WINTER WARMTH
COMMUNITY GRANTS SCHEME 2014/15
Introduction
Bradford District Community Fund is launching a new Winter Warmth Community
Grants Scheme from October 2014. This scheme is funded by Bradford Metropolitan District Council and
support from local businesses.
The aim of the fund is to support a range of community-based projects that help support people who may
be vulnerable or become vulnerable to the impacts of cold weather during the winter months. As part of
this we’d like to encourage people who want to be active in their neighbourhoods and/or streets to get
involved. The scheme runs together with programmes such as Be-neighbourly and the Warm Homes
Healthy People (WHHP) programme.
Last year the fund helped out community associations, neighbourhood watch groups, individual households
and/or smaller less formal community groups who were keen to develop a neighbourhood or street project
in their area. This year there are two levels of funding available:


If you do not have a formal constitution you can apply for a grant up to £500
If you have a constitution you can apply for a grant of up to £1,000
For constituted groups only: The grant panel can consider applications in excess of £1,000 but only in
exceptional circumstances and at the panel’s discretion.
The beneficiaries of projects must be within the Bradford District
You do not need to have a formal constitution to apply, if you have a good idea get in touch!
Contact Tony Sheeky 01274-433559 and have a chat.
What do we mean by vulnerable to the cold?
We know that levels of premature or early death, ill health and serious disease are likely rise in the winter
months. We are also aware that some householders can experience increased isolation and loneliness
during this time, when it’s harder to get out and about and when the weather can affect mobility and
motivation. We are keen to hear of ideas that can help reduce these impacts.
We think the following types of people are more vulnerable to cold weather however we know that anyone
can become vulnerable through circumstance and we would not see this list as exclusive:
 People aged over 75 years or who are frail, suffering from arthritis, limited mobility or otherwise at
risk of falls or elderly people living on their own;
 People with pre-existing cardiovascular or respiratory illnesses and other chronic medical
conditions;
 People with mental illness, dementia, learning difficulties and/or a disability;
 Families with young children, living in deprived circumstances or poorly housed;
 Homeless people or those sleeping rough; and
 Families who are struggling at home through things like debt, heating or eating costs etc;
 Families and/or individuals who are destitute due to their immigration status and/or country of
origin
We are looking to encourage neighbourly help examples of which are below;

A group of residents who want to help clearing neighbours’ paths of snow and ice (sometimes called
snow wardens) enabling better access

Organising a coffee morning or hot meals in a community facility during cold weather
1

Parent groups that want to organise events that will support children and families (e.g. clothing swap
shops, cooking clubs)

Activities for children and young people that help support healthy eating

Knitting circles, sewing clubs and other craft based activities that offer practical support such as
making and hanging winter curtains, draft excluders etc

Transport projects for people who cannot get out of the house during cold weather

Activities that bring people together that may become lonely and isolated in cold weather

Supporting neighbours who are vulnerable to bad weather to fit draft excluders, radiators foils and
other minor energy saving measures

Food bank services linked into on-going support services

Any other good ideas
If you have a good idea that doesn’t fit with the above please get in touch with Tony Sheeky 01274433559
What we cannot fund
We are not able to fund the following:
 Grants to statutory organisations or commercial entities
 Costs associated with a project which you are already doing and are funded already
 Projects who offer food unless they can demonstrate linkages with other on-going support agencies
 Project to support beneficiaries outside Bradford District.
We can pay for extending a current scheme / project or introducing a new idea/activity/pilot.
Funding and resourcing your project ideas
The WHHP programme aims to maximise the support and resources available to groups to deliver against
our winter warmth priorities. One way we are doing this is wherever possible we will identify in-kind
resources rather than cash. A number of businesses and individuals in the District are making donations of
goods and time to the Winter Warmth Campaign and we will have items and practical support at our
disposal to distribute. Where possible therefore, projects will be resourced through a mix of cash, goods
and volunteer time. If you need any specific items or require volunteer support then please list this in the
project budget in the application form. If your application is successful we may need to talk to you about
the proportion of cash and /or other resources required for your project.
Links to the wider WHHP programme and Be-neighbourly
Successful applicants will be sent information related to keeping warm in winter by other partners within
the WHHP programme where appropriate. More information on this will be provided to successful
applicants. Successful applicants will be required to keep a record of what they done, how many people
have benefited and how the financing helped. WHHP may ask for this information and for case studies
when reviewing the WHHP for the New Year. It would not be a requirement for this to include personal
information. Individuals involved in funded projects will be invited to join the Be-neighbourly scheme and
become street champions in event of severe weather episodes. The project must take place between week
commencing 8th of December 2014 and the end of March 2015 - with all funding spent within this
timeframe.
Who and how can you apply?
You can apply for funding if you are a community association, neighbourhood watch group, individual
household, a street representative and/or a smaller less formal community groups. Individuals and unconstituted groups MUST have the support of a constituted voluntary or community organisation who are
prepared to act as the grant holding body. In these circumstances a grant award will only be paid to a
constituted voluntary or community organisation.
Applications need to be submitted before 5pm on 14th of November 2014 and will receive notification of
the decision of the small grants panel in the week commencing 8th of December 2014. Any submissions
2
made after this date will be considered but will be subject to any funds and resources remaining available
after initial allocations. Please visit the BDCF website for updates
To apply for a grant go to: http://www.bradforddcf.org.uk/?p=3110 to download the application form.
For further information about the application process contact: 0113-242 2426
3