Give it a Go
A new opportunity to get involved in decision making and help back local ideas
Testing ways to put Grimsby residents at the heart of decision making for local ideas whilst building a dedicated fund, rooted in the town and shaped by local priorities.
For the past two years, people across Grimsby have helped shape a clearer picture of what matters to them and what kind of future they want to build.
Starting with Pride in Place funding Give it a Go is a first opportunity to test how local people, working for the collective good of the town, can make decisions on how to spend money.
More funding opportunities will follow later in the year, as we build and develop new ways of deciding how support is used, bringing local people closer to the decision making.
Apply for up to £10,000 for local ideas that are ready to test, start or spark something new.
*Round One applications open until 5th June 2026
For ideas, organisations or partnerships that need support to become stronger, more sustainable or ready for a bigger next step.
For larger projects that can create long-term value for Grimsby, including work linked to buildings, spaces, nature, energy or wider place change.
“Give it a Go” is the first chance to put local priorities into action.
What we learn from this round will help shape the fund as it grows.
New funding routes, including Strengthen & Grow and Build for the Future will follow for ideas that need more time, more support or bigger backing.
In the year ahead we want to build a permanent, independent fund, called The Growing Together Fund, rooted in the town and built to last.
The Growing Together Fund is being built around three simple aims.
Support practical ideas from within the town that can make a difference for people and places in Grimsby.
Bring residents into the process, working for the good of the town, to help shape how funding is used.
Help build a fund that can back local priorities over time, attract wider investment and support ideas at different stages of development.
Designed with fairness and transparency at its heart. The fund will reach people who may not usually engage with funding, making the process clear and accessible whilst being honest about what can and can’t be supported.
For Give it a Go to be successful, we need two things.
1. People who want to help decide which ideas receive funding; and
2. People with ideas worth backing.
You do not need experience of funding, grant-making or formal decision-making. We are looking for a genuine cross-section of Grimsby, with different ages, backgrounds, experiences and parts of town represented. You cannot be a Decision Maker if you have also applied for funding or have a close connection to someone who has applied for funding.
Want to help decide which ideas receive support?
Decision Makers will review shortlisted proposals and help allocate the Give it a Go budget.
You do not need specialist knowledge or previous experience.
You just need to live or work in Grimsby and be prepared to give your time and energy for the common good of the town. You can’t have also applied for funding.
You can apply for up to £10,000 for a defined project or activity.
Applications are welcome from individuals*, groups, organisations and partnerships.
You can apply online or through a drop-in support session.
Ideas across all themes are welcome, including arts and culture, beautiful built environment, green economy, connected to nature, secure homes and lives, community, education and opportunities, and thriving town centre
*Please note: Individuals can apply, but you will need to work with a “Host Organisation” – see FAQs for more information
Give it a Go has been designed to be open and easy to take part in, while still meeting the checks needed when public money is involved.
It is supported by two organisations with different roles.
Key Fund is an experienced social fund administrator. They manage the checks, grant agreements and payments so the process is properly run.
Our Future supports the local participation process. They help bring people into the process, support Decision Makers and make sure learning from this first round helps shape what comes next.
Give it a Go will run in three stages.
From 11 May to 5 June, people with ideas can apply for funding, and people who want to help make decisions can sign up as Decision Makers.
There will also be roadshow and assistance events running throughout the period
Applications are checked for eligibility by Key Fund. Eligible proposals are prepared in a consistent format so Decision Makers can review them fairly.
From 29 June to 17 July, Decision Makers take part in briefing and decision making sessions, online and in person. They review shortlisted proposals and help distribute the budget. Funding decisions are then announced publicly.
The team delivering the fund will be out and about across the area during May to explain more about how the Give it a Go round will work, at our Roadshow events, and to support applications and answer questions for would be Decision Makers at our Assistance Clinics.
Come along and visit the team!
| Dates | Time | Venue |
| Tuesday 12th May | 09:30 – 12;00 | Freeman Street Market |
| Tuesday 12th May | 13:00 – 16:00 | Careers Café – Freshney Place |
| Wednesday 13th May | 09:30 – 12:00 | West Marsh Community Centre |
| Wednesday 13th May | 13:00 – 16:00 | Cafe Aspire – Freeman street |
| Thursday 14th May | 09:30 – 12:00 | Centre 4 |
| Thursday 14th May | 13:00 – 16:00 | YMCA Foyer |
| Dates | Time | Venue |
| Monday 18th May | 09:30 – 12:00 | The Willows, (Venue tbc). |
| Monday 18th May | 13:00 – 16:00 | Grange Community Centre |
| Tuesday 19th May | 09:30 – 12:00 | The Canopy – Grant Thorold Park |
| Wednesday 20th May | 09:30 – 12:00 | Careers Café – Freshney Place |
| Wednesday 20th May | 13:00 – 16:00 | Scartho Library |
Proposal assistance clinics will also be running on the following days:
21st May – Centre 4
28th May – Freeman St Market
4th June – Careers Cafe, Freshney Place
We’ve pulled together some of the common questions raised so far about Give it a Go and will continue to add to this as the fund develops.
