This week sees the launch of a new fund to support local voluntary, community and social enterprise sector groups (VCSE) which are struggling with the rising cost of living.
Solihull Council has partnered with the Heart of England Community Foundation to launch a £50,600 programme of support with grants of up to £5,000 available.
Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Leisure, Cllr Diane Howell, said: “Organisations and groups in these sectors are facing a triple squeeze. More people are asking them for help and support, they’ve got less money because they’re getting less donations and inflation has devalued their income and lastly, like all of us, their costs have increased. The voluntary sector plays a crucial role in working alongside us to support local people. We have created a pot of additional funding to help them to continue to help others.”
There are two priorities for funding and applications for funding can meet one or both priorities:
- Core costs – these are essential costs organisations have to keep running.
- Project costs – these should be associated with a new service, or extension to an existing service, that supports people with cost-of-living pressures this winter
Projects and costs that have already taken place cannot be funded, only costs from 9 March – 31 May 2023. The deadline for applications is 20 February 2023.
To find out more and make an application visit - Solihull Voluntary Sector Resilience Fund | Heart of England Community Foundation (heartofenglandcf.co.uk)