Public Health small grants

Who can apply?

The small grants scheme is open to charities and VCS organisations based in North Tyneside, especially those working at grassroots and local community level across a wide range of activities.

Larger or national organisations will normally not be considered under this scheme. Applications from grant-making charities will not be accepted.

What will small grants fund?

The scheme can fund the following:

• Core costs (e.g. staffing, room hire, publicity)
• Essential equipment
• Other non-capital items

The scheme cannot fund the following:

• Feasibility or research studies
• Religious activity or activities promoting religion (religious organisations or places of worship must clearly separate religious and non-religious activity in their accounts and application)

A successful grant offer will be valid for the period stated in the grant call-out.

How much you can apply for

The amount of funding available varies depending on the nature of the grant. Details of available funding will be shared in each Public Health small grants call-out.

When you can apply

Deadlines for submissions will be included in the Public Health small grants call-out. The application form is available online, if you cannot complete the online application for any reason, please email PHsmallgrants@northtyneside.gov.uk. 

Notification times for successful or unsuccessful applications will be included in each call-out. If you submitted a previous application which was declined, you are welcome to re-apply for future Public Health small grants opportunities.

Other important information

If a grant is awarded, it can only be used for expenditure or purchases made after the grant is approved. The scheme does not support retrospective funding.

Organisations must apply for funding for their own activities, not on behalf of another organisation. The applying organisation must take full responsibility for managing and delivering any funded project or service.

The scheme is unlikely to support charities that have built up considerable unrestricted reserves.

Safeguarding

All organisations applying for a Public Health small grant must have considered their safeguarding responsibilities and have appropriate policies and procedures in place.

If your organisation works with children or adults at risk, your safeguarding approach must include:

• Clear safeguarding policies and procedures that align with local authority safeguarding arrangements
• Regular safeguarding training for all staff and volunteers
• A designated safeguarding lead
• Processes for handling concerns, complaints, or allegations
• Clear policies on when DBS checks are required and how information is managed

Organisations must follow all relevant legislation and government guidance on safeguarding. Safeguarding policies must be provided with your application and may be assessed as part of the decision process.

As per Charity Commission guidance, if the charity works with children or adults at risk, it must:

• Establish good safeguarding policies and procedures that all trustees, staff and volunteers follow, which fit with the policies and procedures of the local authority safeguarding partner or safeguarding children or adult’s board
• Make sure all staff and volunteers receive regular training on child protection or working with adults at risk
• Appoint a safeguarding lead to work with the local authority safeguarding boards and / or create a plan for responding to concerns overseas
• Manage concerns, complaints, whistleblowing, and allegations relating to child protection or adults at risk effectively
• Have clear policies when DBS checks are required, how you assess the level of check needed and how you handle the information

Organisations must follow relevant legislation and guidance (please refer to the government guidance for safeguarding and protecting people for charities and trustees for more information). Safeguarding policies must be shared at the point of application and may be declined if the safeguarding policies do not meet the required standard.

Your application

If your application is successful, you will need to provide evidence of the following documents and policies:

Organisational policies and governance:

• Business continuity plan
• Complaints procedure
• Freedom of information policy
• Information governance policy
• No smoking policy
• Health and safety policy
• Equality and diversity policy
• Data protection and confidentiality policy
• Risk assessment and management
• Sudden untoward incidents policy

Safeguarding and staffing:

• Safeguarding policy for adults and children
• Recruitment policy
• Disciplinary and grievance procedures
• Bullying and harassment policy
• Supervision and appraisal process
• Training and development policy
• Code of conduct for staff and volunteers
• Evidence that staff have a current DBS certificate

Financial information:

• Latest signed accounts
• Income and expenditure figures for the last financial year (if applicable)
• Current annual budget
• Budget for the year in which the grant is requested
• Copy of the latest bank statement

Insurance:

Organisations must have suitable insurance in place for the proposed project. This includes Public and Employers’ Liability as a minimum and may also include Professional Indemnity and/or motor insurance depending on the service being provided. Copies of insurance documents will be requested if successful.