WE Heal application guidance and form

Section 1 will be used to determine your eligibility for WE Heal Funding.

Section 1a   

Question: Please confirm your relationship to Islington and its communities 

Applicants do not have to be based in Islington but all will be expected to demonstrate a strong relationship with or affiliation to Islington communities e.g. an existing partnership with an Islington-based VCSE sector, arts organisation, healthcare or education setting; history of delivering work or services in Islington or volunteering etc.  

Question: Please confirm if you are applying to the WE Heal Fund as an individual or an organisation 

We cannot give grants directly to unconstituted groups, so if you are applying as an individual or unconstituted group, you will need to nominate a constituted organisation to hold the grant for you. 

This nominated organisation should be Islington-based and meet the requirements of the WE Heal Fund eligibility criteria for organisations for the WE Heal Fund.  
Individuals or unconstituted groups should draw up an agreement with the nominated organisation detailing the nature of their relationship to the applicant and any other terms and conditions required to:

a) confirm they will hold the WE Heal grant on behalf of the individual or unconstituted organisation if successful and

b) to establish their relationship to the WE Heal application and project delivery.  

If your application is shortlisted, we will require the nominated organisation to confirm their eligibility status by completing a short form and supplying a copy of their constitution or governing document. 

If you do not know any local voluntary or community groups, social enterprises, healthcare or education settings or arts sector organisations that can help support your application, you can search the directory of Islington organisations held by Voluntary Action Islington or we may be able to help you with this. Please contact culture@islington.gov.uk.  

Section 1b: Complete this section if you are applying as an individual 

Contact Details – this should be the person who is responsible for this application and answering any questions that we may have. 

Please let us know if you have any communication needs. 

Nominated Organisation – ensure you have their permission to be named on this application. 

Section 1c Complete this section if you are applying as an organisation 

Name of Organisation – this must match the information on bank statements and governing documents if you have them. If you are not a constituted group, please use the name of your organisation that you are known by and that you use on any communications, promotional materials etc. 

Main Contact / Project Lead – this should be the person who is responsible for this application form and answering any questions that we may have. 

Please let us know if your main contact has any communication needs. 

Alternative Contact – this should be a secondary contact who is also authorised and able to answer any questions that we may have relating to this application. 

The alternative contact details must be different from the main contact. 

Please let us know if your alternative contact has any communication needs. 

Question: Are you a constituted organisation? 

Please note you do not have to be a constituted group to apply for WE Heal funding. 

If Yes - please ensure you attach a copy of your organisation’s constitution or governing document in an electronic format (e.g. Word file, pdf, jpeg etc) as part of this application.  

If No - please nominate a constituted Islington-based organisation. You must ensure you have their permission to be named on this application. 

Question: Do you have an Organisation / Group bank account with at least two signatories? 

If your application is successful, we will need details of the bank account to pay your grant money into. If your organisation has a bank account, we will need the names of at least two unrelated signatories. 

If Yes - please ensure you have their permission to be named on this application. 

If No – please nominate a constituted Islington-based organisation that can fulfil this criterion. You must ensure you have their permission to be named on this application. 

Confirm that you have at least one year’s worth of audited accounts or management accounts signed by chair or treasurer 

If you do not have audited accounts, an informal record of income and expenditure signed by your chair or treasurer should be in place e.g. spreadsheet, takings book, etc.

Islington Council is a Living Wage Friendly funder. 

This means we seek to ensure that all voluntary sector jobs which are wholly or partially funded by an Islington Council grant, pay at least the London Living Wage. 

Any project seeking funds from the WE HEAL grant that includes salary costs should be budgeted at the London Living Wage or above. For more information including details of what the current London Living Wage level is go to: www.livingwage.org.uk/calculation 

Question: Are employees or volunteers helping with running the project or event? 

• Your organisation must pay all staff the Living Wage Foundation’s London Living Wage as a minimum
• Your organisation must implement annual living wage adjustments to staff pay/salaries as soon as possible and within six months of the annual living wage announcement in November
• Guidance from the Government on how to manage your volunteers states that volunteers shouldn’t be paid for their time but can receive payment for any out-of-pocket expenses. 

Partnership Working 

Please list all project delivery partners including other organisations, key external individuals and any Islington Council services that would be involved in delivering this project. This includes those providing in-kind support, facilities, training or other relevant expertise. You may add rows to the table if required. 

References 

Please ensure you attach copies of reference letters from two different people in an electronic format (e.g. Word file, pdf, jpeg etc) as part of this application.  

