Neighbourhood Small Grants Programme
The Neighbourhood Small Grants programme is open to any not-for-profit organisation including voluntary, community and faith organisations working in Newham that support local projects and activities addressing community needs. The programme is designed to empower and make positive changes in local neighbourhoods with a key focus on supporting small, emerging and local community groups who have not been successful with larger grant programmes. It is part of our on-going work to support local groups in a way which is equitable and have the desired impact they want to see.
The total value of this year’s fund is set at £80,000. £10,000 will be allocated per neighbourhood and each grant will be for a maximum of £1,000. Please read the Grant Brochure for full details and to ensure that this opportunity is suitable for your organisation.
The grant will support a minimum of 10 projects per neighbourhood and 80 across the borough. The grant programme will be managed centrally by the Council’s Resident Engagement and Participation team and coordinated locally by Community Neighbourhood Teams.
A new grant platform
We have made improvements to the grant making process by utilising a dedicated grant making software called Plinth. It will make completing applications easier and more efficient allowing you to save progress, revisit past applications and take advantage of the built-in AI tool. In addition, there is a live chat function for support and a dedicated staff member from the Plinth team will guide you.
Deadline
The grant programme opens on Monday 12 May 2025 at 11.00 AM and closes on Sunday 8 June 2025 at 11.00 PM.
We endeavour to inform you of an outcome within 4 weeks of the deadline.
Grant support
The Council will be hosting a grant information session where you can learn more about the grant, meet other applicants and ask questions. This will be an online session via Microsoft Teams on Tuesday 27 May from 6.00 PM to 7.00 PM.
To book your place at the grant surgery or to request a Microsoft Word version of the form please email smallgrants@newham.gov.uk.
Submit your Neighbourhood Small Grant application
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the grant be used towards the cost of obtaining DBS for volunteers working on the funded project?
Yes - you can include the cost of DBS checks for your staff/volunteers in your funding application. You should detail all expected spend in your application form. Please note that DBS checks for staff will be a different cost to DBS checks for volunteers so please consider this when applying.
Can you include costs of Public Liability insurance in the application?
Yes - you can use some of the money from the grant to pay for Public Liability insurance. However, this must be proportionate to the grant that you are applying for and typically would not exceed £200. If you need support obtaining this, please contact your local Community Neighbourhood Team.
If our group received VE Day programme / People Powered Places / Other grants, are we allowed to apply for this small grant?
Yes - in the application we ask you to let us know what previous funding, if any, you have received from the council or similar programmes. You will still be eligible to apply for this grant, but priority will be given to groups that have not received funding before or are new, small and/or emerging.
Please see the FAQ sheet on the right hand side for full list of questions.
Where can I get more help?
You can watch the Neighbourhood Small Grant Programmes Grant Surgery held on 27 May 2025 on YouTube for more information and guidance.
