Barnet Community Innovation Fund

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About the fund

This fund is currently closed. We will update this page when it is re-opened.

The Community Innovation Fund (CIF) is for Barnet-based voluntary and community projects that aim to improve health and wellbeing in the borough.

Launched in spring 2021, the fund builds on the partnership work between Barnet Council, the voluntary sector and the CCG during the COVID-19 community response. It is formed through Barnet Borough Partnership.

Nearly £580,000 has been invested in over 40 local projects that are helping Barnet residents improve their health and wellbeing.

CIF is funded by the Barnet Integrated Care Partnership (Local NHS acute and community trusts, North Central London CCG and Barnet Council). It is co-designed with Barnet Together, which is the borough’s voluntary sector partnership.

The Barnet Community Innovation Fund is built on the principle that when residents, voluntary sector organisations and the public sector all work together, the benefit to our residents is greater and it creates culture of community innovation.

This autumn 2022, £240,000 is available for local, innovative project that focus on the cost of living crisis and its impact on health of our residents.

The fund’s objectives

The fund’s key objectives are to support:

  • the range of early intervention and prevention projects
  • the development of stronger and more resilient sector
  • the development of collaborative partnerships
  • residents most disproportionately impacted by health inequalities

Funding levels of the CIF

Projects can be funded with

  • Small grant (up to £2,000)
  • Start up grant (up to £10,000)
  • Big idea grant (£10,000 - £65,000)

Who can apply for the fund?

To apply for the Community Innovation Fund, you must be a:

  • registered charity
  • charitable incorporated organisation (CIO)
  • community interest company limited by guarantee (CIC)
  • company limited by guarantee
  • constituted community group
  • constituted but unincorporated club or association
  • community benefit society
  • social enterprise

All projects must:

  • be based in Barnet
  • take place between January 2023 and February 2024
  • start within 2 months of receiving the grant
  • run for 6 to 12 months

We are particularly encouraging applications benefiting communities with poorer health outcomes.

Costs that aren’t covered by the fund

The fund doesn’t cover:

  • ongoing financial support once the project has ended
  • payments for the project or purchases that have already happened
  • profit making or fundraising activities

Projects that aren’t covered by the fund

The fund doesn’t cover:

  • project activities the council are responsible for
  • projects put forward by a public sector body for example, a school or a GP surgery
  • projects promoting political or faith activities
  • individual applicants

Previous applicants can re-apply but resubmitted projects that have been turned down before, are unlikely to be funded.

How to apply

The fund is currently closed.

We will update this page when it is re-opened.

Help with your application

Before applying, you must have the following details to support your CIF form application:

  • contact details of 2 key people (trustee, director or a member of your management team)
  • organisation registration number
  • annual operating budget or turnover figure
  • organisation governing document (constitution, company articles of association for Community Interest Groups or Social Enterprises)
  • safeguarding policy or statement if you are working directly with vulnerable service users

If you’re applying for more than £2000, you will need:

  • last submitted annual accounts
  • a bank statement showing organisation name, address, sort code and account number

Check our privacy notice before you apply.

How your application is assessed

All projects are assessed against funding priorities, expected outcomes and the panel will seek evidence of:

  • value for money
  • projects designed for local need and users
  • projects that don’t overlap with existing or planned public sector provision
  • services can be tailored to resident’s needs
  • providing insight into resident’s needs
  • involving beneficiaries in the design and running of services
  • being inclusive and diverse
  • meeting the needs of our most vulnerable residents

All decisions on grants are final.

Key dates for the CIF

  • applications open Monday 31 October
  • application deadline 5pm on Wednesday 30 November
  • decisions will be made within 8 weeks of the closing dates
  • applicants should be notified by 16 January

Help with your application

Barnet Together (Young Barnet Foundation, Inclusion Barnet and Volunteering Barnet) can help you with your grant application form.

For help with:

Guidance documents