St James Street Big Local is seeking to grant funding to projects to celebrate and invest in the local area and an engaging legacy commission to celebrate and invest in the local area beyond the lifespan of the Big Local itself in March 2026.
St James Street Big Local are really passionate about providing the best services and opportunities for the local area and its residents. We are particularly aware of the disparity that many people in our area are facing as the cost of living continues to widen gaps and we are very keen to support those who would benefit most with the opportunity to have the support and services they need as part of the legacy of the partnership’s work in the area.
Background to the Legacy Project:
The St. James Street Big Local (SJSBL) partnership seeks to address the challenges of disability, social isolation, and poverty within the community.
We have identified the challenges in the area using local insight data [OCS} and our local knowledge as residents of the area:
Disability:
Currently, there is minimal provision for disability support in the St. James Street Big Local area. We aim to bridge this gap by working to provide comprehensive support to individuals and families with disabilities. Currently there is very little to no provision, hence why this is our first priority. There are some small groups that have formed around this lack of provision that could be engaged with and supported as part of our legacy and we would expect any organisation seeking to work in our area would connect with them.
Social Isolation:
A significant portion of our community, particularly the elderly and young people leaving care, face social isolation. Our goal is to combat this issue by working to implement initiatives that foster community connection and support networks in the area.
Poverty:
In the St. James Street Big Local area, a significant challenge arises from the prevalence of residents living in deprived conditions. Local Insight Data reveals that 2899 individuals reside in neighbourhoods ranked among the most deprived 20% in England, with 540 children coming from low-income families. This challenge is compounded by factors such as high rents, which disproportionately affect lone parents and lower-wage workers. Food and fuel poverty are pervasive issues, exacerbating disparities within the community. Addressing these challenges requires targeted support and resources, especially for children and young people who are particularly vulnerable in such circumstances.
Make it stand out.
The outcomes we hope to achieve within each area from the Reachout St James Street Scheme is as follows:
The Commission:
We are seeking to commission groups committed to working with local residents, with at least 75% of beneficiaries residing in the SJSBL area (1.1 to left) . The funding awarded should address one or more of the identified priorities: disability, poverty, or social isolation.
Commission objectives:
We are looking for projects of scale that are long-term and have a lifespan beyond 2026. We are preferably looking at supporting organisations that already have a track record of quality service delivery to capacity build to ensure they can widen and deepen their support for residents in the local community.
While we are able to provide a list of key contacts and services in the area, our capacity is limited so we would be seeking organisations that can take a lead and build the necessary relationships. We can signpost and support through our social media and community networks. Our ambition is to invest in people rather than physical assets.
We are looking for sustainable, regular and trusted services such as drop ins, community support groups etc to be put in place so we can ensure people in the community feel heard and can access other services and support (via signposting) that would benefit their lives.
The 3 areas we identified above are the priorities that we would like organisations to apply to support the area with. This is a hyper-local grant scheme so we advise that applicants work to understand and connect with the designated area and the communities in it for the lead up and duration of the project and beyond.
Disability
We want to enhance provision for disabled individuals and their families in the St. James Street Big Local Area.
Social Isolation
Engage with socially isolated residents of the St. James Street Big Local Area, facilitating inclusive and accessible activities while ensuring diverse and focused engagement throughout the community.
Poverty
Address the needs of those living in poverty, striving to improve their situation and wellbeing.
TO APPLY
Please provide a written outline proposal no longer than 4 sides of A4 including:
Project rational, aims and objectives explaining how the priorities will be met and a lasting legacy provided.
Proposed schedule and budget.
Outline of how you will ensure that you will support 75% of our local community with your project.
Examples of previous work
Evidencing impact and outcome,
2 x References ( Financial, character reference, past funding)
to
Legacy@stjamesstreetbiglocal.co.uk by 14th June 2024 by 17:00pm