Anyone with an idea that could make a real difference to people or places in Grimsby can apply. That includes individuals, local groups, and organisations of any size. You do not need to be a charity or a formal organisation.
If you are an individual, you will need a group or organisation to hold the money for you. We can help you find one if needed.
To apply, your project must:
– Take place in Grimsby
– Ask for £10,000 or less
– Be ready to start and spend the money by March 2027
– Have one named person responsible for the project
– Follow basic rules to keep people safe — including having a safeguarding policy if you work with children or vulnerable adults
We will carry out some basic checks on the person leading the application and may ask about your finances — but not having formal accounts will not automatically stop you from applying.
We are looking for ideas that will create real change in Grimsby — not just keep something going or fill a gap.
A strong idea might:
– Try something new or reach people who are not currently getting support
– Have the potential to grow or lead to something bigger
– Have the potential to sustain and support itself in the future
– Help make Grimsby a better place, even in a small way
– Fit one of our areas of focus: arts and culture, beautiful built environment, green economy, connected to nature, secure homes and lives, community, education and opportunities, and thriving town centre
Don’t worry if your idea doesn’t fit neatly into one of these areas. If it cuts across several of them — or sits outside them completely but would genuinely make a difference — we still want to hear from you.
When you apply, we will ask what excites you about your project and what would make you proud of it. The strongest applications are the ones where that passion really shows.
Decisions are made by local people — people who live or work in Grimsby — not by experts or funders.
Here is how it works:
Step 1 — Eligibility check: Key Fund (who manage the applications process) checks every application against the eligibility rules. Only applications that meet the criteria move forward.
Step 2 — Shortlisting: Local Decision Makers review all the applications that have passed the eligibility check. They do this online over about a week and rank their favourites to produce a top 20.
Step 3 — Funding decisions: Decision Makers then take part in decision-making sessions — either online or in person — where they can decide where they’d like to distribute their share of the pot of money across those top 20 projects. There are four sessions in total, and the results from all of them are combined to reach the final decisions.
Step 4 — Final checks: Key Fund checks that all decisions follow the programme rules before any money is confirmed.
The full results — which projects got funded, how the voting went, and who took part — will all be made public.
Decision Makers are people who live or work in Grimsby who have signed up to help decide how the money is distributed
We do not just take the first people who volunteer. Instead, we use a careful selection process — a bit like jury selection — to make sure the group reflects the real mix of people in Grimsby.
We look for a good spread of:
– Where people live — drawing from neighbourhoods across Grimsby
– Age, gender, and background — to reflect the make-up of the town
– People who do not usually get involved in formal decision-making
This means no one group or network ends up with too much influence.
Everyone who takes part agrees to:
– Make decisions in the interests of the whole town
– Flag it if they have a personal connection to any application
If someone has a connection to a project — whether as an applicant or someone close to one — they are not allowed to be a Decision Maker
We want to be open about how this process works and what the results are. Some things will be made public, and some things will stay private.
What we will share publicly:
– Which projects got funded and how much they received
– Overall numbers — how many people applied and how many Decision Makers took part
– Broad information about Decision Makers — such as the spread of ages, genders, and areas — but never anything that identifies individual people
What we will share with Decision Makers:
– A summary of your project budget – the categories and totals but not your detailed accounts or bank statements
What we will keep private:
– How individual Decision Makers voted or shared out the money
– Sensitive financial details such as detailed accounts or bank statements
– Personal contact details of applicants
A note for Decision Makers:
Because sessions involve being in a room or on a call with others, you will not be fully anonymous within the decision-making session itself. Other participants and the people running the session will know you are there. We will not share how you personally voted outside the process — but your involvement will be visible to others in the room.
One other thing to be aware of:
Applications may occasionally need to be shared if we receive a formal public information request. Details about funded projects may also need to go to funders, auditors, or regulators.
We want this to be as easy as possible for everyone, and we have built in support from the start.
