APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN

Hackney Windrush Microgrants 2024

Acknowledging the past, present and future of the Windrush story

Hackney Council is once again offering microgrants of up to £2,000 for a project or event that celebrates the Windrush Generation and their descendants. These events will be part of the Hackney Windrush programme in June 2024.

This year, Hackney’s Windrush activity will have the theme of acknowledging the past, present and future of the Windrush story.

Within the microgrant scheme, we will look for applications that look back and honour the legacy of the Windrush generation while appreciating how embedded their contributions are in today’s culture and the issues they face now. And as our population of Windrush descendants continues to grow, we’ll be looking for ideas that help make those futures bright. 

Windrush Art Amplification Grant

This is a £3,000 award for a photographer, artist, poet, writer, school class or art collective to deliver print-based work on this year’s theme. The work will be displayed on public billboards and on Love Hackney digital channels in June. Find out more and apply by April 1st 2024.

We will favour submissions that creatively highlight the ‘Past, Present and Future’ theme. Ideas can be - but are not limited to - intergenerational celebratory community events, artwork, educational activities and resources, and mental health and wellbeing classes.

The Context in 2024

Within the past, present and future theme, this year’s microgrants again aim to inspire projects that add diversity and depth to the Windrush story, while fighting for the justice of those still impacted by the Windrush Scandal.

The Hackney Windrush objectives are:

  • To expand the narrative of the Windrush story - moving away from singular narratives that limit the community to one group of people from one island, class, age group, ship or story of injustice and encourage exploration of the wider experience and history so we can present an authentic and dynamic account for future generations.

  • Preserve and share the stories and history of the Windrush generation 

Desired outcomes:

  • Creation of new artwork, resources or activities that explore the diverse identities of the Windrush generation and their descendants for future generations.

  • Intergenerational engagement and contribution from a diverse range of communities.

  • Residents have a greater understanding of the diversity of the Windrush generation and their lived experiences.

Hackney Windrush Microgrant Application Form

Guidance Notes

Criteria

We seek applications that meet all of the following criteria: 

  • Offer a high-quality arts experience between Saturday, 1 June 2024 to Thursday, 1 July 2024

  • LBH’s Culture team will fund organisations directly to contribute to this year’s programme. Organisations must be based in, or working in the London Borough of Hackney.

  • Proposals must do at least one or all of the following with the past, present or future of the Windrush story in mind:

    • Honour the Windrush Generation via a community celebration, event or activity that brings people from a diverse range of communities together to acknowledge their contributions. Proposals with intergenerational engagement will support your application.

    • The creation of artwork/s, or cultural activity (such as - but not limited to - a creative workshop, poetry, musical performance or film screening) that explores the identity of the Windrush Generation and their descendants.

    • Provide educational resources or an event that explores the identity of the Windrush Generation and their descendants. These could be materials, workshops or seminars to help with learning and understanding the contributions and legacy of the Windrush generation.

    • Activity should be held at an accessible venue and free to attend or at a low cost.

  • Ideas can be - but are not limited to - intergenerational celebratory community events, artwork, educational activities and resources, and mental health and well-being classes.

  • Offer good value for money, accurate budgets and realistic outputs and outcomes 

  • Produce an effective marketing campaign to promote your activity to your audience - Online promotion is mandatory

  • Provide evaluation feedback with photos and demographic information of participants in the provided forms

Eligibility

  • Cultural organisations and companies must be based in, or working in the London Borough of Hackney

  • Proposals can be an extension of existing activity (optional)

  • All proposals should be free or at a low cost to participants/audiences 

  • Applications can be made for awards of up to £2000.

  • All projects must be delivered between the programme dates.

  • Projects not open to the wider public, where project coordinators will be recruiting participants within their own network, will be considered. 