References must contain the following: 

• name, position and contact details of the referee
• referee’s relationship to you
• why the referee supports your project
• confirmation that the referee is willing to be contacted by the WE Heal team
• a signature 

We cannot accept references from anyone related to you. We may contact your referees as part of our due diligence checks. 

Question: What is the project title or name of activity? 

Your project name should be relevant to your proposed activities and memorable. You can change it later for publicity purposes if you want to.  

Question: Please provide a short summary of your project clearly stating the type(s) of artform involved (up to 60 words). 

This should be a brief overview - please ensure you highlight the nature and format of the arts-based therapeutic activity or recovery-orientated artform(s) and who will be the intended participants / group beneficiaries.  

For guidance, please read these examples of project proposal short summaries.  

Question: Which social, health and wellbeing outcomes will your project activity aim to deliver? 

All projects must have clear social, health and wellbeing outcomes. 

Question: Planned Project Start and End Dates 

• Please note that applications for Round One should must be for projects starting at least three months from the application date and no earlier than 8 March 2023
• Please note that you have up to 9 months from the award date within which to spend the funding. Project activity must be completed no later than 10 December 2023. 

Question: Who will manage the project? 

This is a project working with women and children who have lived experience of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and/or have a relationship with Islington VAWG sector services – as project participants and/or co-creators.  

We want to know that project managers have the knowledge, skills and capacity to manage the project effectively and safely.  

This could also include any relevant specialist training relevant to this project e.g., mental health awareness or trauma-informed practice. 

The project manager(s) may be the same person(s) delivering the therapeutic arts-based activity. 

Question: Please provide details of the relevant experience and/or appropriate professional qualifications of the person(s) who will deliver the proposed therapeutic arts-based activity. 

The person(s) who will deliver the proposed therapeutic arts-based activity may be the same person(s) who will manage the project. 

We want to know that lead creative practitioners / facilitators / workshop leaders have the relevant artistic skills, knowledge and experience, and/or appropriate professional qualifications to deliver the proposed therapeutic arts-based activity. 

This could also include any relevant participatory or community arts training and/or specialist training relevant to promoting mental health and wellbeing through the use of creative and expressive arts.  

If the person uses a protected title such as Art, Music or Drama Therapist / Psychotherapist, they must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).  

Dance Movement therapists should demonstrate credentials such as membership of the Association for Dance Movement Psychotherapy UK or the UK Council for Psychotherapy.  

Question: Please explain your project proposal and how it relates to the WE Heal theme: healing through therapeutic arts-based activity created in safe spaces. 

Please tell us in detail about the project you are seeking a WE HEAL Fund award to support:

• Description of the project activities and what will happen – give details of the content, delivery methods and session format. Is it drop-in or a closed group?
• Outline the creative recovery-orientated arts activities and relevant supporting processes and procedures for the artform(s). Include what the participants would be doing e.g. exploring art materials, props, resources or equipment; brainstorming; selecting materials, objects or repertoire; peer coaching; rehearsing; co-creating etc
• Include brief information about key group activities such as establishing group ground rules, agreeing the goals of the session, group trust-building exercises, warm-ups, participants completing reflective journals etc that may occur before and after the core theraupetic art-making element of a session
• Identify other key project personnel (organisation staff, volunteers) and their roles in the project delivery, e.g. session administrative or technical support; artform creative support, specialist support such as translation or access needs etc
• The location(s) and setting(s) of the project activities, e.g. in a community centre, school, arts organisation or other setting. Include a description of any transport that is provided for participants to attend sessions, if applicable
• You should include information about any required trips, plans for safe sharing of creative work including performances, exhibitions, or screenings
• If your project will deliver regular sessions/workshops (e.g. daily, weekly, monthly) please state, how many sessions, workshops or events are to be delivered in total, the proposed times when the activities would take place, e.g., lunchtimes, daytimes, evenings, weekdays or weekends and how long each session is, when and how often they happen 

e.g. A ten-week long project  

Week one - an initial daytime trip to an arts venue to introduce artform and host introductory two-hour workshop followed by eight two-hour sessions, once a week during the daytime for eight weeks with a final closed sharing event during one evening in week ten.  

Intended Participants / Beneficiary Groups 

All proposed projects must directly benefit Islington women and children who have lived experience of VAWG (and/or have a relationship with Islington VAWG sector) as project participants and/or co-creators.  

Question: Which of the following groups will be the primary beneficiaries of this project? 

