Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) for small businesses additional information

Phase 4 Community Wealth Building Pledge Additional Restrictions Grant

Criteria updated 23 June 2021 

Phase 4 Community Wealth Building Pledge Additional Restrictions Grant is designed to support businesses, organisations and charities recover and reorientate following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Our Towards a Better Newham Covid-19 Recovery Strategy makes us the first borough in London to use livelihood, wellbeing and happiness as its prime measure of economic success. The strategy sets out the foundation for how the Council will respond to the economic impact of Covid-19 as it rebuilds a better Newham; it represents a fundamental shift by placing the health and wellbeing of residents’ and race equality central to the Council’s aspirations of inclusive growth, quality jobs and fairness in Newham. The grant is specifically available to help businesses, organisations and charities advance this.

A minimum of £2.5m has been allocated for this phase to award up to 500 grants. Grants are worth £5,000 and we will give priority to applicants who can demonstrate how they are aligning their business practices with the CWB Pledge.

Please look at the Community Wealth Building (CWB) guidelines on our Community Wealth Building pledge page.

Criteria

The criteria outlined below will be used to allocate the grant. They’re not exhaustive and we will welcome as other criteria a range of other activities and proposals which support the Community Wealth Building Pledge.

Employment

  • London Living Wage accreditation
  • Supporting apprenticeship initiatives
  • Supporting skills development and training
  • Employing Newham residents and recruiting staff through Our Newham Work.

Support for under 25s

  • Childcare support, in particular improving the quality of provision and best practice
  • Events which help physical and/or mental health
  • Skills development

Climate emergency

  • Investing in or adopting environmentally sustainable business practice
  • Reducing emissions
  • Increasing awareness of climate change and sustainable business models

Public health and community

  • Supporting good quality education for children and young people
  • Developing community cohesion initiatives
  • Supporting health and wellbeing in the wider community
  • Creating a healthier business offer (e.g. shifting to healthier food)
  • Delivering services to benefit the local community
  • Investing in Covid-secure equipment or new practice

Business resilience and technology

  • Investing in IT and adopting new technologies such as contactless payment system and click & collect
  • Enhancing the digital literacy of Newham employees and residents
  • Professional organisation membership or accreditation
  • Support for business start-ups and incubators, including equipment for re-orientation.

Businesses should look to the CWB Pledge to align and showcase their commitment to the overall CWB Pledge and how the grant can be used to meet their Pledge ambitions. 

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Phase 4 Community Wealth Building Pledge Grant, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Registered business or charity with commercial property in Newham or an organisation which supports Newham businesses
  • Employ a minimum of three staff

Exclusions

The grant is not be available for:

  • Businesses who were not trading on or before 1 April 2021
  • Businesses who have exceeded the state aid limit
  • Businesses who only have a virtual office or PO box in Newham
  • Business operating from a domestic premises
  • Businesses which are casual market traders
  • National chains or franchises
  • Businesses in administration, insolvent, have ceased trading or are subject to a striking-off notice
  • Businesses which have already received grant payments that equal or exceed the maximum levels of state aid i.e. grant payments that equal or exceed £350,000 over the last three years.

Application timeline

30 July 2021

Information required

We require applicants to clearly outline how this funding will be used to support new activities or enable continuation of existing activities to support the Council’s community wealth building and Covid recovery approach.

Evidence required

Before you start the form, the following documents will be required:

  • A copy of your Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy
  • ID (one of the following):
    - Valid EU/UK passport
    - Valid overseas passport showing visa with right to work
    - Valid EU ID Card
    - Full UK driver's licence
    - UK birth certificate and National Insurance card (you must upload both documents)
  • Proof of your business registration (one of the following):
    - Business Certificate of Incorporation (Company Registration)
    - Fixed commercial property-related documents in full (one of the following):
     Tenancy
     Lease
     Licence
     Rental documents
  • For business rate payers, your business rates accounts evidence - London Borough of Newham invoice showing property address and business rates account number
  • Bank statement: most recent quarterly bank statement and must show most recent property-related cost
  • Blank/sample invoice on company headed paper that shows (where applicable):
    - Bank details account name
    - Number and sort code
    - Company registration number and VAT number (where applicable)
  • Recent utility bill (where applicable)

Additional notes

  1. Grants will be assessed and priority given to applicants which are best able to demonstrate how they meet the criteria.
  2. Only one application per charity/business/organisation can be made.
  3. Applications are due to close on 25 June 2021 or when the fund is exhausted, whichever is sooner.
  4. Submitting an application and meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee approval of a grant.
  5. The grant cannot be used to pay wages.
  6. There will be no appeals process.
  7. Each application will be assessed based on the date and time it is submitted.

Every application and its supporting evidence will be thoroughly checked for eligibility. Applications suspected to be fraudulent will be investigated and any individual/business caught falsifying their records to gain grant money will face prosecution and any grants paid in error will be subject to claw back.

What happens after your application is submitted?

After your application has been completed you will receive an email confirmation with a reference number starting with ‘CWB’. Please keep a note of this reference number and use it in any communication with us in relation to your application.

An assessor will check your application and the supporting documents to assess eligibility:

  1. CWB Pledge accreditation: we will assess your application and your commitment to CWB standards and with a view to awarding CWB accreditation.
  2. CWB Pledge grant award: if the business is awarded the CWB grant it must take immediate action towards continuing, achieving and delivering CWB targets as highlighted in the application and action plan.
  3. Action plan: within 12 months of being accredited we may request information about progress towards achieving both short, medium and longer-term commitments.

Timescale

It’s not possible to provide a precise turnaround time for payment, as this depends on factors such as the number of submissions, final payment checks and the complexities of some businesses in relation to the eligibility criteria. However, we hope to give a decision within 28 working days of you submitting the application. Businesses which qualify for payments will receive payment by BACS. Please allow an additional seven working days from the date of when you receive our award confirmation email to receive funds.

When to contact us

If your business does not qualify we will write to you by email, stating the reasons. However, if you feel we have incorrectly assessed your application please call us in the first instance to discuss. On some occasions, where necessary, you may be asked to submit a new application.

How to apply:

If you feel you meet the eligibility criteria please submit an application 

Apply for the Community Wealth Building Pledge Additional Restrictions Grant