If you are applying for funding:
– We are running drop-in sessions across Grimsby where you can get help to develop and submit your application
– You can apply yourself online or come to a supported session where someone will help you fill it in
– If you are an individual without a host organisation, we can help you find one
If you are taking part as a Decision Maker:
– Decision-making sessions are available online and in person, during the day and in the evening to work with your schedule
– We will cover your travel costs for in-person sessions
– Childcare support is available — just let us know when you sign up
If you have any access needs, tell us after you are selected and we will make arrangements
Not sure if your need is covered? Just get in touch and we will do our best to help.
We know it is disappointing, and we want to be upfront: we cannot fund every idea. There is a fixed pot of money, and Decision Makers can only share out what is there.
If your idea is not funded this time:
– We will keep your application on record so it can be considered in future rounds
– We will share what we have learned from this round and how it shapes what comes next
– There will be more rounds of Give it a Go funding, plus two other funding pots — Strengthen and Grow and Build for the Future — for projects that are a bit further along
This fund is meant to be a starting point, not a one-off. If your idea did not make it this time, it is still part of the conversation — and we would love for you to try again.
The Growing Together Fund comes from the government’s Pride in Place programme, which has set aside £20 million for Grimsby to use over ten years — from 2026 to 2036.
Give it a Go is the first pot of money from this fund, with around £135,000 available for grants of up to £10,000 each.
Three organisations work together to make this happen:
– North East Lincolnshire Council is ultimately responsible for making sure the public money is used properly
– Key Fund handles applications, checks, and payments
– Our Future leads the community involvement side — making sure local people help shape and decide how the money is used
The bigger picture:
The longer-term aim is to build a permanent, independent fund for Grimsby — one that can draw in money from a wide range of places, not just government. That includes charities, businesses, and other investors who want to back the town’s future.
f you receive a grant, here is what we will ask of you:
The basics:
– Do what you said you would do in your application — safely and within the agreed time
– Spend the money by March 2027
– Keep all your receipts and invoices — we will ask to see these as you spend the money
Keeping us updated:
– Send us regular updates on how things are going and how the money is being spent
– We will keep the paperwork as light as possible and agree the format with you based on the size of your grant
Sharing your project:
– We will ask whether you are happy for us to share your project name and a short description publicly – this is always your choice and we will always ask first
– We may also ask separately whether you are happy for us to tell your project’s story more widely — in fund updates and future communications. That is always your choice and we will always ask first
Staying connected:
– Stay in touch with the programme — we may ask for feedback or invite you to take part in learning activities, and we hope you will say yes
– We want every funded project to do well. We will keep in touch and connect you to other things happening in the town where we can.
Yes, individuals can apply.
The only thing to know is that grant money cannot be paid directly to a person — it needs to go through a group or organisation, such as a charity, business or community group, who can hold and manage it on your behalf.
This is known as a Host Organisation and you will need to apply alongside them. For more information see FAQ
A Host Organisation will manage the grant on behalf of an individual and make payments for the items in the agreed budget. They might charge a small fee for doing this and this needs to be agreed with the Host Organisation and added to the programme budget. We will need some light information from the Host Organisation such as their previous years full accounts and they will need to give you subsidy control information. We are legally bound to record any use of subsidy; we have explained the rules in the application form. You will need to show this to your Host Organisation. If your Host Organisation needs some support with this, they can contact us and we will help them. The most important part is that someone in the organisation needs to be named in the subsidy control section to say that it is correct.
We expect the money to be mainly for running costs and to pay for activities (Revenue) but you can also use it to buy things (Capital).
Examples of what you can spend the grant on:
– Paying someone to run sessions
– Buying materials or supplies
– Hiring a venue
– Travel costs, insurance, DBS checks, or training
One thing to note: If your project does involve buying something physical that costs more than £5,000, you will need to include at least one quote with your application. You will also need to keep all receipts and invoices — we will ask to see them as you go.
If you are not sure whether a cost counts, contact info@growingtogetherfund.org.uk for more information.
We want to fund projects that have a life beyond the grant — not ones that will disappear the moment the money runs out.
In your application, we will ask you to think about what comes next. Where might future funding come from? How could the project grow or develop over time?
You do not need to have it all figured out — Give it a Go is designed for ideas that are just getting started. But we do want to see that you have thought about it and that there is a realistic path forward.
The full privacy statement for applicants is further down this page.
In short: your application details are looked after by Key Fund, who manage the applications process. Information about your project will be seen by the Decision Makers and by Our Future so they can run the process and learn from it.
Your personal contact details and any sensitive financial information will not be shared with them.