• Please tell us which, if any, specific community or group(s) of Islington women and children will be targeted. We are particularly keen for arts initiatives that deliver health and wellbeing benefits to disadvantaged or under-represented groups highlighted in Islington’s VAWG Strategy.
• We welcome targeted therapeutic arts projects that promote the healing of affected children (i.e. not only girls), in addition to women

Question: Please tell us why there is a need for these groups to engage in therapeutic arts-based activity and how the group(s) with whom you intend to work will benefit from your project? 

• Please identify relevant sources of evidence of need and/or interest from the intended beneficiary group. This can be formal, e.g. via existing research, consultations with key stakeholders, official statistics or anecdotal e.g. accounts of experiences or dialogues with clients indicating current service demands
• What transformations or restorative changes will participants experience as a result of your project? Include any wider impact beyond the direct project participants if applicable

Question: How many Islington women and children will benefit? 

Please advise or estimate the total number of Islington women and children who are going to benefit. 

Question: Please explain how you will approach ensuring an inclusive and safe space for all participants, staff and volunteers as part of this project. Include how you will work with vulnerable people and safeguard their wellbeing. 

Projects must embed safety, recovery and belonging at the heart of the project. Please tell us how you will do this demonstrating best practices, and what equality and diversity values you will draw upon.  

Question: Tell us what methods you will use to recruit, engage and involve the people you intend to benefit from the project? Explain how you will make your project accessible to all potential beneficiaries in your target groups. 

Outline key engagement methods to encourage and support involvement in your project from a diverse range of participants, including the provision of volunteering opportunities. 

Please give brief details of how participants will be recruited to your project – is there a referral process or self-selecting e.g. from an existing group? Will you use leaflets, posters and/or social media to advertise the activity?  

Include plans for targeted marketing e.g., promotion in specific areas, through specialist networks or in partnership with grassroots community groups etc.  

Highlight how you have considered accessibility and project adaptability i.e. the accommodation of differing needs or requirements that potential beneficiaries may have, e.g. varied activity formats, the sourcing of specialist facilities or equipment, the use of community languages or other inclusive practices.  

Question: Explain how you will monitor and evaluate this project? 

Please note that you will be expected to submit a monitoring and evaluation report after your project has finished. 

It is essential to capture basic information such as the numbers of participants recruited to a project and their attendance. Demographic information (e.g. age, ethnicity, disability, etc...about the participants will help assess if the project has successfully reached its target groups.  

Consider what key monitoring data and evidence you will need to collect from participants to measure the impact of your arts-based therapeutic activity and what indicators you will use to measure the success of your project in terms of intended outcomes.   

Applicants must ensure they comply with the requirements of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and UK Data Protection legislation when collecting personal data from individuals. This is particularly important when collecting sensitive data such as ethnicity and health or socio-economic status. 

As part of the monitoring procedure for this grant we may carry out monitoring visits to a selection of projects. We would contact you in advance to arrange a date for this. 

You may be asked to provide evidence of expenditure for your project (such as copies of receipts and invoices) so please ensure you maintain good financial records so this documentation is easily available.

This is a project working with women and children who have lived experience of VAWG (and/or have a relationship with Islington VAWG sector services) – as project participants and/or co-creators.  

You will be responsible for meeting all statutory regulations. This can include Health and Safety, protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults and maintaining relevant insurances. 

You will need to demonstrate how you will support the safe and equitable delivery of this project through ensuring that adequate policies and measures will be in place for when your project starts. We may request supporting documentation or evidence of these at a later date. 

You will need to:

• confirm you have the following policies: Heath and Safety Policy; Equal Opportunities Statement / Policy; Safeguarding Children Policy; Safeguarding Adults Policy 

and/or  

• outline the steps you have taken to consider equal opportunities, relevant health and safety matters and the risk management of your project and how you will ensure adequate measures are in place.  

Safeguarding children policy 

We want to know that your organisation is committed to reducing harm to children. Policy guidance can be obtained from Voluntary Action Islington

• Please note that model policies will need to be adapted for your organisation or group
• In your policy, we would expect (as a minimum) a list of the four types of abuse, how you would recognise abuse, what you would do / who you would contact if you are worried about a child, how you train your staff or volunteers in safeguarding and the name of your designated safeguarding lead
• If your project is exclusively focused on children or young people we may ask to see further information

Safeguarding adults policy 

We want to know that your organisation is committed to reducing harm to adults and has adopted appropriate policies and practice. 

