The Neighbourhood Keepers programme is a community initiative, developed by the Church Street Futures Group and other working groups in the context of the Church Street regeneration.
It aims to deliver health, wellbeing and environmental benefits for all residents of the Church Street area. Between 2017 and 2022, Westminster City Council is committed to grant £2,000,000 for projects taking place in the Church Street ward itself, as well as on the Paddington Green estate.
The local community, organisations, individuals and Church Street residents can submit applications for funding for health and wellbeing and/or environmental projects.
Individuals and organisations based in the Church Street ward will be prioritised.
Individuals between 16 to 18 years old can apply but will be required to have an adult with current DBS certificate present while delivering their project. They also need the support of a guarantor who would be the recipient of the funds. For example, City of Westminster College students could be backed by the college.
Individuals over 18 (who are not registered as self-employed) may apply with the support of partnership organisation (acting as the guarantor), which could be the venue or a professional facilitator. The guarantor would be the recipient of the funds, rather than the individual. Individuals over 18, who are registered as self-employed, do not need a guarantor.
We actively encourage organisations and individuals to make an application in partnership with other organisations and individuals, either as joint partners or with one partner as the lead.Please note that if one partner is the lead, this partner will receive the funds and be responsible for distributing the funds to the other partner(s).
We cannot accept applications from departments within local authorities. Applicants working in partnership with libraries or schools, for example, should submit the application.
We will fund positive activities that address health, wellbeing and the environment.
These could be activities that have a direct public benefit for residents of the Church Street ward and Paddington Green estate. They are to be delivered free of charge. Examples of the activities that can be funded include:
If you plan activities for children or vulnerable adults, your staff or volunteers must have a valid DBS check of less than 3 years old.
You can apply for up to £20,000 per project, although we think the average award will be around £10,000. Projects applying for the maximum amount should run for at least 1 year. The minimum amount of funding you can apply for is £200.
We reserve the right to offer part-funding to some projects, if the assessment panel feel it is in the best interest of the programme’s aims.
Organisations currently funded through the scheme can reapply through the website.
We will support:
Equipment may be purchased on condition that is used by the beneficiaries. It will remain with the beneficiary group or organisation once the project has ended, for its continuous use by said groups. This must be agreed with the fund manager prior to purchase (a valid original receipt of purchase will be required).
All equipment purchased through the Neighbourhood Keepers programme is wholly owned by Westminster City Council.
We cannot support:
There is no maximum number of times you can apply to the fund, but please be aware that, in the interests of fairness, the panel will take the overall amount of funding awarded to individuals or organisations into consideration when assessing further bids.
Individuals and organisations can only make one application per funding round but can apply to deliver multiple projects within the same application.
Please read the relevant documents provided in the section 'About the fund' and consider whether your project is suitable. We encourage you to contact the regeneration base at churchstreet@westminster.gov.uk or on 020 7641 2968 and ask to speak to a member of the Neighbourhood Keepers Team for a short informal discussion of your project idea.
If encouraged to apply, complete the online application form below, providing detailed information on your project, when the next round of funding opens.
You will need to prepare the following supporting documents:
Applications for the Neighbourhood Keepers programme are now open and they will close on Friday November 2020 at 5pm.
Apply for The Neighbourhood Keepers programme
Decisions will be made at an assessment panel meeting. To assess the final applications, the panel will meet 1 to 2 weeks after the closing date.
If your application is successful, you will be required to sign a 'project agreement'. After that, it will take at least 30 days for the first payment to be processed.
Your application will be assessed using the following weighted criteria: