Community Investment Board

Community Investment Board

Do you have an interest in how to make Southend-on-Sea the best possible place to be and are you keen to make a real difference to your community? SAVS and Southend-on-Sea City Council are working together to recruit 15 volunteers to make up the Community Investment Board (CIB).

About Us

CIB Logo

The Board have developed their ideas and understanding of the assets and challenges in Southend and determined their values, vision and mission. Our values are;

 

  • Responsibility
  • Cooperation
  • Commitment
  • Empathy
  • Transparency

 

Underpinned by Independence and Inclusivity

 

Our vision is of a sustainable Southend where residents engage in their wider communities, are empowered to realize and reach their full potential. In a city they are proud of, feel safe in and can enjoy healthy and fulfilling lives.

 

Our mission is to utilize the strengths and assets of Southend by motivating residents to create sustainable resilient communities taking community led-action that will improve mental health and health inequalities.

 

To achieve this the Board have identified key themes they are seeking to invest in;

1.Young People (<35): To enable young people to maximize their health and wellbeing through increased resilience.

2.Improve Community Spaces: To enable communities to improve public spaces to build stronger health and wellbeing. Spaces that are safe and that local residents are proud of – indoor and outdoor.

3.Reduce Poverty: To ensure local residents realize and reach their aspirations. The Board are keen to support those with ideas around out of working hours support, activities for those living with addiction and that reduce isolation and loneliness.

4.Enhance a Thriving Voluntary Sector to deliver the Board’s vision.

 

Previously the Southend Borough Council distributed different grants, but as approved by Cabinet in November, £1.5m has been moved from the Council to Community Investment Board, hosted by SAVS. Neither the Council nor SAVS have control or say in how the funding is spent, it is completely up to the Board but it must seek to deliver the Board’s vision and mission and the with the £1.5m the Southend 2050 Outcomes and Themes.

 

For more information on the Community Investment Board please read this frequently asked questions document.

First Year Impact Report

Southend’s Community Investment Board are celebrating their first anniversary since forming in Autumn 2022. In their first year over £550k has been invested, benefitting over 50,000 local residents to deliver the Board’s vision. Click here to read more.

Current Funding Available

Apply for Up to £10,000
Applications for activities needing up to £10,000 and delivering the Board’s priorities can be made here.

The Community Investment Board meet monthly and will provide a response as soon as possible. Please note that until an application is complete a final decision cannot be provided. The Community Investment Board welcome applications from local food banks and similar services with a strong preference to supporting core delivery costs (volunteer costs, staffing, equipment etc.) rather than that of consumables including food. Other funders you may wish to be in touch with include Southend Emergency Fund who have depending on funding criteria supported food and utility costs.

To see more information on all awards made to date please read this article.

Funding Available to Deliver Community Transport in Southend
The CIB are keen to invest in the development of an enhanced community transport service for Southend residents. Funding is available to put together a pilot for a new service over 12 months. Expressions of interest are invited before 5pm on the 26th April. For more details and to find out how to apply, click here.

City Celebration Events Fund – Enabling Residents to Celebrate Southend

The CIB have ring-fenced £20,000 to which groups planning an event in Southend for local residents can apply for up to £2,000 from. Events need to take place before 31 March 2024 and be held in Southend. To find out more click here.
For events being held in May please apply by 9am Monday 17 April, for events in June by 5pm Wednesday 26 April. Once the funds have been exhausted applications will close.

Statements

The Board are keen to ensure best practice in safeguarding, equality and diversity and to reduce environmental impact and ensure money laundering does not take place as a result of their activities. Their approach is to be proportionate to the size and activities of those who receive funding. Those who are awarded funds will be asked to sign a grant agreement and acknowledge their support of the statements below;

 

  1. CiB Safeguarding Statement
  2. CiB Equalities Statement
  3. CiB Anti-Money Laundering Fraud Statement
  4. CiB Environmental Statement

 

If you have any questions please email cib@savs-southend.co.uk or call 01702 356008 to speak with our Community Investment Fund Coordinator. Our Coordinator will be delighted to talk through your idea without sharing it with the board members.

Community Reference Group

In addition to the board, a Community Reference Group has been created to bring together local voluntary and community groups, local health and care professionals. The purpose of this group is to support the board by providing information and advice to help them make decisions about where and how to spend the money for the community. Anyone from these sectors will be able to join the Community Reference Group. The next sessions will be held around March 2023.

 

 

To find out more or to register to receive direct invites to upcoming sessions email cib@savs-southend.co.uk.

To find out more call the CIB team on 01702 356 008

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