Supporting our communities

We offer grants of up to £3,000 to fund groups, projects and initiatives to support the wellbeing of people in our communities.

No project is too big or small – you can apply for £50 or £3,000, the choice is yours.

Applications for our current round of grants are now open! Find out more and apply on this page.

Applications close at 5pm on Monday 13 May.

What is the Citizen Local Fund?

The Citizen Local Fund is a £50,000 pot of funding available to local groups and projects.

 

The aim of the fund is to support our residents and communities to thrive. We support ideas and projects that promote mental and physical wellbeing, reduce social isolation, bring communities together and enhance local areas.

 

Grants of up to £3,000 are available. Applying is simple – just fill out our application form below and we will review it and get back to you.

 

We will consider projects that will make a difference in at least one of these ways:

  • Improving physical health and mental wellbeing for people in our communities through (for example) exercise classes, wellbeing workshops, food poverty initiatives
  • Reducing social isolation and loneliness in our communities through (for example) coffee mornings, friendship groups, educational classes
  • Supporting community cohesion by helping to bring people of all ages and backgrounds together through (for example) community events or activities
  • Enhance local areas by improving the physical environment through (for example) gardening projects, environmental projects, safer neighbourhoods projects)

Don’t think your project is too small and count it out. As long as it benefits the wellbeing of people in our communities we will consider it. The amount you apply for is up to you.

More funding information

  • We will not fund profit making businesses
  • We will not provide funding to pay salaries
  • All projects need to benefit Citizen customers and communities. ‘Citizen’ relates to the housing association. If your project falls outside of areas we operate in (across the West Midlands) your application will not be considered
  • Projects must promote at least one of the following: improving mental and physical wellbeing, reducing social isolation, bringing communities together and enhancing local areas.
  • Once funds have been allocated you will be required to update us with the progress of your project and spending

If you need help completing the application form contact: engagement@citizenhousing.org.uk

Apply now

Applications for our current round of funding are now open. Just fill in the form below before 5pm on Monday 13 May and we will get back to you in June to let you know if you’ve been successful.

 

Need a word document version of the form instead? You can download the application form here.

 

Citizen Local Fund application April 2024

Pre-application checklist

Please read and complete the below before completing your application.
Have you applied or been funded by the Citizen Local Fund (CLF) in the last 12 months? *
Is the funding to cover wages of staff members? *
Is it a profit making business? *
Is it to cover day to day running costs of your project (e.g. utility bills, council tax, rent or insurance)? *
Does your project have extreme political, faith based or religious views that are likely to adversely affect or exclude the wider community? *
Does your project require the hiring of a skilled professional such as a football coach, counsellor or yoga instructor? *
Please note if you have answered yes to any of the above then you may not be eligible for funding.
I am authorised to apply for an investment fund from you on behalf of my organisation. *
I understand that if I make any misleading statements (whether deliberate or accidental) at any stage during the application process, or knowingly withhold any information, this could make my application invalid and I could be liable to repay funds. *
I confirm that I have read the content in the more funding information tab and my project meets the criteria. *
I agree that once funds have been allocated I will update Citizen with the progress of my project and spending. *
I agree that my project promotes at least one of the following; improving mental and physical wellbeing, reducing social isolation, bringing communities together and enhancing local areas. *
I agree that my project will benefit Citizen customers. All projects need to benefit Citizen customers and communities. ‘Citizen’ relates to the housing association. If your project falls outside of areas we operate in (across the West Midlands) your application will not be considered (map). *

Your details

Are you or any member of your organisation/committee connected or directly related to any Board Member or staff member of Citizen? *
Have you applied for funding in a previous round of the Citizen Local Fund? *

About your project

Please ensure you cover all points below for your application to be considered.
0 of 2000 max characters

How much you would like to bid for

0 of 1500 max characters
0 of 1500 max characters
0 of 1500 max characters