Near Neighbours
In response to the Government’s desire to provide resources to strengthen relationships in multi-religious & multicultural neighbourhoods across the UK, the Church of England’s Archbishop’s Council and the Church Urban Fund, with support from a multi-faith advisory panel and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), now called The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), have established eleven Near Neighbours (NN) hubs across England.
NN Hubs act as focal points for Near Neighbours activity. It resources local projects, developing the work of the programme at a grassroots level and feeding into the government’s Integrated Communities Strategy. You can find out more information by visiting the Near Neighbours website.
Here in Luton, GRASSROOTS has been the local Near Neighbours Hub since 2011. We have been helping to develop positive relationships in Luton’s multi-faith areas through a range of Near Neighbours Programme Initiatives, including Covid specific interventions.
Until March 2022, through Near Neighbours (NN) small grants of £250 - £5,000, we have supported and resourced the growth of a wide array of new ‘social action’ and ‘social interaction’ Environmental, Social, Cultural, Artistic, Sporting projects in Luton. The small grants fund provide seed funding for local groups and organisations who are working to bring together neighbours; to develop relationships of diverse faiths and ethnicities and also to improve their communities.
During the last 10 years, Luton has seen 287 projects undertaking activities e.g. community gardening, litter picking, music for those suffering from dementia, connecting young people with horses, arts & sports activities, mental health first aid training programmes, human trafficking, child sexual exploitation, international women and interfaith week activities and several other projects involving people from diverse backgrounds, promoting cultural and racial understanding and integration.
We have contributed £728,157 worth of grants to support Luton communities, which is a significant contribution, much of it helped during the pandemic lockdowns too.
Unfortunately, very little funding has been made available for the Near Neighbours small grant funding scheme during Oct & Nov 2022. Although the application deadline is 9th Dec, if the funding pot is finished before the deadline, applications will close earlier.
The max amount that can be applied is £4k, but there will be more chances of success for applications under £3k.
For info on funding criteria, eligibility criteria and application form etc., please see the web link https://www.near-neighbours.org.uk/small-grants
To discuss your applications or project ideas please email near.neighbours_luton@btconnect.com / call 01582-416946.
Please NOTE final decisions are made at Near Neighbours London Office by an independent panel, based on the merits of applications received.
Newsletters & Regular Updates
April 2024 | Please click here.
March 2024 | Please click here.
April 2023 | Please click here.
14th Dec 2022 | Please click here.
14th Nov 2022 | Please click here.
6th Oct 2022 | Please click here.
9th May 2022 | Please click here.
4th April 2022 | Please click here.
24th February 2022 | Please click here.
21st December 2021 | Please click here. For a short Video on the work of Near Neighbours, please click here.
16th November 2021 | Please click here. For 10th Anniversary Overview of Near Neighbours, please click here.
25th October 2021 | Please click here.
3rd August 2021 | Please click here.
8th March 2021 | Please click here.
28th January 2021 | Please Click here.
14th December 2020 | Please Click here.
A Short Video & A Report on Near Neighbours
Here’s a link to our latest video showcasing the amazing work we do at Near Neighbours. The link to the video is here
And please do read more about Near Neighbours here:
https://www.near-neighbours.org.uk/s/Near_Neighbours_10_Year_Report_Web.pdf
Thanks so much for your support for what we do
Near Neighbours 10th Anniversary EVENT held on Friday 16th July 2021 from 11-1pm
One of the reasons why the Decade of the 2011-2021 may just be an important decade in British history, is because of the success of the Near Neighbours Programme, which was created by Church Urban Fund (CUF) and the C of E Archbishop’s Council following the award of £5 million by the Department for Communities and Local Government in February 2011.
Since then, Near Neighbours has established 11 hubs across England, helping to develop positive relationships in specific multi-faith areas through small grants of £250 - £5,000, whilst also supporting and resourcing the growth of new ‘social action’ and ‘social interaction’ projects.
Hubs act as focal points for Near Neighbours activity and a local coordinator in each hub connects with and resources local projects, developing the work of the programme at a grassroots level and feeding into national strategy.
In Luton, GRASSROOTS Programme has been operating as the local Near Neighbours hub.
In the 10th Anniversary Celebrations held in Luton, it was noted that during the last 10 years, Luton has seen 287 projects undertaking activities e.g. community gardening, litter picking, music for those suffering from dementia, connecting young people with horses, arts & sports activities, mental health first aid training programmes, human trafficking, child sexual exploitation, international women and inter faith week activities and several other projects involving people from diverse backgrounds, promoting cultural and racial understanding and integration.
Near Neighbours Programme through Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has contributed £728,157 worth of grants to support Luton communities, which is a significant contribution, much of it helped during the pandemic lock downs too.
Elizabeth Carnelley, Director, Near Neighbours Programme said she is proud that the programme, nationally as well as locally, has been at the forefront of confronting the rumours and conspiracy myths which were and still are undermining public trust in health authorities and in tested and approved vaccines, which threaten an effective public health response to the pandemic.
Over 25 Luton organisations, present at the 10th Anniversary celebrations held locally, shared their outstanding work of helping people and communities in this town supported by Near Neighbours Programme. They all unequivocally expressed their gratitude and shouted aloud –
THANK YOU NEAR NEIGHBOURS!
For more information about Near Neighbours Programme, please see https://www.near-neighbours.org.uk/
Please NOTE that this event was socially distanced according to the government's guidelines, and people were required to wear a mask when moving about. Due to restrictions still in place, only a limited spaces on a first come first serve basis were allocated.
For a national report marking 10th Anniversary of Near Neighbours, please click here.
Need inspiration? We now have case studies online! Click here to see how Near Neighbours funding has made a real difference to the Luton community!
You can also find out more about the landmark 1000th grant which was granted in Luton and celebrated at the 1000th Near Neighbours Grant Celebration here!