You Decide

Local communities are invited to put forward ideas that will help make a positive difference to the lives of people living in their neighbourhood.

It uses a form of Participatory Budgeting (PB) that empowers local people to submit projects that they want to see in their local area. Residents are then invited to attend ‘Decision Day’ events in their area where they will vote for which projects will receive money.

The application process for You Decide is now closed. We cannot accept late applications. The next round of NCIL will take place in Autumn 2022.

Two more pots of money are being distributed in this way following the success of CO2GO.

There are two different pots of money to submit applications for:

• Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL)
  £2million will be divided equally amongst the five Brent connects areas of Harlesden, Kilburn, Kingsbury and Kenton, Wembley and Willesden.
• Brent Health Matters Health and Wellbeing Grant
  A further £250,000 is available through the Brent Health Matters Health and Wellbeing Grant fund. £50,000 is allocated to each Brent connects area to support health and wellbeing.

A series of Decision Days will take place across each Brent Connects area.

£2million will be divided equally amongst the five Brent connects areas of Harlesden, Kilburn and Kensal Rise, Kingsbury and Kenton, Wembley and Willesden.

Residents take the lead in submitting project ideas that will improve local communities while focusing on physical improvements or social infrastructure projects. Physical improvements could be anything from painting and refurbishing a community centre, or updating play areas or installing public water fountains. Examples of social infrastructure projects are educational courses (an after-school homework club), support schemes (to support residents with the high costs of living) or projects that bring the community together (a coffee morning promoting health opportunities).

What cannot be funded?

• Standalone events, markets and festivals.
• Business investment.
• Items that Brent Council have an obligation to pay for e.g. pothole repairs, some roads and pavements works.
• Proposals that are not community led.
• Addressing needs in the neighbourhood that are pre-existing and not caused by development.

Support to apply

We will be holding a range of in-person and online sessions to help you fill in the application form and support you in preparing for presenting your idea at one of the ‘Decision Day’ events.

Before you apply

• Download the guidance notes for making an application.

How to apply

Applications are open for constituted organisations based in Brent. Applications open from 22 March 2022.

The application deadline is Tuesday 31 May - 23:59hrs.

• Apply for the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) grant

Please send your completed application to youdecide@brent.gov.uk

The Health and Wellbeing Grants are available for projects that meet at least one of the following priority outcomes of the BHM programme:

• raise uptake of all vaccinations and health screenings
• increase awareness of both statutory and community support services, including mental health and primary care services
• increase the number of people registered with a GP
• increase referrals to support services
• improve Health and wellbeing for communities
• support in reducing the impact of long term health conditions
• reduce impacts of Covid-19 in the community.

Projects that target and benefit disadvantaged groups will be given priority, such as young people, elderly people and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnicity Background (BAME) groups. Please note this list is not exhaustive and more details can be found in our guidance notes.

What cannot be funded?

• Projects which include funding to support religious, political purposes, or individual causes.
• Requests for on-going commitment such as salaries, rent and annual running costs will not be considered.
• Projects where the application is submitted without the supporting documentation required.

Support to apply

We will be holding a range of in-person and online sessions to help you fill in the application form and support you in preparing for presenting your idea at one of the ‘Decision Day’ events.

Before you apply

• Download the guidance notes for making an application.

How to apply

Applications are open for constituted organisations based in Brent. Applications are now open.

• Apply for the Brent Health Matters Health and Wellbeing grant
  

Please send your completed application to brenthealthmatters@brent.gov.uk. 

About Brent Health Matters

The goal of the Brent Health Matters Programme is to reduce avoidable, unfair and systematic differences in health between different groups of people.

Our shared programme brings together council and local NHS services with the local community to engage on a number of wide ranging issues to reduce the health inequalities experienced in Brent. It is only by working with the local people, groups and organisations around Brent, and listening to what they have to say, that we can improve the overall health of our borough.

Presentation Support Sessions for organisations presenting their project to the community

As part of the process to prepare organisations to present their project to the community in 3 minutes we are holding a number of presentation support sessions to enable organisations to build confidence ahead of the main Decision Day events and go over what should be included in your presentation that will be delivered in person at the Decision Day event.

The remaining sessions will be held on Zoom. All organisations who have applied for either You Decide grant will need to attend at least one session listed below:

• Sunday 12 June 2022 from 12:30 to 2:00pm 
• Friday 17 June 2022 from 10am to 11:30 am

Register here to attend a Presentation Support Session.

Residents across Brent are now able to register to attend a Decision Day event in your local area.

Residents will hear directly from organisations who have applied for funding for either You Decide Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy Fund (NCIL) or You Decide Brent Health Matters Health and Wellbeing grant.

Each area will decide on £400,000 of You Decide NCIL and £50,000 of You Decide Brent Health Matters funding and how this should be spent. Local residents will decide on which projects are awarded funding at each event.

Organisations will have 3 minutes to present their project to the community and residents will vote on every project that is presenting. All votes will be calculated and at the end of the event; organisations who have been successfully funded will be announced.

Residents are able to register to attend one or both events taking place on the same day.

All events will follow the same format and will all be held in person at an accessible venue in your Brent Connects area.

Please note there is limited capacity and bookings are on a first come first served basis.

Register to vote

Only Brent residents can attend to participate and vote in the You Decide decision day events. Please register to attend one or both events taking place in your Brent Connects area.

For more information about the You Decide decision day events please email youdecide@brent.gov.uk or call 02089372442.

You Decide: Carbon Offset Fund 

On 29 January a diverse range of almost 250 residents attended our first ‘Decision Day’. The event, which was open to any Brent resident, saw local people vote on the green projects that they felt would make a difference in their communities. 

The total fund of £500,000 was split into two pots.

Pot 1: £400k was awarded to homes that will install energy efficiency measures to reduce their carbon emissions. The winning bids included a total of 39 flats, maisonettes and houses that will undergo sustainability works to reduce their carbon footprint. These properties have combined as a cluster to maximise the benefits of green measures. Two community buildings in Willesden were also selected for energy saving makeovers.

Pot 2: £100k was awarded to community groups who will run educational projects to help residents reduce carbon emissions, save money, and make positive and healthier lifestyle changes.