Funding for projects that bring together the community and local authorities to design and implement services in partnership. 
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) will provide funding to local authorities working with community groups to deliver solutions to entrenched social issues for example relating to:
• Early intervention and high cost individuals - people falling through gaps in statutory services perhaps because they do not meet individual service criteria or thresholds
• Adult social care – for example: tackling social isolation including via community transport schemes; projects aimed at safeguarding vulnerable people including rehabilitation and preventative work around domestic abuse; and/or; work aimed at increasing public health and wellbeing
• Children’s Services – this could, for example, include work around disabled children’s support services or those aimed at helping children from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Employment Support – DCLG are particularly interested in proposals working with those furthest from the labour market and/or where the training is tailored to reflect opportunities in the local employment market and so more likely to result in sustainable outcomes
This will be through £2.5m funding over the next two years. DCLG invite proposals from local collaborations between local authorities and neighbourhood or community organisations to bid by 16 January. Bids should be for new projects or to extend an existing project into another area but not to prop up an existing approach.
DCLG will support projects to develop local solutions in specific neighbourhoods, or across a greater area, or even across a local authority or service delivery boundaries.
DCLG will provide bespoke support including:
• Up to approximately £70,000 in grant funding (this is an indicative figure rather than an absolute); evidence suggests that £70,000 could fund, for example, a project centred on a key worker approach that engages with disadvantaged groups through joining up services
• Access to a panel consisting of officials from the Department for Communities and
Local Government, external experts and Local Government representatives who will provide advice, challenge and an opportunity for different projects to exchange learning and network
• Opportunities for networking and shared learning across projects through events and online forums such as MyCommunity website
• Help and feedback with Cost Benefit Analysis tools
• Training on previous practice and advice on how to access other funding
• Opportunities to share your work with others
For further information and to apply, visit: www.gov.uk/government/publications/communities-fund-prospectus-and-bidding-form, or email: [email protected]
Deadline: Monday 16 January 2017