Local Neighbourhood Fund
The Local Neighbourhood Fund (LNF) has replaced the Mayoral Neighbourhood Fund (MNF). It enables councillors to request spend in their wards that contribute to the priorities of the City Plan, and to alleviate need linked to it.
The fund can be used to award grants to voluntary and community sector organisations and to purchase goods and services.
All spend must be consistent with council policies, for example, sustainable greenspace management.
The funding is managed by Streetscene Services.
Organisations wishing to apply for the fund must be invited to do so by a councillor. Unsolicited requests will be rejected.
How does it work?
Each councillor will receive an annual allocation of the fund. Whilst you will have your own allocation, you can work with other councillors in your ward, or with councillors in other wards.
There are four in-year deadlines for spend:
- Mid October for Christmas
- Mid January for end of year
- Mid May for summer
- Mid August for Halloween/Bonfire Night
Spending will pause during pre-election periods (purdah).
Goods and services
- When councillors want to purchase goods and services, they contact Streetscene Services.
- Streetscene Services will complete an order form.
- Eligibility checks are carried out and confirmed before approval is given.
Grants
- When councillors find an organisation for grant funding, they give details to Streetscene Services and declare no pecuniary or prejudicial interests
- Streetscene Services send a request form to the organisation.
- The organisation completes the form and returns it to the councillors. Councillors will review the application to make sure it matches expectations.
- Due diligence is carried out before approval from the Director.
Eligibility criteria
The following are eligible for a Local Neighbourhood Fund grant:
- Voluntary and community sector organisations (registered charities and other organisations such as associations and community groups), social enterprises, mutuals and co-operatives.
- Schools
- Children's Centres
- Other publicly funded services providing it is for a community project.
Housing associations, individuals, political groups, private businesses and profit making organisations are not eligible for the fund.
For full details of the Local Neighbourhood Fund, please read the guidance below:
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Local Neighbourhood Fund (LNF) guidance
Download this document: Local Neighbourhood Fund (LNF) guidance (PDF: 275 KB)
This document sets out how the Local Neighbourhood Fund will run from 15th September 2023 onwards. It is intended to supply guidance for councillors, officers and organisations invited by councillors to send a grant request form.
First published: 15/09/2023
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Appendix A - Other support and good practice
Download this document: Appendix A - Other support and good practice (PDF: 87 KB)
Extra guidance about support available for residents and some evidence-based ideas of how councillors could choose to utilise the Local Neighbourhood Fund.
First published: 15/09/2023
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Appendix B - Due Diligence
Download this document: Appendix B - Due Diligence (PDF: 68 KB)
This document highlights the due diligence checks that will be carried out by the Grants and Performance Team, from 15th September 2023.
First published: 15/09/2023
Monitoring
At the end of the funding or project, we will ask organisations to complete a monitoring form.
It will ask what activities the grant funded, and the impact they had on residents and neighbourhoods. You will also need to confirm its social value in terms of staffing and sustainability.
You must submit the form within a month of the project end date.
Local Neighbourhood Fund expenditure
The following data is published quarterly.
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LNF expenditure 2023-24: Quarter 1 and 2 (1st April to 30th September 2023)
Download this document: LNF expenditure 2023-24: Quarter 1 and 2 (1st April to 30th September 2023) (XLSX: 25 KB)
First published: 23/10/2023
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LNF expenditure 2023-24: Quarter 3 (1st October to 31st December 2023)
Download this document: LNF expenditure 2023-24: Quarter 3 (1st October to 31st December 2023) (XLSX: 49 KB)
First published: 19/01/2024
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LNF expenditure 2023-24: Quarter 4 (1st January to 31st March 2024)
Download this document: LNF expenditure 2023-24: Quarter 4 (1st January to 31st March 2024) (XLSX: 44 KB)
First published: 20/05/2024
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LNF expenditure 2024-25: Quarter 1 (1st April to 30th June 2024)
Download this document: LNF expenditure 2024-25: Quarter 1 (1st April to 30th June 2024) (XLSX: 44 KB)
Historic Grant Awards
The spreadsheets below show which grants were previously awarded under the old Mayoral Neighbourhood Fund, prior to 15th September 2023. This does not include goods and services purchased.
Information relating to payments of invoices for goods and services worth more than £500 are published separately on the council's transparency in local government pages.
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MNF expenditure 2022-2023
Download this document: MNF expenditure 2022-2023 (XLSX: 40 KB)
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MNF expenditure 2021-2022
Download this document: MNF expenditure 2021-2022 (XLSX: 35 KB)
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MNF expenditure 2020-2021
Download this document: MNF expenditure 2020-2021 (XLSX: 40 KB)
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MNF expenditure 2019-2020
Download this document: MNF expenditure 2019-2020 (XLSX: 36 KB)