About your application
Applications and partnerships
- Each organisation may submit one application as lead applicant
- An organisation may participate as a partner in other applications
- Joint applications are welcome, with one eligible organisation acting as the accountable lead
- The lead organisation is responsible for the grant agreement, finance, delivery, safeguarding, monitoring and compliance
- Partner roles, budgets, safeguarding, data-sharing and referral responsibilities must be clear
- A written partnership agreement or commitment letter must be in place before the grant is awarded
- Partnership working does not automatically attract a higher score; applicants must explain the added value
What the grant can pay for
- Staff and sessional worker costs directly related to the project
- Volunteer expenses
- Venue hire
- Interpretation and translation
- Travel or transport support directly linked to participation
- Materials and equipment
- Food or refreshments directly linked to delivery
- Outreach and publicity
- Training, safeguarding and DBS costs where needed
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Project management and directly related overheads
Budget and value for money
Applicants must give a clear budget showing how the grant will be used. Costs should be reasonable, directly linked to the project delivery and provide good value for money.
- Up to 15% of the grant may be used for project management and associated overhead costs - any amount above this threshold must be clearly justified and approved by the council
- Equipment must be essential, reasonable and proportionate to the proposed activity - applicants should explain why existing, borrowed or hired equipment cannot be used
- Any equipment costing more than £1,000 per item must be explicitly approved by the council in advance, supported by appropriate value-for-money evidence and recorded on an asset register
- Grant-funded employees and sessional workers should be paid at least the London Living Wage where applicable
- Volunteers may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses and must not be used to undertake roles that would ordinarily be carried out by paid staff
- Match funding is not needed; applicants may include other sources of funding and in-kind contributions, provided that they are the same expenditure and is not funded more than once
What the grant cannot pay for
- Activity that does not directly benefit sanctuary seekers in the borough
- General organisational running costs not linked to the project
- Costs incurred before the grant agreement is signed
- Party-political activity or political campaigning
- Religious worship, proselytising or activity mainly intended to promote a faith
- Personal grants, individual sponsorships or educational bursaries
- Costs already fully funded from another source
- Repayment of debts or loans
- Alcohol, gifts, prizes or hospitality not directly related to delivery
- Regulated advice where the organisation is not appropriately authorised, accredited or supervised
- Activity with unmanaged safeguarding, financial, legal, operational or reputational risk
Governance, safeguarding and financial requirements
All applicants must meet the following minimum requirements before an award can be made:
- appropriate governance and decision-making arrangements
- an organisational bank account and suitable payment controls, or an approved accountable body
- clear financial records and budget controls
- safeguarding policies and procedures appropriate to participants and activities
- safer recruitment, references, supervision, risk assessment and DBS checks where relevant
- appropriate insurance before project delivery starts
- data protection and confidentiality arrangements
- appropriate qualifications, accreditation or supervision for regulated advice
- a clear complaints route for participants
- declaration and management of actual or potential conflicts of interest
Lived experience, equalities and accessibility
Ealing Council welcome projects that are informed, designed or delivered with the involvement of people with lived experience. Such involvement should be safe, meaningful and proportionate. Examples may include; identifying need, designing activities, choosing locations and times, peer support, volunteering, delivery, evaluation and feedback.
Participants must not be pressured to disclose personal immigration information, share traumatic experiences or take part in in publicity activities.
Applicants should explain how they will identify and reduce barriers related to:
- language and communication
- disability and health
- digital exclusion
- gender, age, ethnicity, faith or belief and sexuality
- caring responsibilities
- transport and location
- trust, safety and trauma-informed practice
- underrepresentation or exclusion from existing provision