Warwickshire County Council
Social Fabric Fund
The objective of the Fund is to invest in “social infrastructure” to develop and strengthen Warwickshire’s most deprived communities and, in so doing so, improve residents’ life chances and reduce inequalities.
Grant size: Apply for what you need
Location: Warwickshire
Please read the Fund Factsheet and Essential Information before applying.
Applicants at full application stage need to complete the Minimal Financial Assistance Declaration and return it with their application.
Social Fabric Fund Update
We are thrilled by the highly engaging response we have received for the WCC Social Fabric Fund!
The Social Fabric Fund was created to support the Countywide Approach to Levelling Up, taking a community-powered approach to improving residents’ life chances, reducing inequalities, and increasing social mobility.
There has been great interest, with numerous expressions of interest submitted for revenue projects, amplifying the dedication that local organisations have to improve their communities for those who need it most.
Due to the terrific response, we will be temporarily pausing accepting new expressions of interest for the revenue side of the Fund on May 31st at 23:59.
This pause is to allow time to process the expressions of interest received and ensure we can effectively manage the distribution of the fund to avoid disappointing groups. We want to remain clear with potential new applicants after the pause is lifted about any remaining monies that will be available.
We would urge community groups who have already begun an expression of interest for a revenue project or are on the way to submitting one, to do so before this temporary pause is implemented at the end of May. WCAVA and Heart of England Community Foundation remain available for advice, support, and guidance with your applications.
This pause does not apply to those organisations that are working on a bid for capital funding, have already submitted an expression of interest but not yet heard back, or are still working on a second gate application following an email progressing your application to that stage. Please continue to work on your bids as usual.
Thank you to all the organisations who have contributed their time and effort to apply. Your commitment will help to create a fairer, happier, and healthier Warwickshire for all.
About the Social Fabric Fund
The Social Fabric Fund is a blended £2.5million fund, comprising £1.5 million capital and £1 million revenue elements, focusing primarily (but not exclusively) on the 22 Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) identified in the Countywide Approach to Levelling Up. The Fund will run for two years up to the end of March 2025.
The objective of the Fund is to invest in “social infrastructure” to develop and strengthen Warwickshire’s most deprived communities and, in so doing so, improve residents’ life chances and reduce inequalities.
The Fund will deliver a blend of investment to enable communities to access both capital funding to build “social fabric” through physical community infrastructure, as well as time limited start-up revenue funding for community development that delivers on local priorities and demonstrates sustainability.
Fund Aims
The aim of the fund is to fill a gap in funding available to communities by being flexible and starting with the communities’ strengths and priorities.
Expressions of Interest will need to be visibly led or demonstrate strong support from local communities.
We do not want to see Expressions of Interest that take the approach of ‘doing to’ communities, we would like to see ‘working with’ communities.
Available Funding
There is no lower or upper grant limit. Your Expression of Interest should explain why you are requesting the amount of money you need for your project.
WCAVA will provide support: Thom Udall thom.udall@wcava.org.uk
The fund will be complemented by dedicated community worker capacity, provided by Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action (WCAVA), focusing primarily on the 22 priority LSOAs and with responsibilities around supporting funding proposals. More specifically, the community workers will:
1. Increase community power in target areas.
2. Lead in-depth community powered engagement to understand local priorities.
3. Scope, shape, and support proposals to address local priorities.
4. Take the lead to help the community/communities develop proposals working as appropriate with officers from the County Council, the relevant Borough or District Council, and the Integrated Care System to co-produce proposals.
5. Liaise with the County Council and other agencies regarding potential supplementary contributions in terms of time, skills, money, and assets
We will support:
• Start-up costs for a new project or organisation
• To extend or develop an existing project – including staff costs
• To purchase equipment or resources
• Capital expenditure is buying or enhancing big investments in assets, such as
property or enabling an asset transfer.
We expect the projects to be completed within two years. Payments will be paid in instalments.
About the Social Fabric Fund
The Social Fabric Fund is a blended £2.5million fund, comprising £1.5 million capital and £1 million revenue elements, focusing primarily (but not exclusively) on the 22 Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) identified in the Countywide Approach to Levelling Up. The Fund will run for two years up to the end of March 2025.
