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.

Applications for the You Decide programme, which puts local communities at the heart of suggesting and then choosing how council cash will be spent in five Brent Connects areas, are now open.

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.

We’re currently inviting applications for projects that need funding. The deadline is Tuesday 31 May. After all the ideas have been submitted, each Brent Connects area will hold its own ‘Decision Day’ where residents will vote for projects across NCIL and Brent Health Matters.

Decision Days will take place this summer in June.

£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

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.

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

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.

Borough wide Support Sessions

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.