The Mayor’s Opportunity Fund

Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland and Point North Community Foundation are partnering with the North East Combined Authority (NECA) to run the first round of the Mayor’s Opportunity Fund.

The Fund supports the commitment to a fairer North East through creating opportunity and ensuring the North East is a cohesive, inclusive and resilient region, where everyone thrives and has the opportunity to contribute to the region’s success.

In response to disorder over the summer, the first round of funding, worth £225,000, will deliver grants to small charities and community organisations, based in the North East, who support community cohesion in the region’s most disadvantaged areas.

Organisations applying to work within Tyne & Wear and Northumberland can apply using the link above.

Organisations applying to work in County Durham should apply through Point North: https://pointnorth.org.uk/grants/

Please do not make more than one application.

Please register to attend one of the webinars detailed below.

Webinars

Before making your application, you must register to attend one of the webinars running on 12 December 2024. These will cover applying to the Mayor’s Opportunity Fund, helping your organisation to understand its eligibility and fit with the Fund criteria. A webinar will be recorded for those unable to attend and a link placed on this page.

For organisations in Tyne & Wear and Northumberland you can book a place on the webinar with Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland here.

For organisations in County Durham please click here to book a place on the webinar with Point North.

Who can apply and what will the fund prioritise?

Applications are welcomed from constituted community groups and charitable, not-for-profit organisations with an annual income under £500,000.

Priority will be given to organisations:

• working in the most socially and economically disadvantaged parts of the NECA region, including isolated rural areas.
• whose activity will benefit women and girls, disabled people and/or people from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic backgrounds.

How much can we apply for?

Grants will range from £1,000 to £10,000 with the average grant size expected to be £7,500.

Successful applicants will be able to spend their grant over a 12-month period.

What will the fund support?

The Fund will consider applications for core and project costs and the continuation or expansion of existing activities or new areas of work.

Your application must explain how the work will support cohesion, inclusion and community resilience. Examples include:

• Activities encouraging or increasing civic participation for those less engaged
• Work to strengthen connections between people of different backgrounds
• Work that addresses prejudice, discrimination and conflict within communities
• Community anchor organisations in areas lacking other social infrastructure
• Community celebrations and cultural events

Applications can also be considered for equipment and capital costs for buildings but the application must explain why improved facilities will support the Fund aims.

Monitoring and reporting

Grantees will need to monitor and report against the intended benefits of the grant for the people you work with and the organisation; for example:

• increased provision of services
• increased numbers of beneficiaries
• increased organisation income
• increased partnership working
• increased workforce

Monitoring will include case studies and grantees may also be asked to participate in publicity and visits by the Mayor and/or NECA and Community Foundation staff.

When will we find out if we have been successful?

The fund closes for application on Friday 17 January 2025 and eligible applications will be assessed and presented to a Fund Panel, chaired by the Mayor or a NECA representative. Applicants are expected to be notified of the outcome by the end of February 2025.

The Fund Panel will aim to ensure that funding equitably reaches all seven local authority areas within NECA’s region, and will consider population size, measures of disadvantage and other factors when reaching its decisions.