Birmingham Cost-of-Living Information Advice Guidance Fund

Birmingham City Council are working with Heart of England Community Foundation to provide Cost-of-Living Information Advice Guidance funding
Grants of up to £50,000 are available for projects up to 12 months
Services need to be linked/located with Warm Welcome spaces, community centres, food banks with priority areas targeted – it’s not too late to become a Warm Welcome space!
Deadline for applications – 29 May 2023. Project delivery to begin before end June 2023.
Join online information sessions on 17 or 18 May to find out more

As part of the response to the Cost of Living crisis, Birmingham City Council are working with Heart of England Community Foundation to provide Cost-of-Living Information Advice Guidance Funding.

Grants of up to £50,000 are available for projects up to 12 months.

The fund aims to:

Increase an organisation’s capacity to respond to increased demand relating to Cost-of-Living income maximisation, welfare rights and other related advice and guidance.
Maximise income – Positive changes to citizens through increased income focused on areas and communities of greatest need across Birmingham to maximise income during the Cost-of-Living crisis.

Services will need to be linked to (or located with) Warm Welcome spaces and other community-based geographical locations such as community centres and food banks. Priority areas will be targeted according to financial resilience.

The deadline for applications is 29 May 2023. Projects will need to begin project delivery before the end of June 2023.

Details on how to join the Online Information Sessions are available on the Heart of England Community Foundation website at: www.heartofenglandcf.co.uk/birmingham-cost-of-living-iag-fund/

How to Apply

Details on how to apply, including eligibility criteria, Essential Information and Fund Factsheet are available on the Heart of England Community Foundation website at: www.heartofenglandcf.co.uk/birmingham-cost-of-living-iag-fund/

What are Warm Welcome Spaces?

Services through the fund will need to be linked to (or located with) Warm Welcome spaces.

Warm Welcome spaces are open to all and offer advice, support and community for all who need it.

These are heated spaces which are free to access, that are inclusive and non-judgmental. Although heated, they are for all year round, not just winter or when it’s cold.

The Warm Welcome Network is supported by Birmingham City Council, Thrive Together Birmingham/ Church of England Birmingham and BVSC along with a wider group of partners.

Any organisation / community group / partner venue can join the Warm Welcome Network.

To join please click here to complete a registration form.

Where are Community Centres and Food Banks?

Services through the fund will also need to link to community-based geographical locations such as community centres and food banks.

There are several community centres and food banks across the City.

For details of locations please visit BVSC’s Directories page, which includes directories on wide-ranging community services including community centres and the Food Justice Network Map.

Wider Cost of Living Support

Further information on Cost of Living for the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise sector, including our events, report and toolkit are available at: https://www.bvsc.org/cost-of-living

Further Information

Cost-of-Living Information Advice Guidance Funding and Information Sessions
About Warm Welcome
Search the Directory of Warm Welcome Spaces
Join the Warm Welcome Network
Warm Welcome Presentations: 1 November; 29 March
Search Directories for Community Centres and Food Banks
Cost of Living
Any Other Questions: [email protected]

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