The objective of the Fund is to invest in “social infrastructure” to develop and strengthen Warwickshire’s most deprived communities and, in so doing so, improve residents’ life chances and reduce inequalities.
The Fund will deliver a blend of investment to enable communities to access both capital funding to build “social fabric” through physical community infrastructure, as well as time limited start-up revenue funding for community development that delivers on local priorities and demonstrates sustainability.
Fund Aims
The aim of the fund is to fill a gap in funding available to communities by being flexible and starting with the communities’ strengths and priorities.
Expressions of Interest will need to be visibly led or demonstrate strong support from local communities.
We do not want to see Expressions of Interest that take the approach of ‘doing to’ communities, we would like to see ‘working with’ communities.
Available Funding
There is no lower or upper grant limit. Your Expression of Interest should explain why you are requesting the amount of money you need for your project.
WCAVA will provide support: Thom Udall thom.udall@wcava.org.uk
The fund will be complemented by dedicated community worker capacity, provided by Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action (WCAVA), focusing primarily on the 22 priority LSOAs and with responsibilities around supporting funding proposals. More specifically, the community workers will:
1. Increase community power in target areas.
2. Lead in-depth community powered engagement to understand local priorities.
3. Scope, shape, and support proposals to address local priorities.
4. Take the lead to help the community/communities develop proposals working as appropriate with officers from the County Council, the relevant Borough or District Council, and the Integrated Care System to co-produce proposals.
5. Liaise with the County Council and other agencies regarding potential supplementary contributions in terms of time, skills, money, and assets
We will support:
• Start-up costs for a new project or organisation
• To extend or develop an existing project – including staff costs
• To purchase equipment or resources
• Capital expenditure is buying or enhancing big investments in assets, such as
property or enabling an asset transfer.
We expect the projects to be completed within two years. Payments will be paid in instalments.
About the Social Fabric Fund
The Social Fabric Fund is a blended £2.5million fund, comprising £1.5 million capital and £1 million revenue elements, focusing primarily (but not exclusively) on the 22 Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) identified in the Countywide Approach to Levelling Up. The Fund will run for two years up to the end of March 2025.
The objective of the Fund is to invest in “social infrastructure” to develop and strengthen Warwickshire’s most deprived communities and, in so doing so, improve residents’ life chances and reduce inequalities.
The Fund will deliver a blend of investment to enable communities to access both capital funding to build “social fabric” through physical community infrastructure, as well as time limited start-up revenue funding for community development that delivers on local priorities and demonstrates sustainability.
Fund Aims
The aim of the fund is to fill a gap in funding available to communities by being flexible and starting with the communities’ strengths and priorities.
Expressions of Interest will need to be visibly led or demonstrate strong support from local communities.
We do not want to see Expressions of Interest that take the approach of ‘doing to’ communities, we would like to see ‘working with’ communities.
Available Funding
There is no lower or upper grant limit. Your Expression of Interest should explain why you are requesting the amount of money you need for your project.
WCAVA will provide support: Thom Udall thom.udall@wcava.org.uk
The fund will be complemented by dedicated community worker capacity, provided by Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action (WCAVA), focusing primarily on the 22 priority LSOAs and with responsibilities around supporting funding proposals. More specifically, the community workers will:
1. Increase community power in target areas.
2. Lead in-depth community powered engagement to understand local priorities.
3. Scope, shape, and support proposals to address local priorities.
4. Take the lead to help the community/communities develop proposals working as appropriate with officers from the County Council, the relevant Borough or District Council, and the Integrated Care System to co-produce proposals.
5. Liaise with the County Council and other agencies regarding potential supplementary contributions in terms of time, skills, money, and assets
We will support:
• Start-up costs for a new project or organisation
• To extend or develop an existing project – including staff costs
• To purchase equipment or resources
• Capital expenditure is buying or enhancing big investments in assets, such as
property or enabling an asset transfer.
We expect the projects to be completed within two years. Payments will be paid in instalments.
