there isn’t evidence of a will to engage positively with families and make a positive impact.
• Organisations in financial difficulties.  

 

Terms and Conditions for micro-grants

The following terms and conditions apply to all those who receive a micro grant:

• If your group goes into abeyance or is wound-up, the remaining balance of any unspent micro-grants funds must be returned.
• Your group will notify us when its contact details change, providing us with the most up-to-date details.
• Your group will notify us when its constitution is amended, providing us with a signed copy of the most up-to-date version.
• The support of the funder will be acknowledged in all publicity linked to the activity which support has been provided.
• We will provide your group with a Micro-grants Report form, to be completed by your group and returned within one month of the date that your group completes the intervention. Any subsequent Micro-grants funding in application will not be reviewed until receipt of a satisfactory report. This report will require confirmation of spend, activity and impact.
• Your group will comply with all reasonable requests for participation by us in publicity in connection with the micro-grants scheme, including publications, websites, provision of photographs etc