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:

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
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
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.