Purpose

1.In February 2021 Cabinet approved
£2,351,995 revenue funding to support the delivery of a
Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector recovery
strategy and enabling a proposed new Communities Resilience Fund
(CRF) commencing 2021/22.
2.In July 2023 the Executive Director of Adults and Communities
approved payment of £4m Community Resilience Fund for capital
grants to community and voluntary groups, including £800,000
for dedicated grants for city wide equalities communities. It was
agreed that a plan for expenditure of the CRF revenue budget,
including revenue development grants would be brought back to the
meeting once grantees had started developing their Full Project
Plans and revenue needs were clear.
3.At EDM on 22nd November 2023, Executive Director for Adults and
Communities in consultation with Cabinet Member for Communities
approved funding to build capacity and resilience of the VCSE in
line with Designing a New Social Reality. The decision to offer
this grant extension to Black South West Network, for their
capacity building work with Black, Asian and Minority community led
VCSE organisations is part of our commitment to this. The plan for
the CRF revenue budget which was approved also included allocating
up to £400k per annum for revenue development grants to VCSE
organisation in receipt of CRF capital grants. The purpose of these
grants is to enable the successful development and delivery of CRF
projects.
4.CRF Revenue development grants will be between 5% and 20% of the
value of the capital grant (consistent with other parts of the
council who spend capital). They will be awarded up front at the
beginning of projects, to enable organisations to bring in
necessary expertise i.e. structural engineer, project manager,
architect in line with project milestones. This will also enable
them to plan for ongoing costs.
5.This OED approved payment of £30,000 to Black South West
Network, as an extension of their grant ‘Enabling VCSE’
April 2022- March 2026, to provide specific support around capital
projects, assets and infrastructure to Black, Asian and Minority
community led VCSE organisations, both those in receipt of CRF
grants and those who are not (though they may have applied and been
unsuccessful, but are seeking to undertake capital projects.
6.This OED also approved 1 revenue development grant worth
£3000.

Content

A.To authorise the spending of £30,000
CRF revenue budget to enable BSWN to continue supporting both CRF
grantees and other Black, Asian and Minority community led
organisations with capital projects, assets and infrastructure.
This is part of our commitment to build capacity and resilience of
the VCSE in line with Designing a New Social Reality.
B.To authorise the spending of £3000 revenue development
grant to enable Community Resilience Fund grantees CEED to
successfully deliver their capital project.