About the Special Community Events Award Fund

Luton Rising is a business and social enterprise that works in, for and is owned by the community – our sole shareholder is Luton Council. Our largest asset is London Luton Airport, and we are proud that we are owners of by far the most socially impactful airport in the country, supporting and improving lives across the communities we serve. We make a major economic contribution to our local region, and aim to be one of the greenest airports.

We are tremendously proud of our track record of success and capital investment in the fabric of our local communities. As a direct result of our public ownership, since 1998 we have provided more than £257m to support vital local front-line services, together with an additional £155m for community investment projects that have transformed the lives of tens of thousands of vulnerable people. Indeed, this level of local social impact is on a scale well beyond that of any other UK airport operator – more than 20 times.

This unique community investment programme now has an annual budget of approximately £8.5m. We also have a Community Engagement Programme to thank the people of Luton for their support of the airport. This supports community festivals such as the Luton Carnival, the Luton Mela, the Luton Fireworks and number of other annual events.

Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, a number of our community festivals couldn’t take place. To celebrate a return to our full events programme and building on the desire for hyper-local neighbourhood activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, Luton Rising has established an event community award fund for 2022 to support hyper-local neighbourhood activity such as street parties, community wards events, fetes etc.

How much funding is available?

The budget set aside is £100,000, and the proposal is to run three award rounds. Applicants can apply for up to £10,000. The full criteria and guidance is set out below. The aim of the fund is to provide awards for projects run by community groups based in, or working for, the benefit of people in Luton. Projects which already receive funds from Luton Rising are not eligible to apply.

Who or what will the event fund?

  • The fund will accept bids from groups across Luton who wish to organise events in their local community.
  • Event organisers will need to demonstrate a safe and good-quality community event that is free for the residents of Luton.
  • It should deliver an inclusive event that celebrates heritage and diversity and promotes intercultural exchange and understanding.
  • The event should positively promote the ward and Luton as a desirable place to live, work and play.

Alongside this, the event will promote Luton Rising in all event promotional materials and advertisements and at the event itself by ensuring that Luton Rising is acknowledged through the use of logos and acknowledgements on all flyers, posters, printed advertisements and advertisements and during press appearances on radio and television.

What other criteria apply?
  • 1. That their work directly contrib-utes to the achievement of at least one of the above criteria and can clearly be supported with evidence and examples of the need and how this will be achieved with outcomes (needed for large and small applications).
  • 2. Within the proposal, it clearly sets out how it will meet the needs and raise the profile of Luton Rising.
  • 3. Need to be able to demonstrate how they have proven the need for the event and what this will deliver locally. (Needed for large and small applications)
  • 4. That they have the capacity, knowledge, skills, resources and ability to deliver the event success-fully. (Needed for large and small applications)
  • 5. That they are correctly governed and follow their constitution at all times (Larger applications).
  • 6. Strong financial management and in good financial health (Larger applications).
  • 7. At all times committed to the promotion of equality, cohesion and inclusion, both within its group and across the community as a whole and that this is demonstrated through the way it plans and delivers its activities. (Needed for large and small applications)
  • 8. That its estimate of the funding required to deliver its activities is realistic and reasonable and repre-sents good value for money.

    (Needed for large and small applications)

  • 9. Has an adequate complaints procedure. (Larger applications).
  • 10. Clear safeguarding policy ensuring young children and the vulnerable are protected at all times.(Needed for large and small applica-tions)
  • 11. Demonstrable track record of partnership working with others working in the same, similar or complementary field of activity.
  • 12. Acknowledge that they cannot expect continued funding from the Luton Rising Events fund and that it has a track record of, wherever possible, seeking funds from different sources and should make every effort to become sustainable, and has a clear exit strategy for dealing with a situation where funding stops.

    (Needed for large and small applications)

  • 13. Applications will receive a higher weighting if they can demonstrate that they are a group with strong links in the community and have a permanent base in it.

  • 14. All applicants will need to provide the following documents:

    • A governing document that outlines the objects and powers of the group (only for large applications)
    • An equal opportunities policy (only for large applications but must demonstrate their understanding of equal opportunities in the smaller application)
    • A safeguarding policy (for both if involves children)
    • A most recent set of annual accounts or, for groups operating for less than twelve months, a budget or estimate of income and spend for the year ahead and a development or business plan if one is in place. (Only for large applications)
    • A complaints policy. (Only for large applications)
Co-Financing

The funds available from this scheme are limited and, in today’s economic climate, all applicants must be able to demonstrate that they are seeking funds from a wide range of sources and through their own efforts.

Groups which have sourced match funding will be looked on more favourably. This match funding can include any combination of the following:

  1. Income from the group’s own fundraising efforts;
  2. Awards from other charitable trusts and organisations
  3. Income from beneficiaries, either through subscriptions, payment for services (if appropriate)
  4. The value of benefits in kind (e.g. provision of free advice, donated materials etc.);
  5. Volunteer programme
Who/what will the fund not support?
  • 1. Applications from profit making organisations.
  • 2. Applicants where those benefit-ting do not live within Luton.
  • 3. Organisations or activities that promote political parties, terrorism or the propagation of religion or conduct of worship. Religious organisations may apply for funding for non-denominational activities that demonstrate wider public benefit.
  • 4. National or regional charities, except where funding is demonstrably targeted locally.
  • 5. Bids from statutory services or projects that would otherwise be funded from statutory sources.
  • 6. Retrospective funding (money that has already been spent).
  • 7. The Award fund will not support applications where more than 30-50 per cent is on staff costs (dependant on project).
Application and Award Procedures
  • 1. Only requests for funding on the official application forms will be considered. The forms can be downloaded in the form section below or from the web page at www.luton.gov.uk/lutonrisingeventfund or can be requested by e-mail (luke.dwyer@luton.gov.uk)

  • 2. Please make sure that copies of all supporting documents are included with the application
  • 3. On receipt of the completed application we will advise of an announcement date and follow up with any points of clarification.
  • 4. The panel is made up from representatives of Luton Rising, Luton Council and theArts and Culture Strategy group.
  • 5. All applications will be checked against the fund’s criteria and only those that clearly meet the criteria will be presented to the panel. The funders reserve the right to decline or accept any application according to the decision of the awards panel. There is no right of appeal against any decision made.
  • 6. The decision of the awards panel will be notified to you within two weeks of its meeting.
  • 7. The panel have the right to close the application process at any time they see fit (for example when commitments for that year have reached the allocated pot or if there are a large number of applications in for review).
Assistance

If you have any difficulties in completing the forms please contact Luke Dwyer (Luke.Dwyer@luton.gov.uk)

Application deadlines are:
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With thanks to the vision and support of our Love Luton Sponsors