We have relaunched our Community Grants programme, offering grants of up to £1,000 to support local groups and organisations making a positive difference in communities across the City of Sunderland.
The refreshed programme reflects feedback from customers, who told us they wanted to see an increased budget to allow organisations working in their local communities to do more. Customers also highlighted the importance of making applications more accessible, particularly by enabling groups to apply easily online.
Designed to be clearer, fairer and easier to plan around, the new programme introduces a two‑month application cycle, giving community groups greater certainty about when to apply and when decisions will be made.
Community Grants are available to community and voluntary groups, local charities, social enterprises and residents’ associations working in Gentoo neighbourhoods. Funded projects must benefit Gentoo customers and help improve local communities.
Grants can be used to support a wide range of activity, including:
- Community projects and events
- Youth‑led projects
- Inclusion initiatives tackling digital, social or financial exclusion
- Environmental improvements
- Health and wellbeing projects
Under the new process, applications open on the first day of each application month and close at 11:59pm on the final day of the month. All applications are then reviewed by a Customer Panel, with decisions shared by the end of the following month.
We have a long history of supporting community‑led activity, with Community Grants previously funding projects such as children and young people’s clubs, community gardens, wellbeing initiatives and local resident groups.
Brenda Naisby, Customer Panel member, said: “As customers, we know first‑hand how important community‑led projects are. Being part of the panel means local people have a real say in which projects receive funding and how that money is used.
“The refreshed Community Grants programme makes the process clearer and fairer, while still focusing on what matters most, supporting projects that make a genuine difference to people living in Gentoo communities."
The relaunch reflects our wider commitment to strong, inclusive communities and to supporting local people to shape the places where they live.
We are committed to the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion, with a zero‑tolerance approach to discrimination, bullying or harassment. Communities are stronger when they are inclusive, and funded projects are expected to reflect these values.
Applications are now open, and groups can apply online.
