Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund - Application Questions

Section 1 - Your project

Please tell us about your project in this section. This is the most important section when it comes to making a decision about whether you will receive funding.

Question	Guidance
What is the name of your project?	The project name should be simple and to the point.
Where will your project take place?	If your project covers more than one area please tell us where most of it will take place. Select a location Select a location East and West Midlands Derbyshire Herefordshire Leicestershire Lincolnshire (except North and North East Lincolnshire) Northamptonshire Nottinghamshire Rutland Shropshire Staffordshire Warwickshire West Midlands Worcestershire London, South East and East of England Bedfordshire Berkshire Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire East Sussex Essex Greater London Hampshire Hertfordshire Kent Norfolk Oxfordshire Peterborough Suffolk Surrey West Sussex the Isle of Wight North East & Cumbria Cleveland County Durham Cumbria Darlington Middlesbrough Northumberland Stockton on Tees Tyne and Wear North West Cheshire Greater Manchester Lancashire Merseyside South West Bath and North East Somerset Bournemouth Bristol Cornwall Devon Dorset Gloucestershire Isles of Scilly North Somerset Plymouth Poole Somerset South Gloucestershire Swindon Torbay Wiltshire Yorkshire and Humber North Yorkshire South Yorkshire West Yorkshire Humber
Tell us all the locations the project will run in	In your own words, describe all of the locations that you’ll be running your project in. For example, ‘West Yorkshire’, 'Salford' or ‘Almondsbury’.
What is the postcode of where your project will take place?	If your project will take place across different locations, please use the postcode of the building or address where most of the project will take place. You must provide the full postcode. If you do not know the postcode, you can use the Royal Mail Postcode Finder to try and find it.
Tell us the total cost of your project	This is the cost of everything related to your project, even things you're not asking us to fund. For example: If you're asking us for £50,000 and you're getting £20,000 from another funder to cover additional costs, your total project cost is £70,000. If you're asking us for £50,000 and there are no other costs, your total project cost is £50,000. We do not need to know where the rest of your funding's coming from right now.
How much money do you want from us?
Tell us when you'd like to get the money if you're awarded funding?	Don't worry, this can be an estimate. For example, 21-03-2025
When will you spend the money by?	You have until the 31st March 2024 to spend the money.
What would you like to do?	We want to fund front-line organisations that: serve communities facing severe challenges because of the increased cost of living and have increased demand for their services and increased costs in running them. Tell us: How the increasing cost of living has affected your organisation including the increase in the: demand for your services and cost of delivering your services. What you’d like funding for for example: the core costs of running your service if you’ll use the funding to continue your existing service, or adapt or expand your service. We can fund both. But we cannot fund a totally new service. Our website has more information on what you can spend the money on. What kind of critical service you’ll provide. We can only fund projects delivering at least one of the following critical services: food and emergency supplies – like food and baby banks or the provision of hot meals, clothes or toiletries emergency shelter – like night shelters or other accommodation for people experiencing homelessness safe spaces – like domestic abuse services and youth services warmth – like warm rooms and spaces financial and housing advice – like giving people advice because of the increased cost of living. What difference your work will make. How you will keep this work going after our funding ends. You can write between 50 and 800 words for this section.
How does your idea fit in with other local activities?	Tell us: what relationships and links you already have in the community that will help you deliver the work about any gaps in local services your work will fill what other local activities your work will complement. You can write between 50 and 500 words for this section.
How does your project involve your community?	By community we mean people living in the same local area. Tell us: how your work will benefit low-income households and individuals how you understand what your local community needs And how you’ve used this to decide how you’ll work. how the community in your local area is involved in your work Like how they are involved in your organisation and get to have a say in how you work. You can write between 50 and 500 words for this section.
Tell us why your organisation is the right one to manage this project	Tell us: briefly about your organisation and the work it does how your organisation’s experience and connections mean it is best placed to deliver this work how this funding would help your organisation how your organisation makes sure the work you deliver is inclusive and accessible, so that everyone who could benefit or get involved can do so if you’re working with vulnerable people. And if so, whether your organisation has appropriate safeguarding measures in place. You can write between 50 and 700 words for this section.

