Agenda item

The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1       The purpose of this report is to provide the Committee with an update on the funding programme for Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

2.0       Recommendation

2.1       The Committee is asked to note the report.

3.0       Main Report

3.1Background

      Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend will take place from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June, inclusive.

      At the meeting on 18th February, the Committee agreed to allocate funding of £100,000 for events to take place in local communities across the city over the Platinum Jubilee weekend. The Committee also agreed to engage the services of the Community Foundation Northern Ireland (CFNI) to administer the fund, which will allocate a maximum of £2,000 for any group / event to take place.

      Officers have been engaging with the Community Foundation over the past few weeks to finalise the details of the programme to make sure the funding process is straightforward and open to as many groups as possible.  Members have also been providing feedback on a number of important points such as non-constituted groups being able to access the funding. 

      The programme is now live, with groups able to apply online and attend information sessions to find out more about how to apply, please see the following link for further details https://communityfoundationni.org/grants/her-majesty-the-queens-platinum-jubilee-fund-for-belfast/.  The following provides an overview of how the programme will be delivered:

3.2Application Timeline:

3.3       Community Engagement

      The fund has been advertised via Social media channels and has been published on the Council’s and CFNI websites.  Any groups who require further information on how to apply can call the CFNI grants team directly on 028 9024 5927.

3.4Multiple ‘Umbrella’ applications:

      Following discussions with CFNI we have agreed that ‘Umbrella’ organisations can support applications from community groups who do not have a constitution.  However, this will be up to a limit of £6,000 in total applications, with the minimum award per group £500, maximum award per group £2,000. An application for each individual community group must be received.

      The governance arrangements of the CFNI does not directly support the advancement of religion and/or organisations whose purposes include the advancement of religion.  To assist such groups in accessing this funding, organisations with purposes to advance religion, can seek an eligible umbrella organisation who can submit an application for an eligible project on their behalf. Alternatively, they can work with an eligible partner organisation who can act as the lead applicant.

      Information sessions as outlined above will provide support to groups to enable them to apply or signpost them as appropriate.  Council officers will also be supporting community groups, providing information and supporting the application process.

3.5Payment and Verification

      As many of the groups who are accessing this funding, will have limited financial capacity, successful awards will be paid 100% in advance. All successful applicants will have to return project monitoring information, with a sample of applicants subject to full verification and will be asked to submit all relevant receipts of payments made with the funding.

3.6Financial and Resource Implications

      An additional Budget of £110,000, which includes the amount required to buy in the services of the Community Foundation, is being allocated from Departmental budgets.

3.7Equality or Good Relations Implications/Rural Needs Assessment

      All events will take equality and good relations implications into account.”

After discussion, the Committee noted the contents of the report.