Issue - meetings
One-off Restart Small Grants for Community Languages Providers
Meeting: 01/09/2021 - Grants Determination (Cabinet) Sub-Committee (Item 6)
6 One-off Restart Small Grants for Community Languages Providers PDF 249 KB
Additional documents:
- Appendix. 1 for One-off Restart Small Grants for Community Languages Providers - Cabinet Report Dec19, item 6 PDF 537 KB
- Webcast for One-off Restart Small Grants for Community Languages Providers
Minutes:
Judith St John (Director, Commissioning and Culture, Children and Culture).presented the report
The Committee were advised of the background to this report – resulting from a Cabinet decision in December 2019 regarding Community Language Services. Due to which, it was resolved that following the closure of the service, this one off grant be made to help organisations deliver community language classes. Due to the impact of Covid 19 and the closure of classes, it has only recently been possible to bring forward this programme.
The following issues were noted.
· The proposal seeks authority for the East End Community Foundation - EECF (who already run the small grants programmes on behalf of LBTH) to manage this small grants programme of approximately £120,000.
· The aim of which was to support voluntary sector providers of community languages classes (mother tongue classes) with a one-off small restart grant, focused around 4 themes which were noted.
· The EECF has an excellent track record of working with the Council and administering Grants on behalf of the Council.
· There were around 35 - 40 provider organisations in Tower Hamlets that would be eligible for this funding.
· This would be a closed application process with a maximum grant of £3,000 per grant.
· There would be an additional fee of 8% fee to EECF for the administration of the funds.
· The Council had put in place criteria, ensuring the delivery of value for money amongst other key issues.
· If successful, it was proposed that the application process start in early September and run until early October 2021, with the intention of providing the organisations with a decision on their application by the end of November 2021. LBTH has representation on the on the EECF Board .
The Sub – Committee noted the scrutiny questions circulated on the items. Regarding the first question about organisations that had previously changed their name, it was confirmed that the existing community language providers would still be able to apply if they met the criteria. Regarding the question on match funding – it was noted that this was a one off grant and that there is no plans to provide or require any match funding.
The Committee discussed a number if issues as set out below:
· The Sub – Committee noted the need for the applicants to provide a viable business plans and the requirements around this
· That the fee charge was in addition to the £120,000 grant funding to be provided to organisations.
· The proposal to set a limit of £3k per award per organisation.
· Members requested that in the event of any surplus in the grant money available to organisation following the evaluation process, this is evenly distributed between the successful applicants.
· It was also noted that since organisations may have changed their name, that more than 35 providers may apply for a grant so this needed to be taken into account.
· The organisations who had previously received support, (as defined in the criteria) would be contacted and also offered help ... view the full minutes text for item 6