Decision details

To allocate £225k of COMF funding to both extend and broaden the scope of the current Community Champions activity funded through the MHCLG Community Champions grant.

RESOLVED - That: To allocate £225k of COMF funding to the extension and expansion of the Community Champions programme through additional grants to VCFSE anchor organisations and grass roots community groups. With £66k allocated to extending investments in the current anchor organisation activity until March 2022, £33k allocated to extending the small grants programme until March 2022 and £125k allocated to anchor investments which enable the network to reach a broader range of communities affected by Covid19.

Option 1 - To allocate £225k of COMF funding to the extension and expansion of the Community Champions programme through additional grants to VCFSE anchor organisations and grass roots community groups. With £66k allocated to extending investments in the current anchor organisation activity until March 2022, £33k allocated to extending the small grants programme until March 2022 and £125k allocated to anchor investments which enable the network to reach a broader range of communities affected by Covid19.
Option 2 - Not to allocate the COMF funding set out this report. This will mean that funded Community Champions activity with end 31st December 2021 and will reduce capacity to continue to engage with communities and mean there is less time to embed and sustain the Community Engagement Network. It will also mean there is no specific investment in capacity in organisations able to support and engage with communities affected by Covid19 who are not within the scope of the MHCLG grant.

Option 2 - Not to allocate the COMF funding set out this report. This will mean that funded Community Champions activity with end 31st December 2021 and will reduce capacity to continue to engage with communities and mean there is less time to embed and sustain the Community Engagement Network. It will also mean there is no specific investment in capacity in organisations able to support and engage with communities affected by Covid19 who are not within the scope of the MHCLG grant.

The Community Champions Steering Group, Director of Public Health, Action Together and Director of Communities and Reform have been consulted in the development of this paper.