Welcome Spaces Funding

Welcome Spaces Grants

The Welcome Spaces Grant aims to enhance and develop an organisation’s space further to its current use so that residents can access support, connect with others and enjoy a safe and warm place throughout winter without judgement.  

This year, the grant has increased from £2000 to £4000 allowing groups to offer more support, reach more residents and create welcoming spaces that make a real difference throughout the colder months.

How much funding is available?  

Up to £4000 and there is no minimum amount. can be submitted until the 1st of March 2027, or until the funding has been devolved.  Please ensure that the amount you request in your application reflects the local need and the number of families and individuals that you plan to support. It is important that you tell us which Doncaster ward will benefit.

Who can apply?

  • Not-for profit voluntary or community organisations
  • Registered charities
  • Faith-based organisations
  • Not-for profit companies, Community Interest Companies CIC* or social enterprises

*We will only fund CIC’s that are limited by Guarantee, not those Limited by Shares.

Funding Criteria

This grant was designed to support Voluntary Community Faith Sector to respond to on-going cost of living affects, and fuel poverty across Doncaster. Successful applications will provide a warm, safe and comfortable space with information and guidance on how to stay warm over the colder months, signpost to existing support and reduce social isolation.

This year there is a focus on providing food security through the colder months to support residents in the long term, link with local organisations e.g. The Bread-and-Butter Thing and Local Food pantries. We know that many residents are facing difficult choices between heating and eating, and that access to affordable, nutritious food is essential for long‑term wellbeing. Warm Spaces should help residents stay warm but also stay well.

We are interested in applications that consider the following Welcome Spaces offer but not limited to:

- Activities for attendees that support wellbeing
- Food and/or refreshments
- Information, advice and guidance on staying warm and managing energy costs

- Reduce social isolation and help residents build lasting connections
- Other support during winter and/or the cost-of-living crisis 


For more information on Welcome Spaces, please visit: https://www.yourlifedoncaster.co.uk/welcoming-spaces

Examples of strong, inclusive approaches:

  • Soup and Roll – Purchasing soup makers to create a soup workshop, increase skills around cooking, teaching low-cost recipes and offering a shared meal on a weekly basis alongside activities that increase a person’s wellbeing. Link with foodbanks/allotments for surplus food.
  • A warm Hub and Food Pantry Partnership
  • Energy and Cost-of-living support workshops – Link with local organisations that offer support e.g. The Green Doctor
  • Culturally Inclusive Warm Spaces – Provide appropriate meals with information and guidance in multiple languages.

We encourage innovative, creative approaches that help organisations widen them

reach and bring new people into the community.

Applications will need to outline how their project encompasses the Welcome Spaces Values:

- Everyone receives a warm welcome
- Everyone is treated equally, with dignity and respect
- Everyone feels safe
- Everyone has a confidential listening ear if they want one 

Please note that Welcome Spaces funding must be for new projects and existing provision cannot be funded. 

Evidence related to any energy costs that are included in the project proposal will need to be submitted.

We are unable to fund ideas that are:

  • Not supporting residents of Doncaster.
  • For projects that are planned after 22nd March 2027
  • Activities promoting religious beliefs.
  • Political activities.
  • Goods or services that have already been purchased or ordered.
  • On-going organisational running costs.
  • Trips and holidays.
  • Costs that are already included within and funded by an existing grant or contract.
  • Endowments / loan repayments.
  • Endorsement or promotion of any form of wagering or gambling.
  • Building refurbishment work.   

How do I apply?

You can apply by completing the: Application Form

We encourage you to apply via the Microsoft Forms link however If you need support

with digital application form please speak to your local Well Doncaster Officer, they will be able

to support you to apply.

Please return the completed form together with a copy of your:

  • Governing document.
  • Most recent set of accounts showing annual turnover including bank statement within 3 months.
  • A copy of your safeguarding policies and supporting documents:
    • If you are working with children, a Level 3 Children's Safeguarding certificate will need to be submitted.
    • If you are working with adults at risk, a Level 3 Adult's Safeguarding certificate is recommended.
    • DBS - if you meet the DBS criteria, please submit a copy of your DBS details.
  • A copy of your public liability insurance.
  • Any evidence to support your application.

By email to:

sia@dclt.co.uk

By post to:

Social Isolation Alliance, The Dome, Bawtry Road, Lakeside, DN4 7PD

  
* Organisations that do not have audited financial accounts can complete the Balance Sheet and Income Statement.

- Balance Sheet (click to download)

- Income Statement (click to download)

Funding panel  

The distribution of this funding will be managed by the Social Isolation Alliance. A panel, consisting of representatives from the VCFS sector and the Local Authority, will adjudicate each application. The panel will meet fortnightly to assess the bids submitted and to agree awards. Payments will be processed promptly to allow work to be started quickly.

This fund will remain open until funding has been devolved.   

A condition of funding, and in addition to the reporting requirements, we would ask you to help us in capturing stories, experiences, and conversations about your projects and how they have impacted the people you are supporting and the wider community.    

Applications will also be considered from organisations that have been in receipt of previous funding. If you have been successful in receiving grant funding from the Social Isolation Alliance and would like to submit an application for this particular grant, previous/ongoing project performance will be considered at panel. 

The panel will review the submitted information on a case-by-case basis.  

* Successful Welcome Spaces Grant applicants will need to register their Welcome Space on the Warm Welcome Space website: https://www.warmwelcome.uk/find-a-space

Unsuccessful applications

The decision is final and there is no right of appeal. However, unsuccessful applicants will be referred to their local Well Doncaster Officer for support, and they are able to re-apply based on the support and advice they are given.

Evaluation and Celebrating Success

We want to help raise the profile of the great work that is taking place throughout Doncaster’s communities. To help us do that, all successful applicants must be willing to provide monitoring information including before and after photos and share a case study (this could be written, photos, short video etc). Evidence of all the spend will also be asked for by way of receipts. Please note this is required as part of the funding, your Well Doncaster Officer can assist you with this should you require any support in submitting these documents to us.

To help us do that, all funded projects must support Doncaster’s statutory reporting responsibilities under the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government requirements as well as:

  • A case study – this can be written content, a short video.
  • Photos – this could be videos/photos
  • Evidence of all spend - including receipts and invoices
  • Monitoring from - Provided by SIA – Training is avaliable for this l
  • Sign in Sheets – These will be provided to you SIA

 

For further support and information, please contact sia@dclt.co.uk