Section 2 - Your organisation

Please tell us about your organisation, including legal name and registered address. This helps us understand the type of organisation you are.

Question	Guidance
What is the full legal name of your organisation?	This must be as shown on your governing document. Your governing document could be called one of several things, depending on the type of organisation you're applying on behalf of. It might be called a constitution, trust deed, memorandum and articles of association, or something else entirely. You might find it on a registration website - for example, Companies House or a Charities Register.
Does your organisation use a different name in its day-to-day work?	This is how you might be known if you're not just known by your legal name (the legal name is on your governing document or registration website). Yes No
What is the name your organisation uses in its day-to-day work?	This is how you might be known if you're not just known as .
What is the organisation's postcode? (Optional)	For example, EC4A 1DE
Building and street
Address line 2 (Optional)
Town or city
County (Optional)
Postcode
When was your organisation set up?	This is the date your organisation took on its current legal status. It should be on your governing document. If you do not know the exact date, it can be an approximate date. For example, 26-12-2024
How many people in England does your whole organisation directly support in a typical year?	We’re not looking for how many people your specific project will support - we’ll ask for that at the end of the grant.
How many volunteers do you have in your whole organisation?	We’re not looking for the number of volunteers you’ll work with on this project specifically - we’ll ask for that at the end of the grant.
How many full-time equivalent staff work for your whole organisation?	To help you give us an idea, full-time hours are usually around 37 hours per week. So, to find out how many full-time equivalent staff you have, you need to divide the total number of hours worked by staff at your organisation by 37.
What percentage of your leadership (for example, senior management team, board, committee) have 'lived experience' of the issues you're trying to address? (Optional)	When we say lived experience, we mean organisations led by people who have lived through challenges the organisation is trying to tackle. For example: a charity working with care experienced people being led by people who have been in care an organisation working with disabled people being led by disabled people an organisation that works in or with particular Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities having a leadership team that reflects those communities an organisation that provides support to people affected by autism where someone from the organisation has a family member with autism.
What type of organisation are you?	If you're both a charity and a company - just pick ‘Not-for-profit company’ below. Unregistered voluntary or community organisation Not-for-profit company Registered charity (unincorporated) Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO or SCIO) Community Interest Company (CIC) Faith-based group School Statutory body College or University
Companies House number
Charity registration number (Optional)
Charity registration number
Department for Education number
Tell us what type of statutory body you are	Parish Council Town Council Local Authority NHS Trust/Health Authority Prison Service Fire Service Police Authority
What is your accounting year end date?	For example, 31 03
What is your total income for the year?	Use whole numbers only, like 12000.

Section 3 - Senior contact

Provide the details of your senior contact. They’ll be legally responsible for the funding. They can’t be married to, in a civil partnership with, in a long-term relationship with, living with, or related to the main contact or through a long-term partner.

Question	Guidance
What is the role of the senior contact?	You already told us what sort of organisation you are. So the senior contact role options we're giving you now are based on your organisation type. Unregistered voluntary organisation Chair Vice-Chair Secretary Treasurer Company Company Director Company Secretary Registered Charity Trustee Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO or SCIO) Trustee Chief Executive Officer Community Interest Company (CIC) Company Director Company Secretary School Head Teacher College or University Chancellor Vice-chancellor Statutory Bodies Parish Council Parish Clerk Deputy Parish Clerk Town Council Elected Member Chair Local Authority Chair Chief Executive Director NHS Trust/Health Authority Chief Executive Director Faith-based group Chair Vice-Chair Secretary Treasurer Religious leader (eg. rabbi, imam, vicar) Registered Charity and Not-for-profit Company Company Director Company Secretary School or educational body and Charity Trustee School or educational body and Company Company Director Company Secretary
What is the role of the senior contact?	You already told us what sort of organisation you are. So the senior contact role options we're giving you now are based on your organisation type.
First name (in full)	This cannot be a shortened name, initial or nickname.
Last name
What is the senior contact's date of birth?	We need their date of birth to do an identity check. If it's entered incorrectly, it could delay your application. For example, 30 03 1980
What is the senior contact's postcode? (Optional)	For example, EC4A 1DE
Building and street
Address line 2 (Optional)
Town or city
County (Optional)
Postcode
Have they lived at the address, for the last three years?	Yes No
What is the senior contact's postcode at their previous address?	For example, EC4A 1DE
Building and street
Address line 2 (Optional)
Town or city
County (Optional)
Postcode
The senior contact's email address	We’ll use this if we need to get in touch with the senior contact about the project.
The senior contact's telephone number	We’ll use this if we need to get in touch with the senior contact about the project.
Does the senior contact have any additional communication needs? (Optional)	For example, if they need information in a specific language or format.
What language should we use to contact the senior contact?	English Welsh

Section 4 - Main contact

Please provide details for your main contact. This will be the first person we contact if we need to discuss your project.

