Covid19 Grants Evaluation: Communities of Interest Final Report December 2021

Small amounts of funding at a very local level were easy to apply for and processed rapidly. The funding model used as part of this project supported a tailored approach with a personal touch, so workers felt able to provide people within their communities of interest with what they needed.
The model of delivery involving trusted organisations and community members working together to respond to Covid19. The model was described favourably by all evaluation participants. The peer support aspect of the model was unique and welcome. Learning about what other groups were doing improved professional practice, provided feedback and moral support, and promoted referrals/signposting as well as collaboration and partnership work.
Project outputs funded by the grant scheme were described positively by professionals and included the delivery of small-scale projects and the development of resources. Evaluation participants identified important outcomes from the project as a whole such as the creation of a supportive network and capacity building; shared learning and tailored support from Forum Central and Leeds City Council as well as increased partnership working. Some participants discussed how the grant scheme had raised morale, at a time when this was much needed.
Community members also described positive benefits from being involved in the grant scheme. For example, learning new skills (IT); developing skills (working professionally); delivering projects that they tailored to support their own community of interest; improving their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of others in the community; and communicating up to date Covid19 information about safety through their own local networks. Participant characteristics were intersectional.