Apply to be on our Year 5 Community Grant Panel

We are on the lookout for passionate, community-focused people who have knowledge and zeal for the London Boroughs of Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Newham to join our Year 5 independent grant decision-making panel, as part of our Westfield East Bank Creative Futures Fund.

We need you to help decide how our pre-shortlisted applications are assessed against the grant criteria and awarded to the grassroots organisations improving the community and lives of people in these boroughs.

To push our participatory grant-making approach further across Year 5, we are also seeking your support in co-designing (and co-evaluating) our co-missioning approach for several larger strategic partnership commissions of up to £50,000, which will open for applications later in 2024, focusing on themes such as safer community spaces.

You will be playing an important part of supporting Foundation for Future London and will help us to make sure the Westfield East Bank Creative Futures Fund is transparent and accountable to the communities we serve.

The deadline to apply is Monday 30 September 2024.

Please read on for more information about the role, our Fund and our work.

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More Information

Your involvement will benefit and empower local people to transform your communities.

The grants panel plays an essential role in making funding decisions. They are responsible for reviewing applications for financial support from local voluntary organisations and charities, and collectively making decisions on which community projects will be awarded funding via a grant to achieve positive benefits for the community.

A good panel requires a team of people who share knowledge and understanding of the local areas. Panel members can come from all walks of life, the one common factor is that each member has an active interest in the community. Ideally, members will represent a good cross-section of the local community, and we are keen to hear from anyone with a passion for the local area and those that are keen to see funding make a real difference.

We’re looking for 1 individual from each of the four East London boroughs that we work across (Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Waltham Forest) who either live or have a strong connection to that borough. No experience of grant-making is needed but they must have local expertise, passion for their community, who are supportive and understanding to the complex needs of the community, can be objective and are willing to express their opinions respectfully.

We expect community panellists to commit an initial 5 days (36 hours) to participate fully in the process and hold basic IT skills as there will be documents sent and reviewed electronically before the panel meets in person.

Skills, expertise and/or lived experience in the following areas are sought:

• Arts, Culture, Heritage
• Skills & Jobs
• Business & Start Up
• Community
• Creative Ideas
• Digital
• Collaboration
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Intergenerational
• Health, Wellbeing & Environment
• Education
• Creative, Inclusive Public Realm and/or Placemaking

PLEASE NOTE:

• If you are an existing grantee or have either successfully/unsuccessfully applied for funding in the past, you are still eligible to join the grants panel. However, you must declare this at the application stage.
• If you are connected to or are working for a local organisation that may be applying for funding, you are still eligible to join the grants panel. However, you must declare any interest and you will not be eligible to be present for any discussion or decision-making on that application.

What Will Be Provided

Training sessions and socials/networking will be provided for all panel members. This will cover the funding guidance and shortlisting criteria along with details of grant marking, awarding examples and case studies of grants previously awarded. 121 support from the team will continually be provided where needed.

Applicants must have their own access to IT eg laptop or tablet.

All panel members will be paid £900 for their time and commitment. This will be via BACS transfer to a chosen account. You are responsible for paying tax on the fee, if relevant. Alternative methods may be discussed eg this can be in cash or vouchers, depending on individual preference.

Childcare costs may also be discussed if needed.

On appointment, you will be provided with our safeguarding policy, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy and contract.

How to Apply and Timeline

If you think you have the lived experience and the passion we are looking forward, we would be thrilled to hear from you.

To apply please provide no more than 1 side of A4 explaining:

• your motivation for applying
• which borough you are connected to
• your skills and knowledge, and your lived experience and characteristics that would make you a strong asset to sit on a community panel.

Please send your application to grants@future.london.

Your application should cover any additional support needs, you may require and all previous life experiences.

If you would like to apply in a different manner such as a video application, please get in touch with the team.

Following shortlisting of applications, we may arrange for a follow-up informal call with 1-2 members of the team to discuss your application.

If you would like to arrange an initial call before this, please email: ashtonmullins@future.london

Timeline

Deadline for applications: Monday 30 September 2024

Follow-up calls: week commencing 7 October 2024

Appointment: week commencing 14 October 2024

Proposed dates for training, networking, panel meetings to be confirmed with panel upon appointment.