Question	Guidance
First name (in full)	This cannot be a shortened name, initial or nickname.
Last name
What is the main contact's date of birth?	We need their date of birth to do an identity check. If it's entered incorrectly, it could delay your application. For example, 30 03 1980
What is the main contact's postcode? (Optional)	For example, EC4A 1DE
Building and street
Address line 2 (Optional)
Town or city
County (Optional)
Postcode
Have they lived at the address, for the last three years?	Yes No
What is the main contact's postcode at their previous address?	For example, EC4A 1DE
Building and street
Address line 2 (Optional)
Town or city
County (Optional)
Postcode
The main contact's email address	We’ll use this if we need to get in touch with the main contact about the project.
The main contact's telephone number	We’ll use this if we need to get in touch with the main contact about the project.
Does the main contact have any additional communication needs? (Optional)	For example, if they need information in a specific language or format.
What language should we use to contact the main contact?	English Welsh

Section 5 - Supporting documents

We need some additional financial information to help us assess your application. Please attach the following documents to this form.

Question	Guidance
Upload a copy of your latest financial accounts	File must be a PDF, PNG or JPEG and less than 20MB.
Upload a copy of your proposed budget	We need to see a budget that tells us how much money you’re looking for. And also gives us a breakdown of what costs this will cover. Our website has guidance on what you can spend the money on. You can find a budget table template in the 'what information you need to apply’ section of our website. File must be a PDF, PNG or JPEG and less than 20MB.
Upload a copy of your organisation’s current financial position	We want to know how cost of living pressures are affecting your income and spending. We also want to know what your current costs and reserves are. You can find a current financial position template in the 'what information you need to apply’ section of our website. File must be a PDF, PNG or JPEG and less than 20MB.

Section 6 - Declaration

In order to submit your application, you will need to agree to our terms and conditions.

Question	Guidance
You have been authorised by the governing body of your organisation (the board or committee that runs your organisation) to submit this application and accept the declaration on their behalf.	I agree
You have been authorised by the people named as the Main Contact and Senior Contact to include them in this proposal and to submit their details in this form to us.	I agree
You understand that if a grant is offered to your organisation it will be subject to our terms and conditions.	I agree
All the information you have provided in your application is accurate and complete; and you will notify us of any changes.	I agree
You understand that we will use any personal information you have provided for the purposes described under our Data Protection and Privacy notice.	I agree
You accept that if information about this application is requested under the Freedom of Information Act, we will release it in line with our Freedom of Information policy.	I agree
Full name of person completing this form
Position in organisation

Section 7 - Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) monitoring information

We want to hear more about the people who’ll benefit from your project and your organisation.

