Anglian Water operates at the heart of the community, and its employees live locally too, so they’re committed to making this region a great place to live and work.

The coronavirus pandemic has shown that community has never been more important, and that’s why Anglian Water created The Anglian Water Positive Difference Fund. It is providing grants to support projects which have a positive impact on the people and communities it serves, allowing it to provide help and connecting people with the practical and essential support they need.

The fund is open to constituted community organisations throughout Norfolk, which are supporting vulnerable, isolated and older people at this time.

It will provide community organisations with funding to deal with continuing issues in the community as a result of the impact of coronavirus.  This will include; financial hardship, potential for hunger, lack of shelter, access to education, further exacerbation of health issues, loneliness and isolation.

Grants of up to £10,000 are available. 

In exceptional circumstances a larger grant may be considered. Please contact the Grants Team before applying.

Criteria:

To be eligible for funding, your project must support those in vulnerable circumstances, or those who are considered high risk (including those with pre-existing medical conditions and older people over 60) and help to:

• Meet emerging needs resulting from the pandemic, especially for people who are at higher risk or find themselves in vulnerable circumstances as a result.
• Support projects that have a positive impact on people and communities in the region Anglian Water serves.
• Connect people, especially the most vulnerable, with the practical and essential support they need.
• Support communities to recover from the impact of the pandemic.
• Support community assets, local charities and community groups to adapt and (re)build, empowering communities from the ground up.

Eligibility:

Applications are invited from constituted not-for-profit groups with an associated bank account into which funds can be transferred.

If the applicant is an unincorporated voluntary body or not-for-profit Limited Company with an annual income over £5,000, in order to be eligible for a grant, it will need to be one of the recognised not-for-profit structures listed below:
– Registered Charity
– Exempt Charity
– Excepted Charity
– Community Interest Company (CIC)
– Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
– Community Amateur Sports Club

If the group is a registered charity its submissions to the Charity Commission must be up to date.

What can be supported within the fund themes?

• Running costs for organisations to provide support in line with the eligibility criteria, including volunteer expenses, staff costs, and transport; providing the organisation is focusing its attention on providing support to both existing, and any potential new beneficiaries.
• Capital costs, providing the capital item will address the priorities of the fund, and is linked to keeping older people or those in vulnerable circumstances connected to the outside world.
• Continuation of projects that are proving to work well.

The Anglian Water Positive Difference Fund will not fund the following:

• Organisational structures not listed, or projects which are not wholly charitable in purpose
• Activities or projects which have already taken place (i.e. retrospective funding)
• Sponsored events, fundraising activities or grant-making activities or bodies
• Improvements to land/buildings that are not open to the general public at convenient hours
• Projects promoting political activities, lobbying for causes, or promoting a religion
• Animal welfare projects or overseas aid.

The fund will not support applications for:

• Individuals
• Purchase of vehicles
• Holiday schemes
• Events, parties, trips and initiatives based upon mass gatherings
• Work which does not directly benefit people living in the Anglian Water area
• Work normally funded from statutory sources.

Timescale for decision making

Panel decisions are expected by the end of March 2021.  Grants must be spent by 31 March 2022.

Please direct any queries to grants@norfolkfoundation.com to help us respond quickly while working remotely.