• A safeguarding adults policy shows that an organisation has a commitment to safeguarding adults with care and support needs and promoting their wellbeing
• Rather than health and safety style risks and responsibilities about supervision of people, a safeguarding adults policy shows that your organisation has a zero tolerance approach to the abuse or neglect of vulnerable adults and knows what to do if this happens
• The policy should contain a list of information about what abuse is (i.e. different categories and what that might look like) and a section that tells people what to do if they suspect that a vulnerable adult is being, or is at risk of abuse or harm
• We would recommend that any organisation that either provides a service to or is accessed by adults at risk i.e. people who are elderly, disabled or have other health problems or vulnerabilities (which sometimes are not visible) should have a Safeguarding Adults Policy
• Voluntary Action Islington has model policies, resources and toolkits. 

Question: Please confirm that you have adequate insurance in place for your project 

Insurance documents 

All recipients of WE Heal grants need to indicate that they have suitable insurance policies including public liability insurance in place before any funding can be released. This insurance will need to cover the project that is being funded by WE Heal. 

• If your proposal involves delivering an external activity or event (such as hiring a coach for a trip) you will need to obtain the partner organisations’ insurance documents (Public Liability Insurance, Employers Liability Insurance and Professional Indemnity Insurance)
• See the Insurance Policy Guidance Notes provided as part of Local Initiatives Fund  for more information on what insurance you may need to obtain for your project. These additional insurance documents from your partner organisations or providers do not need to be submitted to us

Permissions, authorisations and licences 

Your project may require certain authorisations, such as DBS checks or need special permissions or licences for project activities to be delivered.  

Question: If applicable, please outline what steps you have taken to identify these and/or to make sure these will be in place for when your project starts? 

Please read the arts events advice and guidance for information on the licences and permissions you may need depending on the type of arts activity you are planning. 

Environmental Responsibility 

Islington Council is committed to protecting the environment of the borough and minimising our impact beyond the borough’s boundaries. Having declared an environmental and climate emergency in 2019 and adopted our Vision 2030 strategy, we have the ambition to eliminate the carbon emissions of the borough by 2030. 

All WE Heal project proposals should clearly demonstrate a commitment to using relevant environmentally friendly practices where applicable, for example maximising reuse and recycling and reducing the overall amount of waste we create.

Please consider:

• the sources and choice of arts materials, props and other resources 
• embedding relevant repair, recycling and reuse actions throughout the project
• digital alternatives
• hire equipment where possible 
• in-kind support

If materials will be left over at the end of the project, please be clear about who will benefit from them in the future. 

Please download and complete the 'section 5 project costs and budget template' ready for uploading with your application.

Question: Please confirm which WE Heal Grant you are applying for Project costs 

• For micro grants, the minimum grant award is £500 to maximum £1,500
• For project grants, the minimum grant award is £2000 to maximum £5,000 

Question: Please state the amount you are requesting from the WE Heal Fund 

Question: Please state the total cost of your project 

• This may not be the same amount that you are requesting from the WE Heal Fund

Read more about other potential sources of funding for arts projects if you need additional funds to meet the total cost of your project

Question: Please provide a TOTAL breakdown of your project costs 

• Income - please ensure that the total amount requested through the WE HEAL Fund plus any additional or match funding, add up to the total amount needed to run your project. Do not include any in-kind support as part of your income
• Expenditure - please be specific when providing a breakdown of how the grant will be spent including how you have calculated lump sum costs e.g. hourly rates for staff costs; venue hire etc
• WE Heal funding cannot be spent on the purchase of alcohol
• In-kind Support - please describe any in-kind support you have or hope to secure to support delivering your project

Please remember to attach the required items as part of your Application 

1. Please confirm you have uploaded the following items as part of your application.
2. A copy of your organisation’s constitution or governing document (if applicable).
3. Copies of your reference letters from two different people. 
4. Your completed project costs and budget document.

Failure to complete this form fully will delay any consideration of your project.

Please note, should this application be successful, the contents will inform the We Heal Grant Agreement between you and Islington Council. If you make any seriously misleading statements at any stage during the application process, or knowingly withhold any information, this could make your application invalid and you could be liable to repay any funds to Islington Council. 

Once you are satisfied that you have completed the application form:

• Please sign (digital signature acceptable) 
• Complete the name, position and date information 
• Tick the box to accept the statements that certify that all the information in the applicable is true and accurate. 

Please return the application as an electronic copy together with the supporting documents (two references and a copy of your organisation’s constitution if applicable) by email to culture@islington.gov.uk no later than 12 noon, Monday 24 April 2023. 

If you have any difficulty using the application form, or require further support, please contact culture@islington.gov.uk.