Question	Guidance
Is your project aimed at a specific group of people or is it open to everyone?	If at least 75% of the people you support share characteristics, then your project is for a specific group. Your specific group may share one or more characteristics. For example, if 80% of the people you work with are female refugees, this means you support a specific group of people. In this example, they share two characteristics — women and refugees. We know this can only be an estimate. It’d be too difficult to work out exactly, especially if this is a new project. My project is aimed at a specific group of people My project is open to everyone
Who is your project for?	If 75% or more of the people supported or benefitting from your project come from one specific group, tell us who they are. If you select an option, we will ask you to tell us more about that group. Communities experiencing ethnic or racial inequity, discrimination or inequality Faith communities People who emigrate Disabled people Older people (65 and over) Younger people (under 25) Women and girls LGBTQ+ people People who are educationally or economically disadvantaged Specific groups that are not included already
Which community is your project for?	Select one category, if possible Black/African/Caribbean/Black British Black British African Caribbean Any other Black/African/Caribbean background Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups White and Black Caribbean/African White and Asian Any other mixed/multiple ethnic background Asian / Asian British Asian British Indian Pakistani Bangladeshi Chinese Any other Asian background Other group experiencing ethnic or racial inequity Arab Jewish Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities Any other ethnic group
Which faith community is your project for?	Select one category, if possible Catholic Protestant Other Christian denominations Buddhist Hindu Jewish Muslim Sikh Atheist Agnostic Other faiths and beliefs
Which group of people who emigrate is your project for?	Select one category, if possible People seeking asylum People with refugee status People with irregular and undocumented status Other people who emigrate
Which group of disabled people is your project for?	Select one category, if possible Mental health Long-standing illness or health condition Mobility impairments Visual impairment/partial sight/sight loss Deaf/hard of hearing/hearing loss Speech impairment Multiple physical impairment Learning disability Learning difficulty Neurodiverse Other type of disability or impairment
Which age group is your project for?	Select one category, if possible 19-25 16-18 8-15 2-7 Under 2 years of age
Which LGBTQ+ community is your project for?	Select one category, if possible Bisexual men Bisexual women Gay men Lesbian/gay women Trans men Trans women Non-binary people LGBTQ+ people I'd describe in another way
Which specific group (that you have not included already) is your project for?	Examples include: care experienced young people, carers, people recovering from alcohol addiction, sex workers, people whose first language is not English or Welsh, people who have problems reading, men and boys
What additional EDI information would you like to include about the people your project supports? (Optional)	You told us that your project will benefit: Tell us more about who they are.
Do most of your leadership team self-identify as belonging to a specific group of people?	Tell us what specific group they belong to if at least: 75% of your board of trustees or management committee share one or more characteristics and 50% or more of senior staff share one or more characteristics. If you select an option, we will ask you to tell us more about that group. Communities experiencing ethnic or racial inequity, discrimination or inequality Faith communities People who emigrate Disabled people Older people (65 and over) Younger people (under 25) Women and girls LGBTQ+ people People who are educationally or economically disadvantaged Specific groups that are not included already No Prefer not to say
Which community is your leadership team part of?	Select one category, if possible Black/African/Caribbean/Black British Black British African Caribbean Any other Black/African/Caribbean background Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups White and Black Caribbean/African White and Asian Any other mixed/multiple ethnic background Asian / Asian British Asian British Indian Pakistani Bangladeshi Chinese Any other Asian background Other group experiencing ethnic or racial inequity Arab Jewish Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities Any other ethnic group
Which faith community is your leadership team part of?	Select one category, if possible Catholic Protestant Other Christian denominations Buddhist Hindu Jewish Muslim Sikh Atheist Agnostic Other faiths and beliefs
Which group of people who emigrate is your leadership team part of?	Select one category, if possible People seeking asylum People with refugee status People with irregular and undocumented status Other people who emigrate
Which group of disabled people is your leadership team part of?	Select one category, if possible Mental health Long-standing illness or health condition Mobility impairments Visual impairment / partial sight / sight loss Deaf / hard of hearing / hearing loss Speech impairment Multiple physical impairment Learning disability Learning difficulty Neurodiverse Other type of disability or impairment
Which age group is your leadership team part of?	Select one category, if possible 19-25 16-18 8-15 2-7 Under 2 years of age
Which LGBTQ+ community is your leadership team part of?	Select one category, if possible Bisexual men Bisexual women Gay men Lesbian / gay women Trans men Trans women Non-binary people LGBTQ+ people I'd describe in another way
Which specific group (that you have not included already) is your leadership team part of?	Examples include: care experienced young people, carers, people recovering from alcohol addiction, sex workers, people whose first language is not English or Welsh, people who have problems reading, men and boys
What additional EDI information would you like to include about your leadership team? (Optional)	You told us that your leadership team self-identify as: Tell us more about who they are.

Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund - Application Summary

Section 1 - Your project

Tell us:

Tell us:

Tell us:

Tell us:

Section 2 - Your organisation

Section 3 - Senior contact

Section 4 - Main contact

Section 5 - Supporting documents

Section 6 - Declaration

Section 7 - Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) monitoring information