  • Successful applicants will be expected to provide the following:

    • A copy of the organisation’s constitution

    • A copy of the financial year-end accounts

    • A copy of the organisation’s latest bank statement

    • Child protection policy and DBS numbers, if working with children and young people

    • Public liability insurance to the value of £5m 

The Windrush Compensation Scheme

Designed and run by the Home Office, The Windrush Compensation Scheme was launched on 3 April 2019 to compensate those impacted by the Windrush Scandal. Eligible Hackney residents include the ‘Windrush Generation’, UK residents who came to the UK from any Commonwealth country before 1973 as well as UK residents from any country who were legally settled in the UK prior to the end of 1988 who can demonstrate they were impacted by the Windrush Scandal.

Cultural organisations and community groups can apply for a microgrant to fund projects and information sessions that will support eligible Hackney residents to apply for the Windrush Compensation scheme. The aim is to

improve take up by those who have been impacted by hostile environment policies, including Windrush.

As an example, microgrants could be offered to groups and organisations working with Windrush-affected communities through supporting the promotion of legal advice services. As of November 2021, there are two national schemes which provide legal support to claimants:

Marketing

Successful applicants must have their own marketing campaign alongside the council's Windrush campaign. All marketing promotions must be signed off by a LBH officer. For your marketing campaign to be successful, you must: 

  • Promote your activity where you have a reach - social media, print material or through other organisations /networks. 

  • Activities must, at the very least, be promoted online as part of your marketing campaign

  • Provide LBH with your promotional copy and images ahead of our marketing campaign in May 2024. We expect all photos, posters and flyers to be high-quality. 

  • Organisations will be responsible for providing LBH with their social media handle(s) and website. Please ensure your website and booking links are up-to-date and active by 17 May 2024. This also includes any external sites/pages (e.g. Eventbrite). 

Successful applicants will need to ensure their project is ready to be promoted by 17 May 2024. If your event details are not finalised by this date, your written agreement will be vulnerable to termination.

A communications guide will be provided along with the contract agreement. We will ask successful organisations to sign a written agreement with Hackney Council. The agreement will set out the terms and conditions of the award.

Payment

Organisations can receive up to 50% of their grant, ahead of completing their project, once the following is completed:

  • Promotional material for the project is complete and approved by a LBH officer

  • Booking information is live and ready to promote

  • The requested documents outlined in the grant offer letter are received and satisfactory

  • The contract agreement is signed and returned

This is available on request, and at least 7 working days before your activity start date. Otherwise, funds will be paid on completion of the project and once the data provided for the evaluation is satisfactory.

London Borough of Hackney (LBH) reserves the right to award part of the grant, or not award any funding if an applicant cannot demonstrate how the amount they have applied for will be spent.

Please note that the grant amount awarded to a successful applicant is final after issuing a grant offer letter.

Who can apply 

The following are eligible to apply for for an award in order to run an activity during the Hackney Windrush programme 2024:

  • Not-for-profit organisations;

  • and local venues; and

  • Community groups - An eligible ‘community group’ means a group that meets all the following criteria:

    • Established for charitable, benevolent or philanthropic purposes;

    • Has a governing body with at least three members

    • Has a governing document that they can produce

    • Can provide accounts for the last two financial years on request

We will ask successful organisations to sign a written agreement with the London Borough of Hackney. The document will set out the terms and conditions of the award.

Successful applicants will need to ensure their project is ready to be promoted by May 2024. If your event details are not finalised by this date, your written agreement will be vulnerable to termination.


Please note that child protection conditions, applications for licenses and public liability insurance will be the responsibility of the grant recipient. We do not fund activities retrospectively.

How to apply 

The Hackney Windrush programme is overseen by the Hackney Council’s Culture team. Please get in touch at culture@hackney.gov.uk for further enquiries and more information.

If your organisation is interested in applying for a small award, please submit your online application by midnight, Monday 1 April 2024. All questions can be viewed in advance HERE. 

Applications will only be accepted via the Google Form.

We will notify you of the decision on your application by 8 April 2024. Successful projects must deliver and complete their project within the month of June 2024.