North East Lincolnshire Council may also receive data where required for audit and compliance purposes as the body responsible for the public funding
The full privacy statement for Decision Makers is further down this page.
In short: the details you give us when you sign up are held by Our Future. We use them to put together a balanced and representative group of Decision Makers and to organise the sessions. We will not publish how you voted or share your name as a Decision Maker without asking you first.
North East Lincolnshire Council may also receive certain information where required for their legal and compliance responsibilities.
This one is a bit technical, but bear with us — it matters if you are an organisation.
Government rules limit how much public money any one organisation can receive over a three-year period. The limit is £315,000 across this year and the two years before it.
As part of your application, we will ask you to tell us roughly how much public funding your organisation has received over that period. Most organisations applying for a small grant like this will be nowhere near the limit — but we still need to check.
Key Fund will walk you through this as part of the process — you do not need to work it out on your own.
If you are an individual applying for a personal project, this does not apply to you but it will apply to your Host Organisation.
This year we are planning to get around £600,000 out into the community.
Give it a Go is the first part of that — it is how we are testing a new way of getting money to people and organisations quickly. This first wave has £45,000 to share out, with a further £90,000 coming in a second round later in the year.
We are also working on two other funding pots to get money out into the community and will be sharing more on those soon.
Give your project a short, memorable name — something that gives people an idea of what it is about.
For example: Grimsby Community Garden or East Marsh Youth Sessions.
The best names are ones that mean something to you and reflect what you are trying to do. If you are proud of your idea — and we hope you are — let that come through in the name.
This is the name we will use throughout the whole process and in any public communications, so pick something you are happy to see out in the world.
The application has two places where you describe your project, and they work differently.
Part 1 — The short summary: Just one or two sentences covering the basics: what your project will do and who it is for.
For example: “We will work with young people aged 14 and over from East Marsh to design and build an outdoor space that actually works for them.”
Part 2 — Tell us everything: This is where you can really go for it.
Make sure you cover:
– How the money will create change
– What you are genuinely excited about
– What would make you feel really proud of it
– How it helps make Grimsby a better place
– Whether you are trying something new or testing a different approach
– How the project might sustain and support itself in the future
The applications that stand out are the ones where the passion really comes through — so do not hold back.
You can apply for up to £10,000. Ask for what you actually need — not more, not less.
A useful tip: fill in the budget section first, so you know your exact total before you fill in the amount you are asking for.
In the budget section, you will need to split your costs into two categories:
Capital = Physical items – such as equipment or materials you are buying
Revenue = Day-to-day running costs — such as wages, room hire, and insurance
If any single physical item costs more than £5,000, you will need to include at least one quote for it with your application.
We want to know how you are planning to make this happen and when — but you do not need a complicated plan. A rough sense of the key phases is fine. For example: getting set up, then delivering, then wrapping up.
In your timeline, tell us:
– The key stages and roughly when each one will happen
– Who will be leading the project and keeping things on track
– Who else will be involved in making it happen
Every project needs a confirmed start date, and the money should be spent by the end of March 2027. We hope to have money delivered to you in July.
If your project involves working with children or vulnerable adults, then yes — you must have a safeguarding policy in place before you can receive a grant. Anyone working directly with those groups must also have had the right checks done, such as a DBS check.
In your application, you will need to tell us how you plan to involve people and keep everyone safe.
Not sure if this applies to your project?
Just get in touch before you apply and we can talk it through with you.
Not necessarily — it is up to you. Your project might be open to everyone, or it might be focused on a specific group, like older people, young people, or people from a particular part of town. Neither is automatically better than the other.
What matters is that you are clear about who you are trying to reach and why your project will make a difference to them. Just tell us in your application who the project is aimed at and why.
The application asks you to pick the one theme that best fits your project.
The themes are:
– Arts and culture
– Environment
– Thriving businesses and town centre
– Education and opportunities
– Community
– Green economy
– Housing
– Beautiful built environment
We know lots of projects will touch on more than one of these — that is absolutely fine. Just pick the one that feels like the closest match to the main thing your project is trying to do.
Your choice of theme does not affect how your project is judged.
Yes, and it is great if you can. If you have access to other funding — whether that is savings your organisation has set aside, donations, other grants, or your own money — you can include that in your application.
You will need to split it into the same two categories as your main budget (running costs and physical items) and tell us where it has come from. You can list more than one source.
Having other money behind your project is not a requirement — but it can help show that your project has support and momentum behind it.
Capital funding = Physical items — such as equipment or materials you are buying
Revenue = Day-to-day running costs — such as wages, room hire, and insurance
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