About the fund
Grants of £5,000 to £20,000 are available to not-for-profit organisations, who support residents of North Herts, to help our communities prosper.
Any monies awarded from this fund must be spent by successful applicants by the end of March 2025.
Applications could include a request for funding for:
- street furniture
- improvements to streetlighting
- improvements to community buildings
- upgrading / creating more green spaces
- promoting the local area
- support for sports teams / facilities
- support for local historic, cultural and heritage institutions
- arts and cultural activities
- active travel enhancements
- outreach events
- programmes to encourage participation in local democracy
- community measures to reduce the cost of living
- digital infrastructure
This list is not exhaustive. See the North Herts Prosperity Fund Parishes VCSE Criteria below for further information, or feel free to contact the Community Partnerships team for guidance.
This funding has been made possible via funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities' UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
How to apply
- Read through the North Herts Prosperity Fund Policy and Criteria (below).
- If you think that your project might fit the criteria, download and fill in a North Herts Prosperity Fund grant application form.
- Gather the supporting documentation: accounts, constitution/governing document, quotes, safeguarding policies.
- Email your application with copies of your supporting documents to: community@north-herts.gov.uk
Officers are available to offer guidance. If you would like to arrange a meeting please email community@north-herts.gov.uk stating which area your organisation is based in.
Important points to note:
- Applications must be submitted on the application form provided above and be emailed as a readable Microsoft Word document. No other version will be accepted.
- Applications can cover districtwide projects.
- We reserve the right to close the application window without prior notice.
Timeline
| North Herts Prosperity Fund launches | 5 July 2024 |
| Deadline for applications | 1 September 2024, midnight |
| Final assessment of applications | 2-21 September 2024 |
| Highest-scoring applicants informed | Week commencing 23 September 2024 |
| Grant Panel recommendations | 3 October 2024 |
| Payments to successful applicants | Late October / early November 2024 |
| Funds completely spent by groups by | 31 March 2025 |
Grant assessment and allocation
Applications are assessed against the North Herts Prosperity Fund criteria by officers.
If the application meets the criteria, it will be put forward for consideration to the District Wide Community Facilities Capital & Revenue Grants Panel on 3 October 2024.
Members of the Panel make a recommendation based on the application. The recommendation goes to the Executive Member for Community/Partnerships who legally signs off the decision.
Contact
Email: community@north-herts.gov.uk
This Programme is partially funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. North Herts Council will receive £1.5m from this fund over the next 3 years.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6bn of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information visit the UK Shared Prosperity Fund prospectus.
