Merton’s Investing in Neighbourhoods and Community Climate Action Funds 2024 are now closed for bidding.
The Investing in Neighbourhoods Fund is for projects to address demands placed on neighbourhoods by new development such as housing. It is funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy.
The Community Climate Action Fund is to support community-led projects that help reduce carbon emissions or build resilience to the impacts of climate change. We are running one bidding round for the Community Climate Action Fund each year from 2023 to 2025, with around £166,000 of funding available in each round.
Follow the step by step guide below to read the guidance, requirements and assessment criteria before using the online bid form provided in the guide if you would like to submit a bid. The deadline for bids to be received was 11:59 PM, Monday 4th November 2024. The following table sets out the timetable for the 2024 bidding round.
| Milestone | Timescale |
|---|---|
| Communications and outreach to generate local interest | Late July to November |
| Applications were open | 5 weeks in autumn 2024 (from week beginning 30 September) until 11.59pm, Monday 4 November 2024 |
| Application review | November 2024 – January 2025 |
| Cabinet sign-off on allocations | February or March 2025 |
| Due diligence | From March 2025 (can take up to 4 months) For grants to organisations due diligence will include assessments under the Subsidy Control Act 2022. |
| Grant agreements and programming with successful bidders | During 2025 and no earlier than March 2025 (can take up to 6 months) |
| Award and payment of grants | During 2025 and no earlier than April 2025 The award is formally confirmed once (and only if) due diligence is successfully completed and the grant agreement is signed. The grant agreement will include payment schedules that will specify project milestones when grant payments will be made. |
These are examples of projects we have funded through the Investing in Neighbourhoods fund (previously the Neighbourhood Fund) since it was launched in 2018, including 2 that were awarded Community Climate Action Funds in 2024. For more information about previous bidding rounds, see Spending the Community Infrastructure Levy.
Who can apply
The Investing in Neighbourhoods fund is open to organisations who can bid for grant funding and any local resident with an idea that can be delivered by the council.
The Community Climate Action Fund is open to organisations who can bid for grant funding and any local resident with an idea that can be delivered by an identified delivery partner; this delivery partner cannot be the council.
How to apply
The following steps set out the requirements and criteria for both the Investing in Neighbourhoods Fund and the Community Climate Action Fund. The same bidding form applies to both funds.
We have also created a webinar for applicants and a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document that you might find helpful alongside reading through the steps below. It's not essential to watch the webinar or read the FAQ: all of the information you need to place a bid is on this web page.
Click each step below to view details.
Step 1 – Read the requirements and assessment criteria
Step 2 – Check what information you’ll need to provide
Step 3 – Ask questions
Step 4 – Gather information to accompany your bid
Step 5 – Satisfy yourself that the bid will meet our requirements
Step 6 – Fill in the form
Step 7 – Submit accompanying information
What happens after bidding closes
Stage 1 - Bid assessments (month 1 to 3 after application deadline)
Please ensure we can contact you using the contact details you provided, as we may ask you for further information at this stage. We may also ask you whether a reduction in funding could still support delivery of outcomes within a two-year timeframe.
Stage 2 - Formal decision (month 3 to 4)
Council officers will write a summary assessment of bids and recommendations for the Cabinet. The Cabinet will decide which projects to fund and the grant amounts awarded.
We will let you know when we are due to make a decision, and send you a link to the Cabinet report.
If the council's Scrutiny Committee decides to "call in" the Cabinet's decision, this may delay the decision being confirmed.
After the decision is confirmed, we will email you to tell you whether your bid was successful.
Stage 3 - Grant agreements and delivery (month 4 onwards)
If an external organisation is to deliver a project, we will need to secure a grant agreement with them. This may take up to 6 months.
The award is formally confirmed once (and only if) due diligence is successfully completed and the grant agreement is signed. The grant agreement will include payment schedules that will specify project milestones when grant payments will be made.
If the council is to deliver a project through the Investing in Neighbourhoods Fund, timescales will depend on internal programming and finance protocols and priorities.
Even if your project's bid was unsuccessful, the council may choose to deliver it in the future. The Cabinet report may note that this is possible for your project. If this was the case, the council department will contact you if and when it delivers your proposal.
Match Funding and Project Support
We have produced a non-exhaustive list of match funding opportunities that bidders to council grant funds are encouraged to consider applying for.
This is to demonstrate that other funding streams have been explored or secured, particularly where projects have received council funding in the past. It is encouraged for all other bidders, but not necessary.
Funding options
- Aviva Community Fund
- Funding programmes | The National Lottery Community Fund
- The John Coates Charitable Trust
- About us | British Airways community fund
- The Sackler Trust | Charity & Philanthropy | Sackler Trust
- Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Funding directory
Projects
- Gain inspiration for climate projects by looking at those from around the country Green community initiatives & sustainable development | Carbon Copy
Future bidding rounds
There is funding in place for another bidding round for the Community Climate Action Fund for 2025.
We aim to seek new bids for the Investing in Neighbourhoods Fund on an annual basis subject to sufficient funding being available from Community Infrastructure Levy receipts. This page will be updated with dates for the next bidding round as income accumulates.
Contact us
Regeneration and Economy team
Email: NeighbourhoodFund@merton.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 8545 3197