About the Social Fabric Fund
The Social Fabric Fund is a blended £2.5million fund, comprising £1.5 million capital and £1 million revenue elements, focusing primarily (but not exclusively) on the 22 Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) identified in the Countywide Approach to Levelling Up. The Fund will run for two years up to the end of March 2025.
The objective of the Fund is to invest in “social infrastructure” to develop and strengthen Warwickshire’s most deprived communities and, in so doing so, improve residents’ life chances and reduce inequalities.
The Fund will deliver a blend of investment to enable communities to access both capital funding to build “social fabric” through physical community infrastructure, as well as time limited start-up revenue funding for community development that delivers on local priorities and demonstrates sustainability.
Fund Aims
The aim of the fund is to fill a gap in funding available to communities by being flexible and starting with the communities’ strengths and priorities.
Expressions of Interest will need to be visibly led or demonstrate strong support from local communities.
We do not want to see Expressions of Interest that take the approach of ‘doing to’ communities, we would like to see ‘working with’ communities.
Available Funding
There is no lower or upper grant limit. Your Expression of Interest should explain why you are requesting the amount of money you need for your project.
WCAVA will provide support: Thom Udall thom.udall@wcava.org.uk
The fund will be complemented by dedicated community worker capacity, provided by Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action (WCAVA), focusing primarily on the 22 priority LSOAs and with responsibilities around supporting funding proposals. More specifically, the community workers will:
1. Increase community power in target areas.
2. Lead in-depth community powered engagement to understand local priorities.
3. Scope, shape, and support proposals to address local priorities.
4. Take the lead to help the community/communities develop proposals working as appropriate with officers from the County Council, the relevant Borough or District Council, and the Integrated Care System to co-produce proposals.
5. Liaise with the County Council and other agencies regarding potential supplementary contributions in terms of time, skills, money, and assets
We will support:
• Start-up costs for a new project or organisation
• To extend or develop an existing project – including staff costs
• To purchase equipment or resources
• Capital expenditure is buying or enhancing big investments in assets, such as
property or enabling an asset transfer.
We expect the projects to be completed within two years. Payments will be paid in instalments.
About the Social Fabric Fund
The Social Fabric Fund is a blended £2.5million fund, comprising £1.5 million capital and £1 million revenue elements, focusing primarily (but not exclusively) on the 22 Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) identified in the Countywide Approach to Levelling Up. The Fund will run for two years up to the end of March 2025.
The objective of the Fund is to invest in “social infrastructure” to develop and strengthen Warwickshire’s most deprived communities and, in so doing so, improve residents’ life chances and reduce inequalities.
The Fund will deliver a blend of investment to enable communities to access both capital funding to build “social fabric” through physical community infrastructure, as well as time limited start-up revenue funding for community development that delivers on local priorities and demonstrates sustainability.
Fund Aims
The aim of the fund is to fill a gap in funding available to communities by being flexible and starting with the communities’ strengths and priorities.
Expressions of Interest will need to be visibly led or demonstrate strong support from local communities.
We do not want to see Expressions of Interest that take the approach of ‘doing to’ communities, we would like to see ‘working with’ communities.
Available Funding
There is no lower or upper grant limit. Your Expression of Interest should explain why you are requesting the amount of money you need for your project.
WCAVA will provide support: Thom Udall thom.udall@wcava.org.uk
The fund will be complemented by dedicated community worker capacity, provided by Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action (WCAVA), focusing primarily on the 22 priority LSOAs and with responsibilities around supporting funding proposals. More specifically, the community workers will:
1. Increase community power in target areas.
2. Lead in-depth community powered engagement to understand local priorities.
3. Scope, shape, and support proposals to address local priorities.
4. Take the lead to help the community/communities develop proposals working as appropriate with officers from the County Council, the relevant Borough or District Council, and the Integrated Care System to co-produce proposals.
5. Liaise with the County Council and other agencies regarding potential supplementary contributions in terms of time, skills, money, and assets
We will support:
• Start-up costs for a new project or organisation
• To extend or develop an existing project – including staff costs
• To purchase equipment or resources
• Capital expenditure is buying or enhancing big investments in assets, such as
property or enabling an asset transfer.
We expect the projects to be completed within two years. Payments will be paid in instalments.